From Jonah Stuart Brundage: Should we forget 9/11?Hello, my name is Jonah Stuart Brundage. I am a senior concentrator in International Relations, focusing on the track of Politics, Culture and Identity. This course greatly appeals to me in both its theoretical approach to international relations and its emphasis on the importance of history. I believe that in order to even begin to comprehend contemporary international relations, it is necessary to assume a historical viewpoint, excavating the originating moments in the development of modern IR theory and practice. Moreover, I believe that such cultural and ideational social phenomena as identity and difference, self and other—as emphasized by this course—are essential to explaining IR. Consequently, I am taking this course to further familiarize myself with a set of approaches to and readings on international relations that relate to my own theoretical interests within the discipline, but are nonetheless often shunned by mainstream IR. September 11 was a horribly tragic moment in our nation’s history and we must continue to honor and mourn its victims. Nonetheless, our government’s symbolic usage of this event, as a justification for many foreign and domestic policies, is seriously detrimental to the interests of both the American people and global security. Thus, while we should not forget September 11, it is absolutely necessary to move beyond our often myopic fixation with it. In the first instance, our elevation of September 11 to an act of war, analogous to those committed by states, is certainly not the most effective means of combating terrorism. Terrorist networks, in their very nature, are fundamentally different from national states, and must be combated accordingly. And despite the current administration’s talk of a post-9/11 era (a problematic term, in itself) as necessitating a fundamentally new approach to foreign policy, this approach—from the use of the word “war” to the act of invading state sponsors of terrorism—remains locked in an anachronistic era of inter-state relations. It would probably be much more effective to treat terrorism within the framework of global law enforcement, requiring a pooling of resources on the part of states rather than the traditional state action of war. Moreover, our September 11 fixation not only inadequately combats the real threat of terrorism but furthers the possibility of additional threats to human society. The domestic response of our government, like its foreign policy counterpart, represents, in many respects, not a new paradigm for a globally integrated world but a reassertion of the coercive apparatus of the modern state. Fortunately, we are indeed finally beginning to move beyond September 11, as the decreased media focus on this year’s anniversary seems to suggest. In order to further this process, however, we need to radically reconceptualize our understanding of national and global security. We need to view terrorism as just one of many possible threats facing both our country and humanity, and not necessarily the greatest threat either. In this respect, projects like the Global Security Matrix put us on the right track, inasmuch as they help us view and assess multiple threats simultaneously and urge us to move from a national to a global notion of security. Of course, we can also take concrete political action by electing leaders who will implement more sensible policies regarding the threat of terrorism. Nonetheless, although these actions may help us move beyond our current fixation on September 11, the general problem of our country’s response is, at least in part, the product of deeper structural problems—namely, the continued existence of the modern nation-state coupled with a fundamentally new global system. Although terrorism is merely one of many threats to human beings, it is a much greater threat to the state, for it undermines its very basis for existence—the monopoly on violence (hence the attempt by the United States to reassert that monopoly in both the international and domestic arenas). Although this logic may be somewhat overly deterministic, I do believe it signals that the only way to adequately approach terrorism is to move beyond the modern states system. Until this is the case, the phenomenon of the American response to September 11 will likely be recurring. Posted by Matrix Admin on September 20, 2007 09:04 AM | Permalink |
From Ben James: Should we forget 9/11?Hello all. I’m Ben James and I’m from Monticello Minnesota transferring to Brown from Suffolk University in Boston. I’ve stuck with International Relations as my major/concentration since my senior year in high school and am currently considering a double major with IR and Middle East studies or Philosophy. I plan on pursuing the global security track within my major. I am very happy with my decision to study International Relations because quite simply I believe the most important issues for humanity are best analyzed with an understanding of both global politics and of the world’s increasingly interconnected cultures. Everything that is important to everyone and much that is important to many is either directly or indirectly addressed when studying International Relations. This class seems apt for someone, like myself, who wants to better understand both the underlying fundamentals and the contentious topics of International Relations theory. I love the question should we forget 9/11 because at first it sounds like such an absurd question that shouldn’t be entertained, but we are simultaneously inclined to wonder why someone would ask it in the first place. That’s an indication we may gain something very important from considering it. It of course would be deplorable and indeed unwarranted to abandon sentiments of sadness for those who perished on 9/11. Furthermore it is unlikely and (perhaps) uncalled for to discard feelings of anger for those who carried out those atrocities. However I am convinced Americans by and large have come to replace those emotions with widespread fear, distrust and animosity towards larger groups of people who largely or wholly had nothing to do with terrorist acts against the U.S. Acting (ostensibly) in accordance with those ill feelings the American government has not only expanded its military presence to two nations where it has a vested national interest, but it has curtailed American citizen’s civil liberties. This argument has been made before and tends to divide people more or less along “party lines”. I believe this results from a misunderstanding (or lack of understanding) of the larger issue. The truth is Osama bin Laden and the terrorist network he heads was and is a