Should I stay or should I go? Trappist monks in Algeria make a stand against encroaching fundamentalists in this 2010 Grand Prize Winner at Cannes. Of Gods and Men is a take on the polarizing effect of extreme fundamentalism at both ends of the spectrum.
19 March 2011
Libya: Negotiating Fault Lines by Creating a Culture of Change
Clearly, when a wave for change is fueled by the underclass, the differences between cultures and classes gets lost in the undertow, as middle class workers and empathetic members of the elite follow the tidal surge, shoving the political extremists to the outer banks where they flounder in a lack of credibility. The violence subsides as the populace becomes united in one culture - that of change.
Once the tyrannical regime is flushed out, the task for the authors of change in Libya is to form the tactical and strategic initiatives to encourage Libyans to be agents of their own destiny and not rely on foreign political interests to shape the foundations of a new government. It is vital that Libyans achieve an inalienable right to a direct relation with their country's own resources - mainly oil. Otherwise the people of Libya will once again face the risk of falling prey to the old tactics of intervening actors from the exterior, bent on exploiting a country's resources by polarizing a populace against itself. These tactics have worked quite well throughout history, especially when a country finds itself in economic duress as Libya does now.
The biggest challenge to a new Libya, then, may be negotiating the "fault lines" between the extremists that continue to use antagonistic terms as a blanket formula to resist mediation and compromise. It is only through mediation and compromise, keeping the turf between antagonists free of landmines and barbed wire, that a democracy can exist. If that is what the Libyan populace truly seeks, it will need to build a strong framework for a constitution of laws that allow rule by tyranny to be transformed to rule by democracy.
16 March 2011
Keeping Cultural Conflict to Scale: How to Use Racial, Ethnic and Tribal Terms
The biggest setback to political, social and economic gains in ongoing tribal conflicts like that of the Northern Sudan is the lack of common goals for opposing sides to share, according to a recent article in the Sudan Tribune. Illiteracy and lack of common language increases the failure of laying any groundwork on which to build a durable conflict resolution that resists eruptions of violence. But in order to reach a resolution, it is important to be able to accurately articulate the structure of the conflict's origins.
Keeping Conflict to Scale
Conflict is inevitable and is almost impossible to prevent, but it can be managed. In order to pick apart the cause of conflict, it is first important to describe the framework within which tensions arise. The terms used in describing this framework can be misleading and tend to change the scale of the conflict. To define a conflict to scale, it is important to understand the difference between three terms which commonly appear as interchangeable adjectives:
Using any of these terms when describing conflicts tends to detour around the actual political or economic forces at play. And swapping one term indiscriminately for the other is equally dangerous, as each term carries a different specific weight within the framework of a crisis or conflict. For instance, the word "racial" has a genetic or biological weight, and is the most specific of the three terms. A racial conflict is limited to one issue: the discriminating factor of race.
Tribal Interests Add More Weight to the Issue
The word "tribal" is less specific, and carries more geographic and territorial weight than the word racial. Tribal refers to a social division within a larger group that includes families of common geographic origin or lineage but does not exclude individuals that have been adopted or enslaved into the group. The group shares common characteristics amongst its members that distinguish it from a larger social group within the society at whole. Tribal interests are not limited to one specific geographic area, especially in the case of nomadic tribes, but tribal culture remains constant.
Ethnic Conflicts Involve a Broader Scale
Using "ethnic" to describe a conflict employs the broadest term of the three and views the conflict on a larger scale. Ethnic conflicts involve classifying large groups of people by a common background, including common origins of language and culture, religious, tribal or national interests. Ethnic conflicts appear to be more severe than those involving racial or tribal tensions. Former colonies, like those of the African and American continents in the 18th and 19th centuries, have long histories of conflict incited by colonial powers that chose to pit ethnic groups against each other in order to diffuse a united effort to overthrow the imperial power. The footprints of those old conflicts remain today.
Conflict Resolution Depends on Clarity of Terms
Conflict resolution methods have been successful in resolving issues that involve racial, tribal, or ethnic tensions, but only when the terms are clearly defined and one term is not "swapped" for another indiscriminately. The use of each term changes the dimension in which the conflict is viewed and helps to clarify the role of outside political and economic forces involved. Once the terms are clear, it is easier to shape shared goals and manage the conflict in ways that avoid the outbreak of violence.
