The Post World War II Era - Essay Example

You’re In the Midst of the War against Terrorism Mysterious and uncertain aptly describes the latter part of the twentieth century. This uncertainty continues to manifest itself in the twenty first century. The world is in the era of political interdependency, economic rivalry and even age old conflict. It immersed man into a period of change, since world events continuously shift directions and undergo revisions. The new era poses greater challenges to critically analyze various conflicts of the past as well as the present and to be able to adapt to contradictory circumstances like the disintegration of states into a smaller and homogenous ethnic communities, to the integration of a larger and more economically viable bloc. The discussion of the current war against terrorism can be fully comprehended by taking into consideration world events which directly or indirectly affected it. Most of these events are communicated to the public via representation in the media. Media played an increasingly significant role in being able to move images and sounds across cultural and geographical borders (Lecture5: September 11 as Event and Representation, p.9). This essay will analyze how the current war against terrorism affects the Arab and Muslim population. And in doing so, media representations will likewise be of help in analyzing the aforementioned situations. Similarly, it will be analyzed in the light of postmodernism or post structuralism. The post World War II era, ushers the rise of two world super powers, the USA and the USSR and this accounts for what is now known as the Cold War. The Cold war was a battle of ideologies as well as a battle between two different political and economic orders, (Lecture5: September 11 as Event and Representation, p. 1) capitalism versus communism. It likewise engages in the control over geographical territories as well as political and economic influence over different nation-states. It became a contest between the two super powers. Correspondingly, all other nation-states’ alliance politically or economically had to be made with either a super power. (Lecture5: September 11 as Event and Representation, p.1). The post 1945 era likewise fosters numerous anti colonial movements. The transition from colony to nation state, which is mostly comprised of third world countries, chooses between either capitalism or communism. Yugoslavia, India, Egypt and Indonesia are among the proponents of the non-aligned movement. The movement focussed on the anti-imperialism and anti colonialism of the west, mutual respect for nation states and territories and the promotion of economic ties among others. The said non-aligned movement steadily moved away from these issues. (Lecture5: September 11 as Event and Representation, p.1) However this movement was never really practised as such, because many of these countries did have economic and political ties with either the US or the USSR. The Unification of Germany, Fall of Communist Russia, Apartheid in South Africa, Fall of Authoritarian and military regimes in Latin America and Asia, the Gulf War, the disintegration of the former communist states are some of the noted flashpoints which occurred during the latter part of the twentieth century. Major changes like these, greatly affect world situation, for there is a flux with regard world powers. These circumstances led the world to value economic gains so as to determine the strength of any nation, coupled with technological advances which correspondingly increase the production of goods. On the other hand, there is also the so called “settling down process” wherein a political evolution during which ethnic or nationalist fragments seek attachment to a larger entity or a new power base to survive economically (Wright and Mc Manus: Flashpoints, p.23) and politically as well. The occurrence of these flashpoints leads to various assumptions as well as events which will change the public’s perspective on World Order. The Post Cold War period brought forth no major power centre which establishes hegemony over the world; rather the situation is highly fragmented, with a few zones of relative stability. It is likewise surrounded by large areas of prolonged instability and violence. The disintegration of states and the integration to an economically viable block, as well as the proliferation of local wars, civil wars, insurgent conflicts, as well as ethnic and religious strife are the realities which confronts the new millennium. Aside from the foregoing, there is also the big possibility of a nuclear and chemical weapon usage in any conflict which may arise. The aforementioned events have in one way or the other have a connection to what happened in that fateful day of September 11, 2001, the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York the Capitol and the Pentagon. The event of 9-11 attacks made it a major event of the twenty first century. It brought about the commencement of terrorism and terrorist activities in the world. Wark describes it as a weird global media event, because it called the world into being and it likewise defies explanation. In line with this, the weird global media event is always contrary to the expectation and it likewise announces the presence of an unstable world- a world immune to interpretation. (Lecture 5: September 11 as Event and Representation, p. 4) A post modernist analysis for the 9/11 attacks is advantageous because of its skeptic and self critical attitudes, and as such, it refines one’s sensitivity to differences. Post modernism addresses the issues of representation, reproduction and legitimation so as to examine an event. At this point, it is noteworthy to mention the concept of terms from the viewpoint of US, which because of its influence, more often than not represents the definition of a concept or a term. Its language