Culture Culture & &

ConflictConflict

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?

Culture and global politicsCulture and global politics

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 “clash of civilization”: The “clash of civilization”: real or imagined?real or imagined?

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