threat to American security. That complicated network is also a threat to people and states across the world who do not share their ideology. Accordingly the United States should have, and to an extent did, act in concert with many other nations. But the U.S. was the known hegemonic actor and its leading of the invasion was accepted at least in part for regrets of 9/11. The Taliban needed to be replaced with a legitimate government, Bin Laden needs to be brought to justice and al-Qaeda must be completely dismantled; but in the process of achieving those ends basic human rights must be secured, i.e. the maintenance of food supplies for the starving and general concern for civilian welfare. In the invasion of Afghanistan the American public thoughtlessly dismissed both in lieu of vindicating 9/11. This is just one example, obviously parallel issues apply for the U.S. decision to invade Iraq, U.S. operations in Iraq and the limitations of domestic civil liberties. I maintain that we (residents of America) have succumbed to replacing justifiable outrage at a select few for an indiscriminate hostility towards large groups of people. This replacement is evidentially dangerous for the global community as it can be and has been abused to further agendas deserving of critical scrutiny. It is apparent that if this is the only memory we are capable of having for 9/11 everyone would be better off if we did indeed forget. Posted by Matrix Admin on September 20, 2007 09:01 AM | Permalink |
911On the eve of September 11 2007, I was about to go to sleep when my bedroom door swung open. "Prakriti, you have to come see this", my father yelled. My family spent the entire night in front of the T.V. watching in horror as one of the most influential countries in the world was bombed repeatedly. U.S.A. was attacked and over the hours the casualties was summed. My country was facing its own crisis (one that is yet to resolve). People were killed on a daily basis in my country so as a twelve year old this new number of 2974 didn't strike me as being any diffrent from the thousands i had read about in teh local papers. The truth of the matter is that it was. The news of America's misfortunes made the headlines of every single country in the world and affected every single aspect of human activity. Perhaps 911 was the incident that triggered my interest in International politics or International Relations. How do countries interact with each other? Who gets to decide whose problems should make the headlines and grab all the media attention? Why did the death of 2974 affect the world in more ways than say the murder of more than 800,000 who died in the Rwandan genocide? i feel like international relatios might give me a bettr insight at answering these questions. Six ears have elapsed since that day yet people haven't moved on. We still feel its effect even in regular activities be it while boarding a plane where you have to throw away a brand new tude of face wash because it contains more than 100 ml of liquid or when you turn on the news and hear about the war in Iraq. It is impossible to let go of a loss so big but it seems like holding on to the past is causing nothing but trouble. People should move on from 911 as there are bigger problems plageing the world today. There is the environment that needs to be saved, the millios of people suffering from aids who need a cure, countries that need basic infrastructure and children who need a future. While we wallop in teh sorrows of 911 these otehr issues are taking a rear seat. It is about time people stopped living in the past. P.S. I haven't decided what I want to major in yet. Posted by Prakriti Thami on September 19, 2007 09:09 PM | Permalink |
From Nandini Jayakrishna: Should we forget 9/11?My name is Nandini and I'm a sophomore concentrating in International Relations. I'm still deciding between the Global Security and the Political Economy and Development tracks and I'm hoping this class will give me a better sense of what I'm interested in. This is only my second IR class after the introductory PS40 and I feel that it will deepen my understanding of the major themes of the subject. Understanding the present is difficult without a basic knowledge of the past and I'm sure that as we cover the evolution of the study of IR, I will be better able to understand how we've come to create the world we live in today. On the morning of September 11, 2007 I was watching CNN and I heard the reporter refer to the "sixth anniversary of 9/11." Honestly, I almost couldn't believe that it had been six years since the tragedy. I was in India when 9/11 happened and I remember my whole family watching the towers collapse on TV. My older sister had to fly to the US on the 28th and the most important decision my parents had to make at the time was whether to let her go. In the end, they decided they would. A neighbour told my mom she was a very "hard-hearted" mother for making that decision. Seeing my sister off at the airport was one of the most difficult moments of my life as I tried to battle the thought that I might never see her again. I guess my story just shows that even though my family was very remotely connected to 9/11, it still had a huge impact on us. I can probably not even imagine what families who actually lost their loved ones went through. The question shouldn't be whether 9/11 should be remembered or forgotten. It is difficult to forget an event of that magnitude because it shocked the entire world. And yet, it does pale somewhat in comparison to the plight of those who continue to live under terror and lose their family members on a daily basis in places like Darfur. 9/11 has made us more aware of and sensitive to the miseries of the hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. We realize that we're not the first ones experiencing death, pain, and terror. We realize that we're not fighting death, pain, and terror alone. Many rightly argue that 9/11 has been used as a tool to spread greater violence in the Middle East. I feel that we should always remember 9/11, but do so for the right reasons. We should continue to empathize with those who suffer and not bring more violence and suffering to them. Posted by Matrix Admin on September 18, 2007 02:13 PM | Permalink |
9/11My name is Amy Przybyla and I am an East Asian Studies concentrator. I have decided to take INTL 1350 because I feel that the majority of my academic focus has been a biased combination of United States and Asian Pacific ideals and policy. While there is a clear importance in the study of world policy and international relations to examine the struggles of power and knowledge I feel that many still fail to gain a more in-depth understanding of different cultures and traditions. I feel that this ignorance in turn can not only emerge as the root of many conflicts but also continue to be the lingering factor that further complicates global understanding and security. Posted by Amy Przybyla on September 18, 2007 01:04 PM | Permalink |
