Theories of International Relations
Group document
After you presentations, your group documents are due during finals week.
This document is a write up of your recommendations. This should be 1500 words, Times New Roman, Font size 12. Please submit via moodle.
Take five minutes and jot down some of your thoughts from the reading. What was thought provoking (and what thoughts did it provoke?) and what was confusing?
"There is a worldwide movement. A worldwide movement which rejects unchecked globalisation, destructive ultra-liberalism ... the elimination of nation states, the disappearance of borders," Ms Le Pen told reporters.- Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front Party.
Some Terms
Race: defined physical traits (i.e. brown skin, blond hair, narrow nose)
Ethnicity: a group that shares cultural characteristics
Xenophobia: prejudice and accompanying practices against those perceived to be foreigners.
Racism: Belief that one race is inherently superior to another. Racism is expressed in direct confrontation as well as through cultural norms, ideology, economics, politics
Theo Goldberg
Born in South Africa.
Writes extensively on critical race theory. Also has research interest in Law, justice and digital studies
Currently teaches at the University of California
Samuel Huntington
Born in U.S.
wrote and studied linkages between military and civilian society, democracy and later in life on civilizational conflict. Taught at Harvard.
died in 2008
Theo Goldberg on Raceless States
Race is foundational to the modern nation state. However, not all states share the same characteristics in dealing with it's racial 'baggage'.
For Goldberg, what is the state?
A state is not a coherent entity but a reflection of its history, society, institutions, norms and the individuals who propel and disseminate these ideas.
In other words, the state is not a static entity with objective political institutions and objective laws that get filled by individuals each election season. Rather, these structures are shaped by ideologies and culture, usually by dominant groups
Naturalist Racial Regimes
Historicist Regimes
Represents belief that white is superior and that methods should be taken to achieve a uniracial state
- exclusion
- extermination
- gross violence and exploitation
An 'enlightened' view that also attempts to establish whiteness as the ideal but through the illusion of disregarding race.
- legal and policing frameworks that are biased whites
- prohibiting attention to the past
- treats racism as an anomaly not the rule (because race is no longer a factor in governance
Why is racism is attractive?
Historical and today it has built wealth and protected the economic interest of whites.
It fosters a pathological sense of high self worth
The Naturalist regime has largely transformed to a historicist one, but that does not mean it comes without the violence and exploitation that marked an earlier period.
Racelessness is a method to preserve the superiority of whites and whiteness by effectively ignoring and/or erasing the history of how racism structure the modern nation state and disenfranchised millions of its citizens for generations. It also removes feelings of guilt and the motivation to restructure states to make them more just and equitable. Finally, it seeks to remove state actions and policy from analysis and place the blame for 'still occurring racism' within the hands of individuals in private life.
The problem with color-blindness
1. It actively refuses to acknowledge the entirety of a person or people. Instead it treats them and their problems according to the norm of whiteness.
2. It constructs color (colors other than white) as a problem.
2. It stops whites from realizing they too have color.
Samuel Huntington influence as a thinker
"As a patriot I am deeply concerned about the unity and strength of my country as a society based on liberty, equality, law and individual rights."
- involved in policy making (Carter Administration)
- scholar on military affairs and also the Cold War
- Founder of Foreign Policy magazine
(2.4 million readers each month)
- Widely respected as a political scientist
Huntington's politics and scholarship
- safeguard American power and ideals
- wary of processes of multiculturalism and globalization
- prognosticator of democracy
- A cultural differentialist
Civilizations of the World
Francis Fukuyama
End of History Thesis
Liberal ideas triumphant with the fall of the USSR, no more major ideological conflicts
Samuel Huntington
With Globalization we will have conflict and it will be based on culture. In other words, convergence unlikely.
Western Civilization
- A European Heritage
- Anglo-Saxon
- Hellenistic period
- Roman Era
- Liberal Political Ideals
- Treaty of Westphalia
- Enlightment
- Men are rational
- individuals should be allowed to pursue their interest
- democracy
Islam
With meanings of surrender and peace, is a total way of life.
