1. Sociology 2: Class 19: Globalization & Conflict 3 Copyright © 2011 by Evan Schofer Do not copy or distribute without permission

2. 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: Tuesday March 15, 4:00-6:00pm –NOTE: not during the “normal” class time of 3:30… Final exam review sheet handed out last week –Available on the web (& TAs have extra copies) Today’s Class: Culture & Conflict Afghanistan

3. Review: Reactionary Movements Local reactions against globalization, Western culture, imperialism: 1. Opt out. Ignore or shun the external culture Historically most common –Examples: Many indigenous groups, the Amish 2. “Reactionary movements”: Start a social movement that attacks the system –Kurzman distinguishes two kinds: “Traditional” reactionary movements. Ex: Taliban “Modern” reactionary movements. Ex: Al Qaeda

4. Reactionary Movements Conventional accounts of reactionary movements stress two things: –1. Participants are motivated by “primordial” cultural, ethnic, or religious beliefs –2. Beliefs result in “grievances” against the system… naturally producing a social movement Perhaps combined with other factors like poor economic conditions… which also produce grievances Issue: Sociological research disputes both of these claims…

5. Reactionary Movements Sociologists have criticized conventional views –1. Ethnicity, culture, religion are socially constructed rather than primordial Ethnicity and religion don’t inevitably produce conflict Rather, leaders often push/prod people to fight… –2. Grievances aren’t sufficient to explain why people rise up, participate in social movements Rather, we have to consider the role of: Resources Political Opportunities Framing.

6. Reactionary Movements: Al Qaeda Al Qaeda as a social movement Resources: highly educated leaders; resources from oil-rich states; weapons from superpowers Political opportunities: “Safe havens” in weak/disorganized states Framing: Use of powerful religious imageries to motivate followers; stoking fear/hatred against West/US.

7. Reactionary Movements: Al Qaeda If Al Qaeda is a movement, what strategies should be used to fight it? –1. Reduce resources Focus on eliminating terrorist financing, arms flows –2. Reduce opportunities Weak states & instability = opportunity –Ex: Afghanistan, Iraq So, don’t destabilize regimes –3. Framing Hard to prevent; but don’t play into role of bully Avoid civilian casualties.

8. Reactionary Movements: Taliban If the Taliban is a movement, what strategies should be used to fight it? Resources: The Taliban gets tons of resources –Historically from US, USSR Pakistan, Iran, others –Also, international arms transfers –Drug trade Political opportunities –The weak regime in Pakistan provides huge opportunities for the Taliban –More on this in the video Framing –Hard to avoid framing as a foreign military occupying a country.

9. Weak States & Conflict Video: Return of the Taliban http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/taliban/ Chapters 1-3 (19 min), 6-7 (15 min) –Chapters 4-5 (21 min) if time allows…