From Kalie Gold: Should we forget 9/11?My name is Kalie, I am a senior at Brown University, concentrating in International Relations; I am originally from Washington, DC. I was in DC on 9/11, and still live there. I am taking this class to explore a different way of looking at history—through theoretical frameworks rather than just facts. My first thought is, what is the role of memory? In this case, we should be careful to call it “historical memory.” The complex context surrounding 9/11 pushes us to not just see it as a day of tragedy, but to place it in perspective. Analyzing “tragedy” and truth in the same moment, however, is not an easy task. What an idealistic view. Historical memory is always caught up in complex forces that do not serve a greater good. Historical memory is most often a tool: to define group identity for political purposes, to incite people to action, and to justify means and ends. We have seen 9/11 become this sort of tool. 9/11 left the US with a national feeling of unjust victimization. The idea and feeling of victimization has justified retaliation, and the US took our own violence abroad to Afganistan and Iraq. To forget how the process worked, where it began, and the results, would be wrong. Twenty years from now, the world needs to be able to both learn from our (and others’) mistakes, and appreciate why and from where they came. Does remembering September 11th do us harm? Arguably it already has—regrets about Afganistan, Iraq, and other issues are caught up in the memory of 9/11. Forgetting what happened, and what has happened since, would be a disservice to history. Posted by Matrix Admin on September 18, 2007 12:04 PM | Permalink |
From James Hoehlhein: Should We Forget 9/11?I am James Hoehlein, and I am a senior who is concentrating in marine biology. This is my first IR or PS class, so I am a little overwhelmed right now. However, I find the concepts fascinating, which is what lead me to this class. I consider myself up to date with current happenings in the world, but look forward to a rigorous introduction into the study of these events. Should we forget about 9/11? My response is absolutely not. However, remembering the history of it and misconstruing its importance as an excuse for aggressive foreign policy are two very different things. America has traditionally been immune from large scale attacks by her enemies due to the Atlantic and the Pacific presenting significant barriers to warfare. Although relations have been strained at times, for the better part of a century and a half terms with America’s only neighbors, Canada and Mexico, have been relatively amicable. However, increased globalization has shrunk the importance of this isolation, and 9/11 will be remembered as the first time America’s borders have failed to protect her from a large attack since the Civil War. This is significant, and has forced America to change its stance in global interactions: no longer is it the benevolent defender, swooping in from far off to save the day. 9/11 is solid proof that America is just as vulnerable as every other nation now. However, what has transpired since then has been a disaster, and unfortunately 9/11’s legacy will be tied to this bungling. Insecure for the first time in recent history, America has lashed out with grandstanding and pre-emptive strikes. Not used to this newfound vulnerability, our current foreign policy seeks to retain the former immunity the only way we can: if the enemy can reach us now, then we must reach the enemy before they get us. This logic is paranoid, because it logically concludes with America seeking out enemies where perhaps none used to exist. 9/11 played right into the hand of the Project for the New American Century, by providing its founders and members in the current Presidential administration an excuse to exercise its belief in American global domination through strong military action. 9/11 should not be forgotten, because it was a tragic reminder of how the times have changed. Unfortunately, it will be remembered as the impetus for a misguided administration to undertake various foreign policies and wars that have largely angered and alienated the global community and given fodder to America’s rhetorical and actual enemies. Posted by Matrix Admin on September 18, 2007 12:01 PM | Permalink |
Should we forget 9/11? How do we move beyond 9/11?Hello. My name is Amy Tan and I am a junior concentrating in International Relations, specifically the Politics, Culture, and Identity track. To better understand why I am studying international relations and taking this class (instead of neuroscience as was originally planned), I would like to give you a brief account of how I came to be at Brown. I was born in Delft, the Netherlands. My mother is Dutch and my father is ethnically Chinese, but both were born in Indonesia. My mother left Indonesia as part of the Dutch repatriation efforts after WWII and my father eventually left to the Netherlands for college, after his university was burned to the ground for suspected communist activity. And after much bribing. I moved to Mandeville, LA because of my father’s job with Royal Dutch Shell, who financed almost all of my education pre-Brown, then back to the Netherlands, and then to Houston, TX, where I attended an international school. It’s pretty obvious to me that my life has been greatly influenced by “international relations,” and I am sure you all could point to times in your lives where decisions made somewhere in the realm of international relations affected you, so the decision was an organic one for me. I want to take this class to better be able to contextualize the international forces and happenings of today by studying the past. I also like Professor Der Derian’s approach to analyzing international relations through many lenses, such as the state, the system, and the individual. I think this is the only way to effectively study international relations and draw relevant conclusions about the current state of affairs. Lastly, I was really intrigued by Professor Der Derian’s claim that the need for recognition appears to drive international relations. I am not entirely sure if I agree with this, while I do see the importance of identity recognition, so I am looking forward to hearing more about this issue. Now, after a much too lengthy (1 paragraph too