Development, Social Movements and Third World Resistance - Assignment Example

Q WHAT I LEARNED THIS SEMESTER FROM SYLLABUS? International law, as its suggests, explores the structure, development and implementationof law at international level by interlinking various sovereign states of the world under its banner. I got an opportunity of studying the famous book “International Law from Below: Development, Social Movements and Third World Resistance” thoroughly during the first weeks of the semester at my classroom. The book is a nice presentation reflecting a comprehensive analysis on the subject of international law by prominent writer and scholar Balakrishnan Rajagopal. The book describes in an elevated way the scheme behind the development of international law as well as the motivating forces which regulate and drive the social movements especially in third world countries. Rajagopal has elaborated the theme behind the working of international institutions. I came across the real motives of the great powers, which are reluctant to surrender their imperialistic rule all over the world as it was during past centuries. It was really a topic quite new and novel for me to get acquaintance with the depth of politics dictating the states and governments so that the poor countries cannot grow economically, socially and politically. The big powers, as I learnt, want to go ahead far from the third world countries instead of taking them along with. It is therefore they always try to introduce and recommend age-old technology to these countries which they have given up for their own countries to adopt new ways of technological and cultural advancements. By this, they mean to keep third world backward and economically down-trodden. In the same way, I studied Antony Anghies book under the title "Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law", during my first semester. The book is equally valuable, and concentrates on international politics and social movements organized in the third world countries, in a concise and systematic way. The author declares all social movements being organized in the third world countries as the part of the western campaign to prolong their imperialistic scheme of subjugating the third world in one way or the other. The great European powers, which are controlling the bridles of the third world governments, not only allocating their resources to feather their own caps from the platform of the international organizations, but also working vehemently to subjugate their ex-colonies. Both the authors have discussed almost the same subjects in their works, which gave sound boost to my knowledge and comprehension regarding international law and politics. Further, I also learnt the activities of other international institutions and their performances too. It was quite shocking for me to note that how dramatically the funding agencies working secretly to accomplish the agenda by pouring old ale of past imperialism into new bottles of international law. The role international institutions are playing in the name of social equality and social justice as well as human rights actually are acting sharply opposite to that all. The Bretton Woods, NIEO and other organizations of similar capacity simply widening the gap between the first and third worlds of the universe. The enforcement of their own cultural traits keeps the poor even poorer and mentally slave to the western masters. The governments and politicians of the third world are actually responsible for the socioeconomic backwardness of their countries, which play the role of viceroy and agent of the big powers. These politicians are mere traitors, and performing the same tasks as some rulers and ministers played in Indian sub-continent during the Britishers’ struggle to capture the sub-continent in 18th and 19th centuries. Mir Jafar, Mir Sadiq and such other ministers and politicians of India secretly supported the British invaders by conspiring against their rulers for mercenary purposes. The third world rulers are doing the same as their predecessors did in order to prolong their rule. They bow before the policies of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund even they know that these policies may jeopardize the very future of their countries by paralyzing their economies. I also comprehended with the mental approach of the political leaders who organize and promote social movements by studying these works of great worth. By this, I learn, they are indirectly working on the agenda of foreign masters by dividing their nation. In the sum up, the books have opened new dimensions of knowledge, wisdom and vigilance before my eyes. Q 2: Identify the arguments made by Rajagopal & Anghie. On what points do they agree? On what points do they disagree? Please be concise. Answer: Both Rajagopal and Anghie had discussed the same topic i.e. international law with the perspective of third world countries in their books. Rajagopal describes in an elevated way the scheme behind the development of international law as well as the motivating forces which regulate and drive the social movements especially in third world countries. The author has skillfully applied the terms like first world, third world, social institutions, transitional law and others, which reflect his command over the subject under study. Rajagopal has focused on the third world political and social movements and pointed out the forces behind these movements. Further, he states international institutions and social movements as the fundamental components of contemporary international law. The understanding of socioeconomic and political theories as well as activities of NGOs is very necessary to study international law, he argues. The book reveals his deep insight into the discipline when Rajagopal recommends monitoring of the common people and their activities and movements for having knowledge of international law. The suppression of resistance movements of third world countries, according to the author, remind the world regarding colonial times repressions while dealing the so called rebels i.e. the freedom-fighters. “Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law” is also an important book on the subject of International Law by Antony Anghie. The writer strictly goes against the enforcement of imperialism in the name of law. The author sees eye to eye with the idea of sixteenth century Spanish philosopher and thinker Francisco de Vitoria’s theory against the expanding colonization campaigns of European countries. The book signifies the concept of the term third world and development of social institutions and movements as well in these countries. There are so many similarities in the works of both the authors. Both of them look agree at the point that there is involvement of developed countries in the development of social movements in third world countries. Both the writers see eye to eye with the idea that the big powers regulate the performances of social movements in poor countries. Both the writers also admit the fact that international law currently in force is the continuance of age old imperialism prevailing in the world from eighteenth to twentieth centuries, where Asian and African countries were undergoing slavery. There is a state of consensus between the two at the point that the rich nations inflict their cultural traits in the name of socioeconomic schemes and aid. By this, they simply intend to prolong their imperialism in new form. Both Rajagopal and Anghie agree that the socio-political strategies including New World Order, Globalization, WTO and others have been designed on the foundation of hypocrisy to give old colonization a new form. The western lawyers seek the universality of international law based on equality and justice. On the other hand, the lawyers belonging to the third world absolutely declare it as a source of afflicting the will and domination of great powers