Keeping Conflict to Scale
Conflict is inevitable and is almost impossible to prevent, but it can be managed. In order to pick apart the cause of conflict, it is first important to describe the framework within which tensions arise. The terms used in describing this framework can be misleading and tend to change the scale of the conflict. To define a conflict to scale, it is important to understand the difference between three terms which commonly appear as interchangeable adjectives:
- racial
- tribal
- ethnic
Using any of these terms when describing conflicts tends to detour around the actual political or economic forces at play. And swapping one term indiscriminately for the other is equally dangerous, as each term carries a different specific weight within the framework of a crisis or conflict. For instance, the word "racial" has a genetic or biological weight, and is the most specific of the three terms. A racial conflict is limited to one issue: the discriminating factor of race.
Tribal Interests Add More Weight to the Issue
The word "tribal" is less specific, and carries more geographic and territorial weight than the word racial. Tribal refers to a social division within a larger group that includes families of common geographic origin or lineage but does not exclude individuals that have been adopted or enslaved into the group. The group shares common characteristics amongst its members that distinguish it from a larger social group within the society at whole. Tribal interests are not limited to one specific geographic area, especially in the case of nomadic tribes, but tribal culture remains constant.
Ethnic Conflicts Involve a Broader Scale
Using "ethnic" to describe a conflict employs the broadest term of the three and views the conflict on a larger scale. Ethnic conflicts involve classifying large groups of people by a common background, including common origins of language and culture, religious, tribal or national interests. Ethnic conflicts appear to be more severe than those involving racial or tribal tensions. Former colonies, like those of the African and American continents in the 18th and 19th centuries, have long histories of conflict incited by colonial powers that chose to pit ethnic groups against each other in order to diffuse a united effort to overthrow the imperial power. The footprints of those old conflicts remain today.
Conflict Resolution Depends on Clarity of Terms
Conflict resolution methods have been successful in resolving issues that involve racial, tribal, or ethnic tensions, but only when the terms are clearly defined and one term is not "swapped" for another indiscriminately. The use of each term changes the dimension in which the conflict is viewed and helps to clarify the role of outside political and economic forces involved. Once the terms are clear, it is easier to shape shared goals and manage the conflict in ways that avoid the outbreak of violence.
02 March 2011
US Military Continues to View Cultural Training As Effective Tool
Modern soldiers are equipped with many options for resolving conflict on and off the battlefield. The role of one of those options, cultural training, is being discussed this week by representatives from the academic arena, defense contractors, government agencies, and representatives from all branches of the US military in Sierra Vista, Arizona, at the Training and Doctrine Command Culture Center (TRADOC TCC)'s fifth annual Culture Summit.
A soldier's duty includes the responsibility of understanding the culture and language of an area of operations, no matter how basic that level of understanding may be. The TCC provides resources for making sure a soldiers initial entry into foreign lands is augmented by language skills and cultural awareness.
Lt. Gen P.K.(Ken) Keen, military deputy commander of the Southern Command, outlined the value of cultural training, cultural competency and culture tactics as important components of success in military operations in foreign countries.Keen is charged with operations and security for the Latin American and Caribbean region and has experience serving in Panama, Honduras, Brazil, Columbia, and was recently assigned to the Joint Task Force dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti last year.
A soldier's duty includes the responsibility of understanding the culture and language of an area of operations, no matter how basic that level of understanding may be. The TCC provides resources for making sure a soldiers initial entry into foreign lands is augmented by language skills and cultural awareness.
Lt. Gen P.K.(Ken) Keen, military deputy commander of the Southern Command, outlined the value of cultural training, cultural competency and culture tactics as important components of success in military operations in foreign countries.Keen is charged with operations and security for the Latin American and Caribbean region and has experience serving in Panama, Honduras, Brazil, Columbia, and was recently assigned to the Joint Task Force dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti last year.
28 February 2011
Conflicts Flare in Arab States, Testing an International Culture of Peace
On the playground, the bully attracts immediate attention by resolving conflicts with his fists; yet remains isolated from the rest of the children. But the articulate child, wise enough to use his skills to gather friends and persistently discuss a problem until it is resolved attracts the largest continuous network of followers, eventually winning over the bully, or rejecting him altogether.