long, to be exact) introduction, to get into the questions – should we forget 9/11 and/or should we move beyond 9/11? In response to the first question, my answer is a definite no. We should not forget 9/11 because it would be foolish to forget 9/11, just as it would be foolish to forget any tragedy that shapes a nation. For many college-aged people, 9/11 had a major impact on how we see the world and I am sure it impacted how many of us saw ourselves in it. At the same time, however, the constant “we will never forget” campaigns seem to be used in emotional ploys that seek to incite anger, instead of reflection and true contemplation about the consequences of 9/11. This relates to the more complex question – should we/ how do we move beyond 9/11? which I will explore now. In answering this part of the question it is very important to recognize the difference between forgetting and moving beyond. Just to make it clear, moving beyond does not mean that Americans will stop grieving their losses or that they will miraculously forget what happened that day, but it does require that: (1) the US learns from the experiences of 9/11 to brace itself/introduce itself to the modern system of international relations and then take on a leadership role in that international system, (2) that policy should stop using emotionally based decisions to act rashly in world affairs and that the media should aid in this venture, and (3) that the US seriously needs to re-evaluate its national identity and its stance on human rights and civil liberties, both of which were damaged by legislation passed after 9/11. The big-picture conclusion from the events of September 11th in terms of international relations is that states are not the only viable actors on the international scene anymore. The US had neglected this truth before, and seems to still have trouble reconciling the fact that non-state actors are relevant to war, as seen in the army’s inadequate training for non-traditional warfare in Iraq, but this will end in the near future. Thus, moving beyond 9/11 entails that the US learn the lessons of 9/11 about non-state actors, so as not to revert to neglecting this reality. This knowledge must inform foreign policy decisions as well as domestic ones relating to individual securities, since that is what was so greatly threatened by 9/11. Further, as many of the other blogs have mentioned, leaders in the US should stop evoking the emotional trauma of 9/11 in order to prey on people’s fears and vulnerabilities and pass bad legislation. In order to run an effective country where everyone can fully participate, as enshrined by the Constitution, the media should not run emotional campaigns to frighten people, and the government should not condone such behavior. I recognize that this comes from an ideological perspective about US democracy, but it is that ideology which made this country great to begin with. In order to accomplish this goal of creating an informed populace, which has not resulted from 9/11, one would have to overhaul the methods used by the US government and the US media, such as sensationalism and sound bytes. Who can forget the melodramatic music played months after 9/11 on CNN while the words “America’s War on Terror” scrolled across the screen in a big, burly font? This was only effective in inspiring fear in the populace about 9/11, and later about Iraq. This conceptualization of American values leads me directly to another point about moving beyond 9/11, which has a lot to do with American identity and human rights. In the brief film clip shown in the last class, the woman speaking from the podium said something along the lines of “we must not forget ourselves for those lost on September 11th,” and then continued to describe the various human rights violations the US has committed in the War on Terror as well as the curtailment of several civil liberties that should be dear to American’s hearts. While it is arguable that the US identity as a leader for human rights is very questionable, I still believe that it was the country most identified with leadership on human rights issues by the international community, before the actions taken following September 11th. It is a position I hope to see filled again someday by the US. The US, government and people, therefore should continue to move beyond 9/11 by reversing actions taken in the wake of 9/11 that severely limited the rights of prisoners taken into US custody and the civil liberties of the American people. One of these legislations, for example, redefines torture so narrowly that many actions taken against prisoners in US prisons have been deemed torture by international organizations like Amnesty International, but have not been pursued in the US courts. While we are on this track of thought, this intellectual debate about American identity and values in relation to human rights also merits a discussion about the greater identity of the United States. With this I mean to ponder the question: What do Americans value? What role does the US want to play internationally? What are US ideals and how do Americans identify? In short, we (as in everyone) should not forget September 11th because it was an incredibly influential event that had massive repercussions internationally and domestically. We should, however, be able to move beyond 9/11, so that individuals can start thinking critically about the actions the US government is taking on their behalf. The only way to do this effectively is to move beyond the fear and terror and “we will never forget” campaigns to a new enlightenment that calls again for critical thinking, informed citizenry, and a re-commitment to human rights and civil liberties, all of which were negatively affected by the events following September 11th. Posted by Amy M. L. Tan on September 18, 2007 10:37 AM | Permalink |