with the help of statute of law so that the poor countries could be suppressed with the clutches of so called reforms. Both the writers agree at the point that all the international forums and institutions working under the UNO are actually the platforms from where new concepts of colonization are being given birth to. Both the scholars criticize the Mandate system by declaring it the appointing of agents in place of viceroy to safeguard the interests of the great economies. The big economic states are involved in splitting the poor nations in the name of region, religion, race, gender, class and community in the name of human rights. The harmony between the subjects of the Third World nation may spoil the plans of the western powers. Rajagopal argues that the lawyers all over the world believe human rights movements as platform to eradicate social inequality and injustice. On the other hand, the contemporary social movements, supported by the west, promote social conflict between different socioeconomic classes. Both the political scholars have discussed the Bretton Woods International in their works, and maintain almost the same views on the subject. Both these political scientists declare it a plan to turn the masses of third world countries into beggars by offering them loans and dictating their policies to their governments in exchange. Rajagopal blames super powers efforts to promote democratic governments just to bring their own political culture. Anghie also describes the same by declaring it a conspiracy against the third world countries and their political systems. There are slight differences in the opinions of both these political thinkers too. International law, as Rajagopal states, sustains the rich economies of the world maintain their status quo regarding dominating over the developing countries of the third world. Anghie, on the other hand, condemns the western strategies of democracy and political governments mere a tactic to introduce their own culture in the name of international law. Rajagopal states this prejudiced attitude on the basis of Christians and non-Christians, while Anghie takes it as an outcome of biased ness between European and non-European people. Rajagopal has criticized the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and New International Economic Order (NIEO), in his works, while Anghie has not discussed these institutions in details. Rajagopal observes roots of colonialism in all the institutions under the UNO, while Anghie witnesses the revitalization of neo-colonialism in the pretext of the terrorist attacks on the USA and America’s campaign as its repercussion. Rajagopal looks for the observance of international law all over the world without discrimination. Similarly, Anghie points out prejudiced attitude of Western governments in respect of policy making and implementations of the statutes of international law and justice. Thus both the scholars condemn the international law by stating it a harmful weapon in the hands of biased Western powers of the world. Q 3: Are we saying above that the eliminations of all the stated factors will free 3rd world nations from the bondage of Egocentricities of the western world? Answer: Economic factors carry out the pivotal part not only in the individuals lives, but also in the life of nations and states. Gone are the days when military power and ammunition was the only sign of strength of a country. Now economic stability and uplift are thought as the token of power and domination. It is therefore Japan had kept herself away for the race of ammunition and atomic technology to devote complete attention on economic stability after her defeat in WWII. All the successful sovereign states are struggling hard to make economic progress by leaps and bounds in order to capture the international markets. But unfortunately, the third world countries are unable to understand this secret. They make short-term plans and seek foreign aid in the form of loans to run their economies. During the course of this effort they forget the reality that they will have to return these loans along with high rate of interest in future. The donor agencies inflict restrictions on political, social, economic and foreign policies of the borrower countries, and they are unable to play a respectable and decisive part in international disputes and political platforms. The elimination of loans and borrowing from the great powers and their agent monetary organizations will surely free the third world countries from Egocentricities of the west, and they will be more independent to make strategies at national and international levels. Q 4: What do you mean? For Africa, there must be Africanism government---something that defines the peoples politics and identity? Answer: Before colonial adventures of the western powers during eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there were independent political systems of governments prevailing in the Asian and African states of the world. There was either tribal system of royal state of government in these parts of the world. India, Persia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Morocco, Nigeria and other countries observed political system where crown was the sign of rule, and people were under the rule of emperor or king. Most of the countries were divided into small states and provinces, and were called as princely states in which king, princes, feudal lords and knights regulated the affairs of government. With the advent of western powers in these countries, they imposed their nefarious designs of imperialism and treated the defeated territories very harshly. During their last years of rule, these western powers divided the poor subjugated nations by implementing their own systems of government i.e. democracy. Unfortunately, these nations thought it better and advanced way of ruling the nation; by this they forgot altogether that every system cannot sustain everywhere. The African and Asian countries consisted of countless clans, tribes and communities. The democratic system divided the nation and weakened them as nation as well as they lost their separate identity too. Q 5: what do you think are the objectives of the western nations in pushing for a divided society or class war type conflicts in the 3rd world? Be concise. Answer: The western powers promote social movements in third world countries. These social movements are launched in the name of human rights, though all such efforts are made on the basis of class, caste, clan, community, region, religion, race, sect, gender and others. Such movements, morally and sometimes financially too supported by western organizations, divide the country as a nation. A divided nation is unable to set the targets and make plans to achieve these goals to combat the challenges of modern world. Rather, such movements prevent the nation as a whole to make progress collectively. There are objectives of the western powers behind that all, which look for the divided nations in third world states. A divided nation will remain lagging far behind in comparison with the developed countries of the world, and will never be able to challenge them in any field of life. Thus, such countries will present the image of semi-slave state, just to obey the commands of western powers while making internal and external policies. The class conflict and socioeconomic rivalries cause the wastage of energies, resources and productivity in a country, and they remain limited to petty matters of conflict forgetting all about the high aims and wonderful achievements they should have to make to obtain a respectable place in the international parity. . REFERENCE Anghie, Antony. Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law. Cambridge University Press, 2005. Rajagopal, Balakrishnan. International Law from Below: Development, Social Movements and Third World Resistance. Cambridge University Press, 2003 Read More