The West and the Rest

The West and the Rest

3 main themes: The world’s cultural diversity in the age of

globalization – does it breed conflict and impede cooperation?

The distribution of power in the world system Organization of societies in the world system

3 main perspectives: liberal conservative radical

Francis Fukuyama, the liberal view – the world is increasingly integrated on the basis of Western liberal ideas

Samuel Huntington, the conservative view – the world is divided into civilizations which tend to come into conflict; the Western experience is unique

Immanuel Wallerstein, the radical view – the world capitalist system has a core and a periphery

The Smart Stitch http://www.theonion.com/content/video/

new_portable_sewing_machine_lets

The first civilizations arise in the South and the East – the West is “barbarian”

Levels of human development, UN Human Development Report, 2010

Western

Latin American

Slavic Orthodox

Islamic

Sub-Saharan African

Sinic

Hindu

Japanese

Contemporary civilizations, according to S. Huntington

Distribution of power, economic and political Development of the modern state Capital accumulation on a global scale Result: In the Modern Age, the West emerged as the core of the

world system The past 500 years – the age of Western dominance

2 perceptions of the West The West as modernity and progress

Development of more effective and successful forms of social organization

The West as aggressor and exploiter Ruthless exploitation of the Rest, backed up by military

superiorityChallenge to the Rest

Adopt Western ways – and accept Western domination Fight for liberation from Western control; protect your

civilization; try to redistribute world power more equitably

Power in the global markets

Three quarters of all transnational corporations are based in North America, Western Europe and JapanNinety-nine of the 100 largest transnational corporations are from the industrialized countries

The loss of languages: of 6,500 only 3,000 remain: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/linguistics/endangered.jsp

What happens with globalization Nation-states lose their ability to control the economy A single global hierarchy of wealth and power is created The West remains the core of the global system What happens in the periphery?

There is Africa at the bottom – ironically, with the highest level of public support for capitalism

But the periphery is also the place of Rising Powers Each of them has used its own policies of development The West vs. Rising Powers?

The global power shift: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=_N4ZCq9BJ2A

The Rise of China: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/

china_celebrates_its_status_as

Western colonialism was overthrown in the 20th century Colonial empires were replaced with new independent

states But in a globalized world, the West retains positions of

dominance As more and more non-Western countries embrace

democratization, will democracy undermine Western positions there?

The West is dependent on the Rest Domination is increasingly difficult

The Global War on Terror fiasco The global economic crisis Western prescriptions are often rejected Western confidence is shattered The global power shift to BRICs

The global society Integrated - and divided Power relations in the global political economy – who

owns and controls it Cultural differences and common challenges:

Prospects Divisions or unity? Conflict or cooperation? The liberal globalist perspective:

Globalization, for all its problems, makes the world safer and more prosperous

Danger of de-globalization and fragmentation of the world system into competing blocs

A new world order can be created through collective efforts of states to manage the global system

A conservative perspective Nations compete, the West is challenged, new wars are

likely Geopolitical conflicts The West will remain distinct The West must struggle to maintain its hegemony and

advantage Peace and security can be achieved only through

Western strength and unity

Radical perspectives: globalist and nationalist Globalist

The main axis of conflict in the world is not between the West and the Rest, but between global capital and global labour

Organizing workers everywhere, building solidarity of the oppressed

Struggles for democracy, human rights, disarmament, ecological recovery – everywhere

The goal – a world order based on democracy and justice, to be achieved through either reforms or revolutions

Nationalist Agrees with the radical globalist vision, but emphasizes

the role of nation-states as key instruments in the global struggle for a new world order

National sovereignty vs. global control Economic nationalism (protectionism) Preservation of national identity, defence of national

interests