Sustainable Culture of Peace
Similar scenarios like the one above were used in a decade-long effort by the United Nations to spark a global turning away from a culture of war towards a more sustainable culture of peace. A U.N. Report on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) summarized a decade of advances from 1,054 civil society organizations working worldwide. That decade came to an end in January 2011, just as unrest in the Arab Region flared. Some of the most notable advances came from the Arab States:
“Through training activities, we have witnessed an increasing number of participants and
people becoming more interested in our activities and in peace actions in general.” – The
Institute for Peace Studies (Egypt)
“It has been found out that schools dropout rates were reduced, youth became more
engaged, online content increased drastically and collaborative projects among children across
borders were produced and newsletters among nations were exchanged to communicate about
issues of conflict in a friendly and peaceful manner.” – World Links Arab Region p.20
Progress Meets Obstacles
According to the Report, the desire for peaceful change needs to be articulated into the public awareness of every country of the world. The means to get that message across comes with a hefty price-tag, at a cost which all participants agreed is more easily managed by organizations promoting war and violence. Twitter, Facebook, and Internet access proved instrumental in mobilizing networks of activists in Tunisia, but states are quick to respond by cutting access. Getting the message out is not the only problem. The Report also found fault with unfiltered messages that reach a culture from afar:
“The news media and entertainment media present a very real obstacle to peace for both
adults and children. There is a steady stream daily of films, television shows, video games and
Internet promotion of blatant sexuality, lack of self esteem, violent behaviors, lack of regard for
human rights and lack of respect for human life.” p.14
“Media has no ears for the culture of peace and nonviolence, they never want to
participate in peace activities.” – The Japanese Society for Developing the Culture of Peace
(Japan)p.23
The Global Movement for the Culture of Peace outlines several areas of concentration including changing the values, behaviors and attitudes of a culture from that of war to that of peace. The goals are lofty, including the following:
Critical Mass
Success in an effort to change a culture of war to a culture of peace may all boil down to numbers. He who has the larger network of people aligned with him wins. He who does not must either join the movement or face rejection. In this manner, non-violent power can best be described as an equation of critical mass.
Sustainable Culture of Peace
Similar scenarios like the one above were used in a decade-long effort by the United Nations to spark a global turning away from a culture of war towards a more sustainable culture of peace. A U.N. Report on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) summarized a decade of advances from 1,054 civil society organizations working worldwide. That decade came to an end in January 2011, just as unrest in the Arab Region flared. Some of the most notable advances came from the Arab States:
“Through training activities, we have witnessed an increasing number of participants and
people becoming more interested in our activities and in peace actions in general.” – The
Institute for Peace Studies (Egypt)
“It has been found out that schools dropout rates were reduced, youth became more
engaged, online content increased drastically and collaborative projects among children across
borders were produced and newsletters among nations were exchanged to communicate about
issues of conflict in a friendly and peaceful manner.” – World Links Arab Region p.20
Progress Meets Obstacles
According to the Report, the desire for peaceful change needs to be articulated into the public awareness of every country of the world. The means to get that message across comes with a hefty price-tag, at a cost which all participants agreed is more easily managed by organizations promoting war and violence. Twitter, Facebook, and Internet access proved instrumental in mobilizing networks of activists in Tunisia, but states are quick to respond by cutting access. Getting the message out is not the only problem. The Report also found fault with unfiltered messages that reach a culture from afar:
“The news media and entertainment media present a very real obstacle to peace for both
adults and children. There is a steady stream daily of films, television shows, video games and
Internet promotion of blatant sexuality, lack of self esteem, violent behaviors, lack of regard for
human rights and lack of respect for human life.” p.14
“Media has no ears for the culture of peace and nonviolence, they never want to
participate in peace activities.” – The Japanese Society for Developing the Culture of Peace
(Japan)p.23
The Global Movement for the Culture of Peace outlines several areas of concentration including changing the values, behaviors and attitudes of a culture from that of war to that of peace. The goals are lofty, including the following:
| CULTURE OF WAR AND VIOLENCE | CULTURE OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE |
| Belief in power that is based on force | Education for a culture of peace |
| Having an enemy | Tolerance, solidarity and international understanding |
| Authoritarian governance | Democratic participation |
| Secrecy and propaganda | Free flow of information |
| Armament | Disarmament |
| Exploitation of people | Human rights |
| Exploitation of nature | Sustainable development |
| Male domination | Equality of women and men |
Critical Mass
Success in an effort to change a culture of war to a culture of peace may all boil down to numbers. He who has the larger network of people aligned with him wins. He who does not must either join the movement or face rejection. In this manner, non-violent power can best be described as an equation of critical mass.
