Week 2: IR as an Week 2: IR as an Imperialist/Colonial Social ScienceImperialist/Colonial Social Science

The presenter:The presenter: Hassan MudaneHassan Mudane Contact:Contact: mudanep5@gmail.com Course work:Course work: AIR 514 Colonialism and Post-Colonialism AIR 514 Colonialism and Post-Colonialism

CritiqueCritique

Outline Outline I shall divide my presentation into five sections:I shall divide my presentation into five sections:

Definitions of IR?Definitions of IR?Understanding the history of IR.Understanding the history of IR.IR as an imperial illusion.IR as an imperial illusion.IR theory as an imperial sword.IR theory as an imperial sword.Discussion and argument. Discussion and argument.

IntroductionIntroduction

This presentation focuses on IR as an This presentation focuses on IR as an imperialist or colonial of social science. I will imperialist or colonial of social science. I will start by outlining what the term IR means and start by outlining what the term IR means and then I will summarize the History of IR. I will then I will summarize the History of IR. I will conclude by eyeing the critics of IR; whether it conclude by eyeing the critics of IR; whether it is the imperial imagination or not. Then we is the imperial imagination or not. Then we shall discuss about it.shall discuss about it.

A Brief History of IRA Brief History of IR

The history of international relations based on The history of international relations based on sovereign states is often traced back to the Peace sovereign states is often traced back to the Peace of Westphalia of 1648. A stepping stone in the of Westphalia of 1648. A stepping stone in the development of the modern state system that development of the modern state system that continues to shape the international system today. continues to shape the international system today. The particular European system supposing the The particular European system supposing the sovereign equality of states was exported to the sovereign equality of states was exported to the Americas, Africa, and Asia via colonialism and the Americas, Africa, and Asia via colonialism and the "standards of civilization". "standards of civilization".

The contemporary international system was The contemporary international system was finally established through decolonization during finally established through decolonization during the Cold War.the Cold War.

Cont…Cont… However, the history of modern international However, the history of modern international

relations is widely accepted to be rooted in the relations is widely accepted to be rooted in the European state system, which was born at the European state system, which was born at the Peace of Westphalia: "The present-day structure of Peace of Westphalia: "The present-day structure of world international relations is a structure world international relations is a structure between Great Powers, and it has come down in between Great Powers, and it has come down in unbroken descent from the days when such a unbroken descent from the days when such a structure first materialised in Europe... Our structure first materialised in Europe... Our present international society is directly descended present international society is directly descended from [the] universalized European system." from [the] universalized European system." (Brandwen et al. 2006). This IR narrative has its (Brandwen et al. 2006). This IR narrative has its critics.critics.

Cont…Cont…

The study of IR as a separate academic discipline The study of IR as a separate academic discipline began after the First World War (1914-18). Until that began after the First World War (1914-18). Until that time, scholars from various disciplinary backgrounds time, scholars from various disciplinary backgrounds had engaged in the field of international politics. had engaged in the field of international politics. Lawyers, historians, philosophers, political scientists, Lawyers, historians, philosophers, political scientists, and economists all had something to say about the and economists all had something to say about the conduct of international affairs and the relations conduct of international affairs and the relations between states. But there was no discipline devoted between states. But there was no discipline devoted exclusively to the study of inter-state affairs. exclusively to the study of inter-state affairs.

This all changed after the mass destruction and This all changed after the mass destruction and devastation of the First World War. Suddenly it devastation of the First World War. Suddenly it seemed more important than ever to try and find seemed more important than ever to try and find answers to three key questions: Why do wars begin? answers to three key questions: Why do wars begin? What lesions can we learn from past wars to prevent What lesions can we learn from past wars to prevent future ones? How can we maintain international future ones? How can we maintain international peace? peace?

Cont…Cont… When IR was founded, it’s used by the scholars as When IR was founded, it’s used by the scholars as

a tool in order to generate answers to those tricky a tool in order to generate answers to those tricky questions and drew on approaches, ideas, and questions and drew on approaches, ideas, and evidence from several other disciplines.evidence from several other disciplines.

IR as an imperial illusionIR as an imperial illusion Imperialism is foundational to the origins, form, and Imperialism is foundational to the origins, form, and

normative basis of international organizations and normative basis of international organizations and international law, to the prevailing inequalities in power international law, to the prevailing inequalities in power relations between states and the position of states in the relations between states and the position of states in the highly uneven and exploitative international system, as well highly uneven and exploitative international system, as well as to national and regional structures and relations, as to national and regional structures and relations, cultures, and languages, in all regions, formerly colonized cultures, and languages, in all regions, formerly colonized and metropolitan. It appears then that imperialism is and metropolitan. It appears then that imperialism is inextricable from the very foundations of modem inextricable from the very foundations of modem international relations and world order. international relations and world order.

According to Julian Saurin. ”I want to argue that world According to Julian Saurin. ”I want to argue that world order continues to be determined largely by imperialism, order continues to be determined largely by imperialism, including neocolonial political Forms, and that the including neocolonial political Forms, and that the assumptions, concepts, and language of inquiry in IR assumptions, concepts, and language of inquiry in IR remain infused with imperial and colonial. (Brandwen et al. remain infused with imperial and colonial. (Brandwen et al. 2006).2006).