and representation are adhered to by many nation-states, it being the dominant power in the post cold war era. The 9/11 fosters changes in the US’ foreign and domestic policies. These policies refer to older colonial ways of thinking and acting in global terms. Similarly, it envisions a new world order. (Lecture 6: Histories and New World Orders, p.1). Such policies of the US are not based from representation of other nations, but are correspondingly, an American interests and values, since it imposes upon itself the role of a global arbiter of freedom, liberty and justice. (Lecture 6: Histories and New World Orders, p.2). The concept of liberty and justice are among the highly contestable concepts in the world. This is so, because the said concepts differ in the viewpoints of nation states, mainly due to its different historical background and contexts. The US policies likewise mentioned different areas of conflicts, as well as what is called “Rogue states” wherein it defines it as “brutalize their own people and squander their national resources for the personal gain of the rulers; display no regard for international law, threaten their neighbours, and callously violate international treaties to which they are party; are determined to acquire weapons of mass destruction, along with other advance military technology, to be used as threats or offensively to achieve the aggressive design of these regimes; sponsor terrorism around the globe and reject basic human values and hates the US and everything for which it stands for.” (qtd. TWH, 2002 in Lecture 6: Histories and New World Orders, p. 4-5) Rogue states as defined above can be perceived as the distance and difference between an “us” and a “them” (Lecture 6: Histories and New World Orders, p. 6). Such definition have something to do with what Edward Said’s concept of “imaginative geography,” and this have something to do with a designation of which is “ours” and an unfamiliar space beyond “ours.” And as per the context of Orientalism, the imaginative geography, takes on a very specific set of ways and thinking about self and others in terms of geographic spaces; and this is based on the Orient’s special place in European Western experience. (Lecture 6: Histories and New World Orders, p.6). Baudrillard states that terrorism is the non state terrorism, it is the fourth world war; it is that which haunts every global order, every hegemonic denomination. (Baudrillard, The Spirit of Terrorism, 2001). For Baudrillard, contemporary culture is increasingly determined by an array of technologically produced simulacra which has come to hijack reality itself. The simulacra are based on the generative power of media technology. Films and documentaries among others which dealt on the events of 9/11 like The Falling Man, The path to 9/11, United 93 and recently World Trade Centre focuses on the human story of the event and it fails to discuss the examination, evaluation and the vulnerability of the US under the said circumstances. On the other hand, news stories about 9/11 attacks zeroed in on the topic with regards the on going war to combat terrorism. Media representations of the 9/11 become a focus on a spectacle. (Lecture 7: Image as Politics, p. 2) The spectacular image of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon imprints in the public minds the horror of collapsing buildings as well as the sorrow, fear and the grief of the people as the event unfolds. This manifests the all too human side of the event. The said images are now used for a range of purposes: to silence any critics of US imperialism and to silence any murmurings about governments and US policies (Lecture 7: Image as Politics, p. 2) among others. For Baudrillard, these are concepts that address the politics of images as signs. He understood contemporary society not on spectacle but on sign-exchange value. (Lecture 7: Image as Politics, p. 3). Baudrillards simulation provides that the imitation is still singular or distinctive and it claims to access the real. The real does not efface itself in favour of the imaginary: it effaces itself in favour of the more real that real – the hyperreal. (qtd, Baudrillard, 1990 in Lecture 7: Image as Politics, p. 4) The media representations of 9/11, focused on the victims of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon and not on the event presenting the US itself. One exceptional documentary which presents another side of the story is the documentary entitled Control Room. The documentary presents the Al Jazeera’s coverage of the US led war against Iraq. It courageously presents the footages of civilian casualties and American Prisoners of War. It likewise fearlessly demonstrates the human cost of war and Noujam’s interviews on the centre of a war torn location. Another striking aspect of the film was how it dawned on a marine officer to look at the war differently, in the eyes of an Arab that is, and the interview on a news personnel of Al Jazeera about how he would like to have his children live the American dream and leave the Arab nightmare. This is such a rarity to see such honesty amidst the tough times confronting them. The aforementioned media representation of Al Jazeera offers an alternative perspective on the coverage of the western based news networks. This alternative viewpoint can likewise be utilized in structuring the stories from the Middle East region. It provides the news from the vantage point of the Middle Eastern people and in that order images and stories can present the two sides of the events. This challenges the hyperreal in relation to the media representation of 9/11. Aside from the representation of 9/11, post modernism addresses the issue of legitimation. Post modernism emphasizes on power to have legitimation. Power has obvious political ideals; it decides judgment, human behaviour, what the law is and what legitimation