Culture & Conflict

Today 1. Culture and global politics 2. The “clash of civilizations”: real or imagined?

Culture and global politics

Defining culture The UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity states in its Preamble that The UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity states in its Preamble thatUniversal Declaration on Cultural DiversityUniversal Declaration on Cultural Diversity “culture should be regarded the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” Cultures & political cultures Cultures & political cultures

Religion & culture Different things What we mean by religion usually: Judaism, Christianity, Islam also: other-worldly source of knowledge, usually with gods or spirits Religion is often the basis of a culture but not necessarily so

Why culture matters: morality, behaviour & the good life Values & perception of issues Values & perception of issues Socialization & social behaviour Socialization & social behaviour A basis for judgment A basis for judgment what’s good, beautiful, normal what’s good, beautiful, normal judgment of others judgment 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: civilizations Shared cultural traits across state borders Shared cultural traits across state borders Fluid boundaries & mutual borrowings Fluid boundaries & mutual borrowings One civilization or several? One civilization or several? Civilization & to be “civilized” Civilization & to be “civilized” National culture 1 National culture 2 National culture 3 National culture n National culture 1 National culture 2 National culture 3 National culture n National culture 1 National culture 2 National culture 3 National culture n Civilization 1 Civilization 3 Civilization 2

Identity, difference, and belonging What is identity? What is identity? The encounter with difference The encounter with difference difference as uncertainty difference as uncertainty difference as inferiority difference as inferiority Politics & the good life: who’s right / better? Politics & the good life: who’s right / better?

The “clash of civilization”: real or imagined?

The argument The history of war according to Huntington The history of war according to Huntington religion religion nationalism nationalism ideology ideology Civilization Civilization Western imperialism & humiliation Western imperialism & humiliation Modernization, but not Westernization Modernization, but not Westernization Cultural assertiveness Cultural assertiveness Indicators of modernization IndustrializationIndustrialization GDP growthGDP growth Population growthPopulation growth Indicators of modernization IndustrializationIndustrialization GDP growthGDP growth Population growthPopulation growth Samuel P. Huntington

The world of civilizations according to Huntington AfricanBuddhist Hindu* Islamic Japanese* Latin American Orthodox* Sinic* Western* *With a core state

The evidence used by Huntington Afghanistan, 1980 s Afghanistan, 1980 s Breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990 s Breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990 s multiethnic & multi-religious multiethnic & multi-religious provinces become independent provinces become independent The case of Bosnia-Herzegovina The case of Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-way conflict: Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats 3-way conflict: Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats diplomatic support diplomatic support foreign fighters foreign fighters Bosnia-Herzegovina, early 1990s Yugoslavia in the 1980s

The rise of China A very long history & civilization A very long history & civilization Stunning economic growth Stunning economic growth From isolationist to assertive From isolationist to assertive Growing military power Growing military power

Edward Said’s response The “clash of civilizations” in perspective The “clash of civilizations” in perspective old wine, new bottle old wine, new bottle a long pattern of prejudice & tensions a long pattern of prejudice & tensions Western identity & Eastern diffe- rence: essentialism Western identity & Eastern diffe- rence: essentialism Us & Them Us & Them “civilized” West & “backward” East “civilized” West & “backward” East Scholars, experts & commentators: influence on public opinion Scholars, experts & commentators: influence on public opinion Edward W. Said Essentialism: “a belief in the real, true essence of things, the invariable and fixed properties which define the ‘whatness’ of a given entity...”. Diana Fuss, Essentially Speaking.

The Middle-East & Europe/the West Particular place in Western imagination Particular place in Western imagination Research & knowledge: politically motivated Research & knowledge: politically motivated Researchers’ & experts’ point of view: not objective Researchers’ & experts’ point of view: not objective Pressures on (future) researchers Pressures on (future) researchers funding funding policy relevance policy relevance students students

Eurocentrism European/Western culture at the centre European/Western culture at the centre The standard of civilization The standard of civilization The source of progress The source of progress In disagreements, the West is necessarily right In disagreements, the West is necessarily right

Where is Eurocentrism found? Academia Academia Popular and high culture Popular and high culture News coverage News coverage

Conclusions A fluid concept A fluid concept A potential source of division A potential source of division A potential source of mutual learning A potential source of mutual learning Conflict is not inevitable: people make history Conflict is not inevitable: people make history NB: Misunderstandings & stereotypes cut both ways NB: Misunderstandings & stereotypes cut both ways