From Priya Pingali: 9/11 ResponseI am a senior, concentrating in International Relations and Economics. I decided to take this course because, though I have almost completed all my IR requirements, I still don't feel like I truly have a comprehensive understanding of the field and its history. By the end of the course I am hoping to somewhat be able to tie together everything I have learned from my IR courses in a chronological way, and to be able to link theory with contemporary issues. My initial reaction to Professor Der Derian's question was yes, we should forget about 9/11. Having experienced the event and its aftermath from Mexico, where I was living at the time, I definitely thought the American media portrayed 9/11 with a clear bias and turned their coverage of it into a Hollywood-style action movie called "The War on Terror", with clear-cut good guys and bad guys. Instead of initiating an open dialogue, the media preferred to manipulate the vulnerable fear many Americans felt after being attacked. The more I thought about it, however, I realised that 9/11 was the turning point when, in my opinion, Americans started to sacrifice their democratic rights and beliefs and essentially, allowed their government to grossly abuse the human rights of thousands of non-American citizens. I think Americans should not forget about 9/11, if this will perpetually remind them from now on about the devastating results their government's actions have had in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq (despite my belief that the images the major news corporations have allowed us to see hardly begin to touch upon the multitude and widespread consequences of America's invasions). Not only did the invasion of Iraq (which was defended by the American government as a response to 9/11) destabilise an entire region, kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians and ruin America's reputation as a fair and democratic country, but it also exponentially increased the number of frustrated and helpless young men and women willing to support terror in the name of justice and anti-Americanism. If this constant reminder will impel Americans to think more critically about their government's foreign policies and to be more willing to fiercely oppose irresponsible and unfair policies, I believe they wouldn't have to worry so much (and spend so much) on national security. Posted by Matrix Admin on September 18, 2007 10:20 AM | Permalink |
How do we get past 911? Should we forget 911?My name is Marta da Silva. I am a junior and International Relations/History concentrator here at Brown. I decided to take this course because I believe it provides a necessary foundation to the multifaceted study of International Relations. I also hope to gain from this course an historical and theoretical background to the modern-day study of International Relations. Lastly, Christina Kim recommended this course to me last semester and her word is gold. Upon receiving this assignment and processing this question, I reasoned that the dilemma in dealing with the tragic events of 911 is an issue of the perception and obligation of commemoration. People need to (yet often do not) separate living in the past and learning from the past. Instead of moving forward in aims of peace, memories of violence and the perception of the events on 911 perpetuate further violence; in a primitive sense, the reaction is comparable to schoolyard, or playground revenge. Violence becomes synonymous with action and justified as such, upholding a sense of duty to remember and fight for the victims of the terrorist attacks. An article from the New York Times on September 11th illustrated the prevailing question of “whether the war in Iraq has made the United States safer or more vulnerable to terrorists.” I would even argue that another question prevails: whether the war in Iraq has made the United States more similar to the terrorists. There is a disturbing video online (http://www.current.tv/pods/controversy/PD04399) that demonstrates a torture technique called “water-boarding,” which is one of the methods used against terrorist suspects. The video at one point states that the aim is for torture to prevent terrorism. Which is worse? Does putting a government label on these methods of violence make them logical or acceptable? Does not this method of resolution simply perpetuate the problem? Likewise, are we better off constantly using 911 as our benchmark reference point, or should we move on? Illustrated by the reading from Theories of International Relations, analyses such as that of Maja Zehfuss contend that the “White House has exploited the memory of ‘September 11’ to justify the curtailment of civil liberties at home, and an aggressive military response abroad,” (167). The politics of memory, as argued by postmodernists, has become a powerful tool in policy decision-making. People must be aware of policy actions and their affiliated interpretations; we must differentiate between honoring the victims and creating some semblance of peace in their memory. A time must come when we can remember and honor the tragedies of 911 without relying on that memory to justify current policies of vengeance and violence. We must commemorate the victims without becoming blinded by the remorse. Posted by Marta da Silva on September 18, 2007 10:19 AM | Permalink |
Forgetting 9/11?My name is Maximilian Knoth and I am a Visiting Graduate Student in Political Science. For the last three years I have been studying Political Science, American Studies and International Law at the University of Bonn. My main focus has been on Transatlantic Relations, German and European domestic and foreign policies. This semester I am taking four courses in International Relations which will be the field I am planning to write my M.A. thesis in next year. I have chosen to take this particular course because it will hopefully provide me with a better idea of how the many theoretical approaches towards International relations have shaped and are shaping IR thinking. Evaluating future threats on a theoretical basis is something I would also like to learn a lot more about. Why should we get beyond 9/11? This is the question we raised in class. I would like to differentiate a little: 9/11 is a marker in history. It has shaken the US and the Western World and has had massive and immediate consequences – large numbers of human casualties, a sudden awareness of the deficiencies of security measures, and a moment of incertitude on how to respond. It may be hard to evaluate these three factors all at once but I think they should not be forgotten: They present a reality, they are part of history and maybe even important in the sense that they introduced a new type of attack – not by a state, not by military means, not caused by a really determinable source. For these reasons it would be wrong to “forget” 9/11. On another level however, maybe we actually need to get beyond 9/11. The event itself has been politically used to justify political actions that otherwise may have caused important domestic and international debates. 9/11 has sometimes been employed as an all-out event. If you disagree with the measures taken as a response to 9/11, you lack patriotism or underestimate the importance of security. Maybe – in this sense – 9/11 has kept people from debating more openly. Terrorism has seemed like the number one enemy to the US and the international system (and I am not saying it is not a threat) but it may not be the only one; it may not even be the most pressing one. Getting beyond 9/11 in this sense could mean: Including other challenges into the discussion and opening up a debate on how to meet these threats. Apart from that, today’s official response to 9/11 should not be to keep reminding the public that a constant threat exists but to meet this threat as effectively as possible (which apparently works if we look at intergovernmental cooperation in order to prevent future attacks from happening). 9/11 should be memorized for what it was. It should not be utilized politically but lead to better methods of prevention. Posted by Maximilian Knoth on September 18, 2007 09:32 AM | Permalink |