27 February 2011
The Power of Unbridled Human Imagination as a Political and Cultural Force
Politics alone did not drive the recent throngs of people in the Middle East, like those in Tunisia and Egypt and now Libya and others, to rise up against corrupt and deceptive governments. What drove these masses of people to demand change was their belief that by replacing these governments, the life they imagined would be realized. The powers of state no longer represented nor promoted the populations' aspirations for a better existence.
In a thoughtful article, "Culture Matters More Than Politics", Creighton University Theology professor R.R.Reno posits that the "most powerful force in political life is human imagination". He refers to the fact that the constant drumming from partisan politics in the U.S. is making U.S. citizens "Marxists by default", enabling a political machine to define cultural/social values rather than the people themselves. But those members of a political machine who think they can control public opinion are mistaken, especially as the economy remains tenuous.
"Marx held that economic realities are fundamental, and questions of culture are epiphenomenal.
To use the technical terms of Marxist theory, the struggle for economic power functions as the base of social reality, while literature and poetry, music, and the arts are part of the “superstructure” that is determined by the base. Thus the primacy of politics, for whoever controls the levers of state power can influence and guide economic affairs, and thus control everything."
Pundits and partisan panderers may think they hold the reins of a social consciousness, but they are mistaken. Like hot coals from a past fire, something deeper lies smoldering at the core of a people's collective imagination,waiting for a single spark to ignite. As of yet, no state has employed inception to steer the dreams and imagination of its people. The force of human imagination remains unbridled, and therefore, a worthy force in inciting upheaval over dominating authority.
In a thoughtful article, "Culture Matters More Than Politics", Creighton University Theology professor R.R.Reno posits that the "most powerful force in political life is human imagination". He refers to the fact that the constant drumming from partisan politics in the U.S. is making U.S. citizens "Marxists by default", enabling a political machine to define cultural/social values rather than the people themselves. But those members of a political machine who think they can control public opinion are mistaken, especially as the economy remains tenuous.
"Marx held that economic realities are fundamental, and questions of culture are epiphenomenal.
To use the technical terms of Marxist theory, the struggle for economic power functions as the base of social reality, while literature and poetry, music, and the arts are part of the “superstructure” that is determined by the base. Thus the primacy of politics, for whoever controls the levers of state power can influence and guide economic affairs, and thus control everything."
Pundits and partisan panderers may think they hold the reins of a social consciousness, but they are mistaken. Like hot coals from a past fire, something deeper lies smoldering at the core of a people's collective imagination,waiting for a single spark to ignite. As of yet, no state has employed inception to steer the dreams and imagination of its people. The force of human imagination remains unbridled, and therefore, a worthy force in inciting upheaval over dominating authority.
In a "G-Zero" World, Military Might Takes a Backseat in Cultural Conflicts
The United States has defined, driven, and determined the global outreach of its culture and economy for the six decades since World War II. With 2011, however, we've emerged into a "G-Zero" world, in which no outstanding power drives the rest. Several cultures compete for dominance, or merely to remain vibrant and alive. The conflict no longer carries the military weight it once wielded. China, for example, is just as intent on preserving and promoting its culture as well as its products.
The forecast for resolving cultural conflicts may appear more daunting to North America in the decades to come, as it has lost its position as the heavy hand in negotiations. To decrease the tension with sparring partners, it must rely on its capacity to remain confident that in the act of awakening democratic possibilities in other people, it empowers them to imagine and share the "American dream".The trick is to remain authentic in this effort, even when overshadowed by emerging powers.
The forecast for resolving cultural conflicts may appear more daunting to North America in the decades to come, as it has lost its position as the heavy hand in negotiations. To decrease the tension with sparring partners, it must rely on its capacity to remain confident that in the act of awakening democratic possibilities in other people, it empowers them to imagine and share the "American dream".The trick is to remain authentic in this effort, even when overshadowed by emerging powers.
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