is. It can be inferred from the speeches of US President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard, that after the 9/11 attacks, both governments vowed to eradicate terrorism in their respective domestic scenes as well as globally. Terrorism, being immoral per se legitimizes government’s actions to fight and resist such acts. The US and Australian governments, being allies in its global war on terrorism stressed on the importance of the long term struggle against Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network and other terrorist groups. The US led war against terrorism addresses a strategy for defeating Islamic terrorists, among which are: to prevent attacks, the denial of the usage as well as the production of weapons of mass destruction, sanctuary to the terrorists, prevention of gaining control of any nation, the promotion of democratic reforms and the rule of law to undermine further recruitment. The US and its allies, being world powers legitimizes their attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan to prevent further terrorists acts which establishes a threat to security and most importantly to mankind. It can be argued that the current war on terrorism discriminates a greater number of Arabs and Muslim in various part of the globe. The current war against terrorism again raises the concept of Orientalism as previously discussed. In this light, “Islamophobia” is at its peak during this time. Terrorism as presented by numerous media is most often than not equated with Arab and Muslim population. Islamophobia is a term compounded by Westerners and journalists alike who routinely describe the politicisation of Islam with words like extremism and militancy. (Lippman, Understanding Islam, p.390). Islam, is the only religion in the world which propounds its believers an entire way of life. It consists of a political system and a distinct body of law. It is the religion of the majority across the North Africa, Middle East and South Central Asia regions. As such, it had a broad ranging influence on the political, economic and social development of the aforementioned areas. And like any other concept or ideology, it has gaps between theory and practice as well as interpretation. Current development tells us that the US and its allies specified its enemies as the Islam Radicalism which they abhor to, and not the Islam faith as a whole. They provide that the radicals openly stated their terrorist attacks and plans in videos, audio tapes, and letters and in the internet. Islam Radicalism can be equated as a part of Bin Laden’s revolutionary strategy in imposing his harsh ideology on the Muslims. This consequently exploits the resentful and disillusioned young men and women, wherein they are recruited through radical mosques as pawns of error. (Bush, Speech at the National Endowment for Democracy, 2005) As Prime Minister Howard said in his speech, we are in faced in a challenge of safety, stability and security. The threat of terrorism is unlike any other threat the world has seen, it is a different kind of threat that requires a different response. (Howard, Speech to Parliament, 2004) In response to the 9/11 and subsequent terror attacks, the US, UK and Australia among others enacted New Anti-terror laws. These laws run a fine line between racial and religious profiling and the tracking of terrorists. (Lecture 9: Reading Bodies, p. 1) These laws scoured the civil liberties of the people; correspondingly, it redefines the concept of national sovereignty in the name of national security. Similarly, the ratification and endorsement of anti terror laws, not just in Australia, but globally as well generates disparity between the subject matter under discussion and the identity. Therefore, the incarceration of the racialised others may be reconstituted as risks to the security of the nation (Lecture 9: Reading Bodies, p. 7) becomes the extra-ordinary power of governments in enforcing and implementing the anti terrorism laws. And based on the foregoing, it is a sad plight that anti terror laws singled out the Arab-Muslim population to address terrorism. In the midst of preservation of peace and the combating of terrorism, it is a moral responsibility imposed upon mankind overcome violence that afflicts many area of the world. Consciousness with regards the threats of terrorism as well as the conflicts that go along with it are all intended to diminish fear and suspicions. Enactment of safety nets like anti terrorism laws are but valid responses to the calls of the time. However, the law, being the law and other measures should be geared towards equality and fairness that in no case can be considered racialised. Work Cited Baudrillard, Jean. “The Spirit of Terrorism.” Le Monde (November 2, 2001), October 23, 2006. Bush, George W. Speech at the National Endowment for Democracy. “Islamic Radicalism doomed to fail.” (October6, 2005) October 27, 2006. Bush, George W. Speech on the Fifth Year Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “A War unlike we have fought before.” (September 11, 2006) October 27, 2006. Claiming Potential Terrorist threat, Howard Rushes Amendment to counter Terrorism Legislation (November 2, 2005) October 25, 2006 Control Room. Documentary. Jehane Noujaim. DVD. 2004 Howard, John, Speech to Parliament. “Howard’s Iraq Speech. (March 30, 2004) October 25, 2006 Your Professor’s Name. Lecture 5: September 11 as Event and Representation. Date. Your Professor’s Name. Lecture 6: Histories and New World Order. Date. Your Professor’s Name. Lecture 7: Images as Politics. Date. Your Professor’s Name. Lecture 9: Reading Bodies. Date. Lippman, Thomas W. Understanding Islam: An Introduction to Muslim World (Revised Edition). New York, USA: Mentor. 1990 Wright, Robin and Doyle Mc Manus. Flashpoints: Promise and Peril in a New World Order, New York, USA: Alfred A. Knoff (1991) Read More