Foreign Policy of VulnerabilityRakim H.D. Brooks 09' -- Africana Studies and Economics with a minor in Political Theory. "Should we forget about 9-11?" Every time I pose this question to a friend they answer me with a puzzled stare that is fraught with assumptions (from strangers I receive only a hostile and dismissive glance). These responses make palpable the emotional attachment Americans still feel to September 11, 2001. Even though most people were nowhere near the “terror” inflicted on the Twin Towers over six years ago, people are still angry—and afraid. Osama bin Laden’s vicious plot cut through the illusions of American security and omnipotence. Coupled with the train bombings in London, the Chechnyan Hostage Crisis in Russia and any of the other terrorist attacks highlighted by our increased vigilance, 9-11 leads many Americans to view their world as one of imminent danger. This perspective is perhaps the center stone of the conversation the initial prompt sought to elicit, and it even signals that, perhaps, the question ought to have been posed differently. How about “should American foreign policy be built upon vulnerability?” An answer to this question requires more than the few sentences I will allot, but here are a few musings worthy of consideration. Is vulnerability all encompassing? That is to say, when we feel vulnerable are we more likely to respond deftly (and preemptively when necessary) to all threats, taking notice of their relative likelihoods? Or, can our feeling vulnerable somehow obscure the realities of probability? Can vulnerability make you feel like the next-door neighbor is living upstairs? My feeling is that vulnerability does indeed make us jump at shadows and stare at old ladies with walkers because it promotes irrationality. By irrationality I do not mean that the fear itself is irresponsible (though it is worth noting that Americans fear high-jacked airplanes while citizens in most other polities are afraid of bullets) but instead that our responses to it are often not to scale. Thus, if 9-11 has promoted a foreign policy of vulnerability, we ought to forget about it immediately. 9-11 afforded us lessons more important than the fact that Americans are susceptible to improbable attacks. Posted by Rakim H.D. Brooks on September 18, 2007 02:48 AM | Permalink |
September 11: To forget or not to forgetMy name is Huan Ting Lee, a freshman, and I am here attempting to add yet another international perspective to the discussion at hand. I come from the tiny island-state of Singapore, which means I practically traveled halfway round the world to reach here. Right now, I’m vacillating between a concentration in International Relations and History, and my undertaking of this course, the history of international relations theory, is somewhat an awkward attempt at reconciliation. Let me first place a disclaimer: The events of 9/11 resonated as soundly in Singapore as they did in the USA – the towers, as they went down, took our confidences as well. It was not so much the act itself which affected us, but rather the ramifications: The shattering of the façade of peace, the toughened security, the shaken confidence of investors, and the very real fear of being “next”. It was a trying period for us back in Singapore, and I can only imagine how much worse it must have been in New York. It has become fashionable to take up the cudgel of justice and summon the rhetoric of 9/11, using it as the reason why we are spending so much to achieve what has thus far been so little. I would contend however, that we, while learning the lessons from 9/11, should move on and forget ( even forgive?) the act itself, which has become the casus belli in the war against terror. Terrorism itself is a tenuous concept. After all, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. September 11 has largely been the catalyst for efforts against terror, but who are we to judge what terror is, given the devastation the US has inflicted upon thousands in Afghanistan and Iraq on idealistic and pseudo-pragmatic ground. Much sentiment in this war against terror stems from a vendetta sown when the planes crashed into the twin towers. If we forget the casus belli, or even just reduce the grossly disproportionate amount of emphasis based on it, we could perhaps hope that the war might not be waged so intensely. Let me just round up by concluding: I am not an apologist and do not condone the tragic events of September 11, but I believe the true mark of courage and strength would be to stand up after a fall, and not to dwell on it. Posted by Huan Ting Lee on September 18, 2007 02:26 AM | Permalink |
Should We Forget 9/11?Jennifer Magalong About Me: Should we forget 9/11? Posted by Jennifer Magalong on September 18, 2007 01:00 AM | Permalink |
9/11Good evening, My name is Alpar. I am a junior, majoring in economics and philosophy. I have come to be interested in these two disciplines not merely because one of my parents was educated as a philosopher and another as an economist, but also because having been born in the Soviet Union, I have witnessed with my very eyes all the effects of the fundamental political, economic, ideological and sociological changes that the end of the Cold War has brought about. I thought that given my background as the citizen of the country that is no more, the course on the history and theory of international relations could help me better understand the world and my place in it. The events of 9/11 were a personal tragedy for great many a family – this fact, I believe, nobody would gainsay. Yet, when the question “Should the world forget 9/11 or not?” is posed as a question of significance to international politics, it is more constructive to attempt to answer having put personal sentiments aside. There is a rationale for not forgetting the events of 9/11for American ideologists and, hence, these events are not being forgotten. In the Post Cold War world of unfolding Globalization, the ideology of which is that history has come to an end at the American model of liberal democracy and triumphant capitalism, the event of 9/11 has been a signal that not everyone is willing to concede as easily as the former Soviet bloc has. It has shown that not everyone wants to be “free”, not everyone approves of “the democracy”, even if these opponents cannot offer any alternative model instead. 