Sociology 2: Class 19: Globalization & Conflict 3 Copyright © 2010 by Evan Schofer Do not copy or distribute without permission

Announcements Final exam coming up… Format similar to midterm Topics: All course material… with main emphasis on material covered in weeks 5-10 Final Exam Time: Friday, March 19, 10:30-12:30pm Final exam review sheet Handed out last week Available on the web (& TAs have extra copies) Today’s Class: Culture & Conflict Afghanistan

In the news: Violence in Nigeria Toll From Religious and Ethnic Violence in Nigeria Rises to 500. New York Times Officials and human rights groups in Nigeria sharply increased the count of the dead after a weekend of vicious ethnic violence, saying Monday that as many as 500 people — many of them women and children — may have been killed near the city of Jos, long a center of tensions between Christians and Muslims. The dead were Christians and members of an ethnic group that had been feuding with the Hausa-Fulani, Muslim herders whom witnesses and police officials identified as the attackers. Officials said the attack was in reprisal for violence in January, when dozens of Muslims were slaughtered in and around Jos, including more than 150 in one village. But, in another account by the BBC: These killings are often painted by local politicians as a religious or sectarian conflict. In fact it is a struggle between ethnic groups for fertile land and resources in the region. The situation is exacerbated by Nigeria’s system of classifying its citizens as “indigenes” and “settlers.” This system is nationwide but in Plateau State it perpetuates the local divisions. The Hausa-speaking Muslims are classified as “settlers” even if they have lived there for generations and have no knowledge of their “home” region. “Settlers” are banned from taking some positions in state government and the state does not pay for their education, meaning these groups feel discriminated against.

Readings Two readings on the history and current status of the War in Afghanistan. Schaeffer, Robert K “Revolution and War in Afghanistan.” Pp (chapter 11) in Understanding Globalization (4th ed). (21 pages) Shane, Scott “The War in Pashtunistan.” The New York Times, December 5, (4 pages) Questions to reflect on… –Are these really conflicts about ancient religious hatreds? –Do external resources and weak states make resolution cause or exacerbate the conflicts?

Readings Articles discussing Bush and Obama Approaches to the “war on terror” Daalder, Ivo H. and James M. Lindsay. “The Bush Revolution.” Pp in Kreiger, Joel (ed) Globalization and State Power: A Reader. New York, NY: Pearson Education. (14 pages). Beinart, Peter “Obama Shrinks the War on Terrorism.” Time Magazine, December 7, 2009 (5 pages). Questions: –To what extent does the theory of realism (& hard vs. soft power) guide the thinking of these presidents?

Review: Anti-Western Movements “Modern” anti-Western movements are just like other social movements. They rely on: –Ex: Al Qaeda Resource mobilization: resources, organizational capacity Political opportunity structure: allies, lapses in repression Framing: Use of symbols, imagery (often religious).

Review: Weak States & Conflict Hironaka: Weak states & external resources are the primary drivers of civil war Not “ethnic” or Islamic” identity –Weakness in Afghanistan allows a continuing insurgency ALSO: weakness in Pakistan, creates a safe haven –Ex: External resources Original funding for Taliban came from Pakistan –Part of US funded efforts to fight the Soviet Union Money & weapons coming from: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, former soviet republics, etc. etc., etc…

Weak States & Conflict Video: Return of the Taliban Chapters 1-3, 6-7 –Chapters 4-5 if time allows…