Civilizations in World Politics:Beyond East and West

Peter KatzensteinCornell University

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

President and Professor

Hu Jintao and Huntington: East vs. West

Liu Weibing/Xinhua, Via Associated Press Jeff Christensen/AFP/Getty Images, Via Foreign Policy

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

President and Professor

• Civilizations – Are combative and clashing or

plural and pluralist– Defined by core values or

multiple traditions– Cultural realism: plural not

pluralist– Cosmopolitan liberalism:

pluralist not plural • Korea between Civilizations

Image adapted from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Clash_of_Civilizations_map.png/800px-Clash_of_Civilizations_map.png

Huntington’s Map of Civilizations

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

GIC: Above the Nation State

• Globalization (reconfigure state sovereignty)– Glocalization and constitutive norms/processes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonteale/4438329536/in/pool-13047686@N00/lightbox/

http://tower.arcadia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/globalization_b_1293566053.png

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

GIC: Above the Nation State

• Internationalization (increase social density)– Varieties of capitalism and regulatory norms/processes

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070831144233.htmhttps://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no3/html_files/Graphics/webmap_pg58.jpg

Map of the Internet(Internationalization)

Map of the World Wide Web (Globalization)

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

GIC: Above the Nation State

• Civilization (create communities of meanings and practices)– Communities of identities and practices

Changdeokgung Palace Complex© OUR PLACE The World Heritage Collection

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty© UNESCO

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Civilizational Outcomes

• Intercivilizational Encounters– Violent Clash

Cultural Imperialism: impose content and form– Transcivilizational Engagement

Widespread acceptance: content or form• Hybridization: shifting balances of practice

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Roadmap

• Civilizational Analysis • Sinicization and Civilizational Processes• Anglo-America and Civilizational Identities• Conclusion

Image: http://www.neuro-it.net/bilder/roadmap.jpg

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Trilogy Project

Vol. 1-Civilizations in World Politics: Plural and Pluralist

Perspectives

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Civilizational Analysis

• Defined: urban, language, literature, religion

• Embedded: in a larger context or ecumene (William McNeill and Marshall Hodgson)

• Not an actor — but a complex• Not a voice in our head — but a

town hall meeting arguing about our options

Images : http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h1GvuotXRcE/TlEia4QLlaI/AAAAAAAARv8/As8MYZCgdkc/s1600/seoul-image.jpg ; http://asiasociety.org/files/korean.png ; http://ramundo.us/korea/p/temple17.jpg

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Civilizational Analysis

• Dispositional Analysis — actor oriented, consensual, essentialist, unchanging

• Discursive analysis — processual, contested, relational, malleable

• Primordiality: Disposition and Discourse– Social construct and political project– Other examples: Gender, race, ethnicity, nationality– Crystallization in situations of fear, threat, insecurity

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Civilizational Analysis

• Shmuel Eisenstadt– Placed in one encompassing

civilization of modernity– Multiple modernities

activated by axial age religions (Jaspers)

Images : http://www.holbergprisen.no/en/shmuel-n-eisenstadt.htmlhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asFjd3aTQdE/TUm76GsXVRI/AAAAAAAAAAU/-og-UHClLEs/s1600/Axial+Age+Map+etc.jpg

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Civilizational Analysis

• Randall Collins– Porous zones of prestige– Competition within and between nodes– Long-distance networks

• Norbert Elias– Reversible civilizing processes– Social and psychological restraints– Adapt to international arena

Images: http://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/r_collins ; http://www.norberteliasfoundation.nl/

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Civilizational Analysis: Multiplicities not Binaries

• Multiple Actors (empires, states, pooled sovereignty polities, stateless polities, diasporic politics)

• Multiple Actors (coalitions, groups, organizations, individuals)

• Multiple Traditions (and institutions)• Multiple Processes (and relational mechanisms)

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Trilogy Project

Vol. 2 – Sinicization and the Rise of China: Civilizational Processes beyond East and

West

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Sinicization: Meaning

• Making the world suitable to China and Chinese practices (assimilation – conformity – acculturation)