9/11 has also shown that although ideology and financial levers continue to be crucial and efficient tools in the march of Globalization, traditional Hot War measures, such as tanks and rockets have never been abandoned and are “alive and kicking”. After the Gulf War and Kosovo, the Iraqi campaign has shown once more that even those who advocate for peaceful “liberal democracy” in words have never ceased to be realist in deeds. Interestingly enough, the contradiction between the proclaimed vision of the post-modernist globalized world, in which all identities merge and power disappears, and the fact that the Globalization has after all a very concrete form that it imposes as it expands (making it a new form of domination) was becoming apparent to many people in the world, including many Americans themselves. In this context, 9/11 has served indeed as a very timely justification for legitimizing police action in the name of defending Mankind from an "ultimate" threat. Posted by Alpar Amanzholov on September 18, 2007 12:23 AM | Permalink |
Should We Forget 9/11?My name is Kali Schellenberg and I am a sophomore considering concentrating in international relations. I hope to gain from this class not only a sound background in the subject but also the ability to critically analyze and understand international events. Posted by Kali Schellenberg on September 17, 2007 10:53 PM | Permalink |
Should we forget 9/11?My name is Jerry Choi, and I am originally from Hong Kong. I am a freshman and undecided as to what I would like to concentrate in just yet. I have taken INTL1350 because I think it will give me an opportunity to look at something that I’ve always been interested in: the interactions between states, their tendencies and behavior. These issues have perhaps played less of a central figure in other disciplines. They are, nevertheless, significant and deserve further exploration than just the short mention in the “background information” section of a History book or the brief paragraphs in Religious Studies texts which outline the basics of a millennia-long feud on conflict due to faith. The one thing I really want to know is: why do, or why don’t, people get along? I don’t believe “we” should forget 9/11. Rather, I think the retaliatory and aggressive stance that the government took in 2001 has somewhat pushed the country in the wrong direction (in terms of our attempt to end the potential threat of aggression against the US by foreign bodies). I don’t believe that the current War on Terror is a constructive approach, nor is it an effective means to the end of eliminating terrorism. That does not mean, however, that 9/11 should not be a reminder as to “how we got it wrong”. Like Vietnam and other 'painful' affairs that America has experienced in the past, we should use 9/11 as a point of a reflection; as tragic an event it may be, it is necessary to consider whether or not we are moving forward in guaranteeing state security. Posted by Jerry Choi on September 17, 2007 10:06 PM | Permalink |
Should we forget 9/11?Should we forget September 11? Hello, my name is Shoaib Jillani. I was born and raised in Islamabad, Pakistan and am currently a sophomore at Brown University. My major is yet undecided; currently I’m inclined towards a double major in philosophy and math, but that could change in the future. Anyway, I took this course, because I’ve always felt that generally people oversimplify, overlook certain subtleties when it comes to the dynamics of actual international relations. There is always too much of a gap between academics and their subjects, between “us” and “them”. This divide is apparent whenever discussions on terrorism, extremism, fundamentalism, religious intolerance arise, especially in relation to countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. The oversimplified analysis of the people settled in the northern areas of those countries, the areas that gave birth to Islamic terrorism as we know it, is unfortunate. I took this course because I want to be exposed to different ideas concerning the driving forces of history, the driving forces of international relations. I want to know what people have to say about our world, about the interplay between different cultures, religions, ethnicities etc. and hopefully make some contribution to the debate. Coming to the question at hand, should the USA forget about September 11? Unfortunately, as we all know there are no easy answers to this question. I feel the answer is no, but it would be foolish of me not to realize the risks and possible drawbacks of maintaining such a fervent war on terror. The war on terror should not form the core of America’s foreign policy; there are other issues, other threats that need to be reckoned with, and which tend to be overlooked because of the aforementioned war. Still, in my opinion, September 11 should always be remembered not only to honor the lives lost, but also because it awoke the USA to a very real threat that had been lurking underneath the veneer of international relations. There was immense resentment building up against the USA in many Islamic countries due to their support of Israel, and their presence in the Middle East. In the northern areas of Pakistan, and in Afghanistan, the very extremist militants that the USA had trained and armed in order to battle the Soviet Union were becoming convinced that it was their duty to respond, and preserve the honor of the Islamic nation. So, yes, it was a very real threat that the USA was woken up to. The war on terror, however, is bound to exacerbate this resentment against America, and in fact has already done so. Does that make the very idea a mistake, though? Not at all. A war on terror was necessary, and in fact still is. And September 11 serves as a reminder to the United States why that is so. But in such a war, the USA cannot afford to be belligerent, arrogant and oblivious, as I believe it was in declaring war against Iraq. Iraq was not a threat as far as terrorism is concerned. The northern areas of my own country, sealed off by mountain ranges, and Afghanistan, however are. The USA by declaring war against Iraq, and not dealing with the more imminent threats lurking in those countries, only gave the terrorists there more fuel for fire. It cemented the prevailing view there that the USA