Cont…Cont…

European history remains fundamental to our European history remains fundamental to our understanding of the contemporary world. “Western understanding of the contemporary world. “Western states produce norms, principles, and institutions of states produce norms, principles, and institutions of international society and non-Western states lack international society and non-Western states lack these until they are [assimilated] into the norms, these until they are [assimilated] into the norms, principles, and institutions of international society.” principles, and institutions of international society.” (Kayaoglu. 2010). (Kayaoglu. 2010).

Understanding of imperialism in terms of obvious Understanding of imperialism in terms of obvious visible features of military invasion and occupation. A visible features of military invasion and occupation. A forceful supporting testament to this claim comes forceful supporting testament to this claim comes from the unlikely source of Samuel Huntington when from the unlikely source of Samuel Huntington when he writes that "the West won the world not by the he writes that "the West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence.”by its superiority in applying organized violence.”

Cont…Cont…

However, for much of the 20However, for much of the 20thth century and into the century and into the 21 century the field of IR has been dominated by 21 century the field of IR has been dominated by North American, European, and, to a lesser extent, North American, European, and, to a lesser extent, Australian scholars. Thus, the majority of Australian scholars. Thus, the majority of literature in the discipline of IR is written by and literature in the discipline of IR is written by and about only some of the peoples of the world-about only some of the peoples of the world-predominantly Americans and Europeans. predominantly Americans and Europeans.

IR remains guilty of forgetting and detracting from IR remains guilty of forgetting and detracting from the thought and acts of not only the people of the thought and acts of not only the people of Africa but also "the rest" of the non-Western Africa but also "the rest" of the non-Western world.world.

IR theory as an Imperial swordIR theory as an Imperial sword I develop my argument on behalf of my new school of I develop my argument on behalf of my new school of

thought (Mudanism) that IR theory became an thought (Mudanism) that IR theory became an ideological tool to legitimize the coercion used by ideological tool to legitimize the coercion used by Western states over non-democratic states as a Western states over non-democratic states as a necessary evil, required in order to get them to necessary evil, required in order to get them to conform to the rules of international law. conform to the rules of international law.

The USA and its alliance invaded Iraq and The USA and its alliance invaded Iraq and Afghanistan by using Afghanistan by using IR theory as an instrument of IR theory as an instrument of means to achieve their end.means to achieve their end. For example, after 9/11 For example, after 9/11 September, most of the American policy makers, September, most of the American policy makers, politicians, lawmakers and some scholars believed politicians, lawmakers and some scholars believed that the national security of the country was in the that the national security of the country was in the danger. danger.

Cont…Cont… Former US president George Former US president George

Bush declared war on Iraq in a Bush declared war on Iraq in a provocative manner “provocative manner “Either you Either you are with usare with us, or you are with , or you are with the the terroriststerrorists... [or] The ... [or] The dangerous to our country and dangerous to our country and world will be overcome... [or] we world will be overcome... [or] we will defend our freedom." Put it will defend our freedom." Put it another way, he argued that another way, he argued that American is at war by Iraq American is at war by Iraq “American enemy [Iraq] has no “American enemy [Iraq] has no regard for conventions of war or regard for conventions of war or rules of morality.”rules of morality.”

Cont…Cont…

Another example, in March 2011, a multi-Another example, in March 2011, a multi-state Nato-led coalition began a military state Nato-led coalition began a military intervention in Libya, as they excuse to intervention in Libya, as they excuse to implement United Nations Security Council implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 and to protect Libyan civilians. Resolution 1973 and to protect Libyan civilians. “We are part of a broad coalition we are “We are part of a broad coalition we are answering the calls of threatened people and we answering the calls of threatened people and we acting the interests of the United States and acting the interests of the United States and world.” These words said by President Obama, world.” These words said by President Obama, about the US airstrike in Libya. Traditionally, about the US airstrike in Libya. Traditionally, American foreign policy has been divided into American foreign policy has been divided into realist camp and the liberalist camp.realist camp and the liberalist camp.

Cont…Cont…

However, from the prospective of my argument, i However, from the prospective of my argument, i support the idea which says IR was originated support the idea which says IR was originated from the prospective of imperial imagination from the prospective of imperial imagination rather than from the prospective of the world. Let rather than from the prospective of the world. Let me prove this by using very clear me prove this by using very clear formula: formula: IR+Realism+Liberalism are equal to neo-IR+Realism+Liberalism are equal to neo-imperialism.imperialism. Furthermore about it, you can read my article from Furthermore about it, you can read my article from here: here: https://www.academia.edu/28970918/IR_as_an_Imperial_illusion_the_sword_of_the_Superpower

So i challenge international relations scholars to So i challenge international relations scholars to rethink their conception and rejection of IR as an rethink their conception and rejection of IR as an imperialist. imperialist.

Discussion and ArgumentDiscussion and Argument

We are going to discuss about whether IR as We are going to discuss about whether IR as an imperialist or not?an imperialist or not?

ReferenceReference

Oliver Daddow. (2009) International Relations Oliver Daddow. (2009) International Relations theory. SAGE publications Ltd. Pp. 55theory. SAGE publications Ltd. Pp. 55

Brandwen et al. (2006). Decolonizing Brandwen et al. (2006). Decolonizing International Relations. Rowman and LmLefied International Relations. Rowman and LmLefied publishers Inc. Pp 23-46publishers Inc. Pp 23-46