• Milieu goals (A. Wolfers) • “Harmony” vs “hegemony”: interesting diversity

vs. not dull uniformity

Images: http://history.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/upfiles/2010-08/04/more_infod11586cac47afd5abff8.jpghttp://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080809/0004230fa5680a07598611.jpgFeng Li/Getty Images via Foreign Policy

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Sinicization: Meaning

• Practices : self-conscious and unreflected– military rise– commercial expansion – multilateralism with a Chinese face

http://id.china-embassy.org/eng/rdht/60thnationalday/W020071005798159227932.jpg

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Sinicization: Three Types

• Resinicization: rupture• Desinicization: imitation• Sinicization (mixed outcome): recombination

http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/stories/hong-kong-says-no-to-mainland-education-chinese-reactions.html

Protests over Chinese patriotic education in Hong Kong

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Sinicization: Recombination

• Security: Sovereignty and suzerainty; unification not an end state but ongoing practices

• Security: Zones not borders; discursive practices then and now

Images: https://d13uygpm1enfng.cloudfront.net/article-imgs/en/2012/09/29/AJ201209290072/AJ201209290073M.jpghttp://www.international.gc.ca/arms-armes/assets/images/South_China_Sea_2.jpg

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Sinicization: Recombination

• Political Economy: Compressed development; pre- and post-industrialism

• Culture: Overseas Chinese and Diaspora Politics

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Sinicization Compared

• Japanization and Indianization– Multiple practices– Radiation outward– Incorporation inward– Rising power or not Top: reason.com

Bottom: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty via TIME Magazine

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Trilogy Project

Vol. 3-Anglo-America and Its Discontents: Civilizational

Identities beyond West and East

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Conclusion: Civilization of Modernity

• Two bridge civilizations: Anglo-America and Islam• Anglo-America: vertical practice connections to

the civilization of modernity– English as a lingua franca– Rights revolution– Science and technology (electronic; biotechnology)– Popular culture industries– Enchanting New World (vs. a White Brand)

• Islam: horizontal geographic connections within the civilization of modernity

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Conclusion: Civilization of Modernity

• Thin– Rome (not Athens or Jerusalem):

“transmission culture” (Brague)– Japan’s popular culture industry:

“odorless” (Iwabuchi)– Liberalism’s “thin proceduralism” (Haas)

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Conclusion: Civilization of Modernity

• Demanding– No imperialism of imposing a single standard of

conduct (as in many versions of liberal theory)– No relativism of accepting all political practices (as in

many critiques of liberal theory)

Beyond East and West: Kipling

• Rudyard Kipling’s Ballad of East and West:

“Oh East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meetTill earth and sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment seat…..

But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor birthWhen two strong men stand face to face, tho they come from the ends of the earth.”

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Introduction Civilizational Analysis Sinicization Conclusion

Thank you!

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Polymorphic Globalism

Searching for Political-Cultural Commenurabilities• At two intersections– Civil religious politics: Intermingling of secular and

religious politics (Bellah)– Transcendental (religion and science) vs historiological

politics (Murakami)

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Conclusion

• Baroque or Gothic • Complexity (of analysis)

or Simplicity (in reduced form)

• The Future: Contaminated cosmopolitanism or recurrent sameness

Images: http://0.tqn.com/d/architecture/1/0/M/q/Versailles51375217sm.jpg http://www.bestourism.com/medias/dfp/6389

Conclusion

• Soft Social Science : Humanities and Imagination and Social Sciences and Information

• Multi- or Interdisciplinary Studies vs. Disciplinary Studies

• Pattern recognition vs variable-based analysis• Vouching vs Clinching Arguments (Nancy

Cartwright)

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Conclusion

• My research agenda• Civilizations in the global ecumene– Adding global process: Human rights and human

welfare– Adding actors (empire, states, polities, diasporas)

• American Civilization and Americanization– Statist issues: Law, public diplomacy– Societal issues: popular culture, religion

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Beyond East and West: Kipling

• Rudyard Kipling’s Ballad of East and West:

“Oh East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meetTill earth and sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment seat…..

But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor birthWhen two strong men stand face to face, tho they come from the ends of the earth.”

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