Culture & Conflict. Today 1. Culture and global politics 2. The “clash of civilizations”: real...
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Transcript of Culture & Conflict. Today 1. Culture and global politics 2. The “clash of civilizations”: real...
TodayToday
1.1. Culture and global politicsCulture and global politics
2.2. The “clash of civilizations”: real or The “clash of civilizations”: real or imagined?imagined?
Defining cultureDefining culture
The UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on The UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity states in its Preamble that Cultural Diversity states in its Preamble that ““culture should be regarded culture should be regarded the set of distinctive the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefstraditions and beliefs” ”
Cultures & political culturesCultures & political cultures
Religion & cultureReligion & culture
Different things
What we mean by religionusually: Judaism, Christianity, Islamalso: other-worldly source of knowledge,
usually with gods or spirits
Religion is often the basis of a culturebut not necessarily so
Why culture matters: morality, Why culture matters: morality, behaviour & the good lifebehaviour & the good life
Values & perception of issuesValues & perception of issues
Socialization & social Socialization & social behaviourbehaviour
A basis for judgmentA basis for judgmentwhat’s good, beautiful, normalwhat’s good, beautiful, normaljudgment of othersjudgment of others
Points of disagreement
• Who has legitimate authority
• Individuals’ place in the group
• Relations with outsiders
• Humans’ place in nature & the universe
• Division of labour in food & goods production
• Relations between the sexes
• Family structure & the raising & status of children
• Reproduction, birth, life, death
Culture writ large: civilizationsCulture writ large: civilizations
Shared cultural traits Shared cultural traits across state bordersacross state borders
Fluid boundaries & mutual Fluid boundaries & mutual borrowingsborrowings
One civilization or several?One civilization or several?Civilization & to be Civilization & to be
“civilized”“civilized”Nationalculture 1
Nationalculture 2
Nationalculture 3
Nationalculture n
Nationalculture 1
Nationalculture 2
Nationalculture 3
Nationalculture n
Nationalculture 1
Nationalculture 2
Nationalculture 3
Nationalculture n
Civilization 1
Civilization 3
Civilization 2
Identity, difference, and Identity, difference, and belongingbelonging
What is identity?What is identity?
The encounter with differenceThe encounter with differencedifference as uncertaintydifference as uncertaintydifference as inferioritydifference as inferiority
Politics & the good life: who’s right / Politics & the good life: who’s right / better?better?
The argumentThe argument
The history of war according to The history of war according to HuntingtonHuntingtonreligionreligionnationalism nationalism ideology ideology Civilization Civilization
Western imperialism & humiliationWestern imperialism & humiliationModernization, but Modernization, but notnot Westernization WesternizationCultural assertivenessCultural assertiveness
Indicators of modernizationIndicators of modernization• IndustrializationIndustrialization• GDP growthGDP growth• Population growthPopulation growth
Indicators of modernizationIndicators of modernization• IndustrializationIndustrialization• GDP growthGDP growth• Population growthPopulation growth
Samuel P. HuntingtonSamuel P. Huntington1927-20081927-2008
The world of civilizations The world of civilizations according to Huntingtonaccording to Huntington
African African
Buddhist Buddhist
HinduHindu**
IslamicIslamic
JapaneseJapanese**
Latin Latin
AmericanAmerican
OrthodoxOrthodox**
SinicSinic**
WesternWestern**
**With a core With a core statestate
The evidence used The evidence used by Huntingtonby Huntington
Afghanistan, Afghanistan, 19801980ssBreakup of Yugoslavia, Breakup of Yugoslavia, 19901990ss
multiethnic & multi-religiousmultiethnic & multi-religiousprovinces become independentprovinces become independent
The case of Bosnia-Herzegovina The case of Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-way conflict: Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats3-way conflict: Bosniaks, Serbs, Croatsdiplomatic supportdiplomatic supportforeign fightersforeign fighters
Bosnia-Herzegovina, early 1990sBosnia-Herzegovina, early 1990s
Yugoslavia in the 1980sYugoslavia in the 1980s
The rise of ChinaThe rise of China
A very long history & civilizationA very long history & civilization
Stunning economic growthStunning economic growth
From isolationist to assertiveFrom isolationist to assertive
Growing military powerGrowing military power
Edward Said’s responseEdward Said’s response
The “clash of civilizations” in The “clash of civilizations” in perspectiveperspectiveold wine, new bottleold wine, new bottlea long pattern of prejudice & tensionsa long pattern of prejudice & tensions
Western identity & Eastern diffe- Western identity & Eastern diffe- rence: essentialism rence: essentialismUs & ThemUs & Them““civilized” West & “backward” Eastcivilized” West & “backward” East
Scholars, experts & commentators: Scholars, experts & commentators: influence on public opinion influence on public opinion
Edward W. SaidEdward W. Said1935-20031935-2003
Essentialism: Essentialism: “a belief in the real, true essence “a belief in the real, true essence of things, the invariable and fixed properties which of things, the invariable and fixed properties which define the ‘whatness’ of a given entity...”. Diana define the ‘whatness’ of a given entity...”. Diana Fuss, Fuss, Essentially Speaking.Essentially Speaking.
Essentialism: Essentialism: “a belief in the real, true essence “a belief in the real, true essence of things, the invariable and fixed properties which of things, the invariable and fixed properties which define the ‘whatness’ of a given entity...”. Diana define the ‘whatness’ of a given entity...”. Diana Fuss, Fuss, Essentially Speaking.Essentially Speaking.
The Middle-East & The Middle-East & Europe/the WestEurope/the West
Particular place in Western imaginationParticular place in Western imagination
Research & knowledge: politically Research & knowledge: politically motivatedmotivated
Researchers’ & experts’ point of view: not Researchers’ & experts’ point of view: not objectiveobjective
Pressures on (future) researchersPressures on (future) researchers fundingfunding policy relevancepolicy relevance studentsstudents
EurocentrismEurocentrism
European/Western culture at the centreEuropean/Western culture at the centre
The standard of civilization The standard of civilization
The source of progressThe source of progress
In disagreements, the West is necessarily In disagreements, the West is necessarily rightright
Where is EurocentrismWhere is Eurocentrismfound?found?
Academia Academia
Popular and high cuPopular and high culturelture
News coverageNews coverage
ConclusionsConclusions
A fluid conceptA fluid conceptA potential source of divisionA potential source of divisionA potential source of mutual learningA potential source of mutual learningConflict is not inevitable: people Conflict is not inevitable: people
make historymake history
NB: Misunderstandings & stereotypes NB: Misunderstandings & stereotypes cut both wayscut both ways