is determined to repress the “Muslim Ummah” (Islamic Nation), use their oil, and eventually take over the world. The lack of education in the regions creating terrorists is the reason they are so easily swayed by such views as preached in madrasahs (or religious schools). The USA needs to realize that things are going to get far worse, before they get better in this war on terror. There are no easy solutions as far as extremism is concerned. One side attacks, so will the other, sooner or later. The best that America can do is to utilize its intelligence, act strategically, smartly, and remembering September 11, honor every innocent life, because an all out war is certainly not the answer in this situation. Terrorism, America tends to forget, is a mind-set, not a country, and it feeds off war and perceived injustice. In remembering September 11, the USA must not be as vengeful and reckless as it has proven to be so far. Needless to say, the war on terror is on slippery ice, and America needs to tread carefully
Posted by Shoaib Jillani on September 17, 2007 08:16 PM | Permalink |
Should we forget 9/11?I am French. I think this is how I should start this paragraph since it is my nationality—more than my name, my concentration or my class year—that has shaped me into having opinions that often differ from most of my American classmates. After one full year at Brown, I can now affirm that the time when I feel most French is not when I have my family on the phone sitting on my “fabrique en France” pillow in Buxton International House, but rather when I listen to debates in the various classes I have to take as an International Relations concentrator. In the context of this class, which I am taking because it seems to provide a crucial background to the studies of International Relations, I will try very hard not to be the stereotypical pessimistic and untactful French person. Instead, I hope to bring to our discussions the point of view of an outsider to the American culture. Posted by Claire Vergerio on September 17, 2007 07:18 PM | Permalink |
To Forget or Not to ForgetHi. My name is Garrett. I’m currently a junior at Brown concentrating in IR, specifically under the Global Security track. As such, this course, I hope, will offer me a stronger sense of the historical and theoretical underpinnings of the field (or quasi-field) of study to which I’ve chosen to devote the majority of my time. Outside of IR, I’ve also nurtured a strong interest in the sciences, especially Physics and more recently Geology. I hope to come away from Brown as a student of International Relations, but one who can develop an understanding of the sciences and use it to inform my perspective on IR. I hope furthermore to be able to pry more deeply into questions in International Relations that require a scientific knowledge base, the two most evident to me on the Matrix being “Environment” and “Resource Conflict.” With Regards to 9/11, as a New Yorker I was in the not-so-common position of being in the City, in Manhattan, when the event took place. I recalled that morning that at some point I knew my father worked at 7 World Trade Center but I couldn’t discern, for a time, whether he still worked in the building at that time, and if so, whether he might be affected. It turned out that he had worked there years before, and besides a rather long hike up from the financial district, he was not burdened by the event. Fortunately, no one I knew personally was hurt or killed on that day; my closest connection was to an aunt of a classmate who I didn’t know very well. In any case, forgetting 9/11 is not an option for me or for my fellow New Yorkers. Despite images and experiences of the day have been permanently impinged on my memory, and that’s worth mentioning in the context of this discussion, I don’t much like the last paragraph I’ve written. It feels cliché, though it’s honest, and others could write and have more eloquently and effectively about the human experience of that day. In truth, I’m somewhat tired of thinking about and hearing about the sort of thing I’ve just written, and especially of seeing the images that were playing on the DVD menu in class, which I’ve seen and which have been conjured time and time again by our government to further actions that may or may not have any relation to those images and that day. But you already know this and now I’m just avoiding the question. My answer, as my answers tend to be when faced with the need to choose and take a stand, is to shoot for a middle ground and avoid answering strongly on either side. Having been in New York, I may have paradoxically forgotten the event more quickly than most. After a strong initial response, I don’t live in fear, per se, and I tend to resent the notion posed by politicians that I ought to. Than being said, 9/11 should be considered, as it has been, the most significant event and turning point in the American consciousness, as well as in the state of international affairs, in my time (having been too young to appreciate 1989). The awakening caused by the event is not one that I want to dismiss. We, indeed, must continue to deal with the challenge posed by the terrorism of 9/11, and focus a great deal of our resources and energy on it. But those resources are not unlimited. The awakening that I find more valuable in 9/11 than simply new attention paid to terrorism, is the sense that there are factors outside of the traditional state system, threats beyond that of traditional warfare, that have a real effect and must be reckoned with. They can be natural, entirely inhuman disasters, and they can be the force of one, to use one of Professor Der Derian’s favorite phrases, super-empowered individual; they can also lie anywhere along that spectrum. 9/11 was the first event of the post-Cold War world to fundamentally shake up and explode the uni-polar peace. It offered policy makers a new, though still quite vague, enemy to frame as the general opposition to American peace and security. It is time now, while still offering terrorism quite a deal of attention, to move past the desire to focus America’s energy on a “single” if still exceedingly complex source of threat, and begin to confront the full spectrum of issues that ought to have an impact on foreign policy. We should not forget 9/11, but instead should instead re-orient ourselves to the post 9/11 world, as it actually exists, and reevaluate the lessons we take from that supremely consequential event. Posted by Garrett Adler on September 17, 2007 05:14 PM | Permalink |
Remember 9/11My name is Erin Morioka and I am a senior majoring in international relations on the politics, culture and identity track. I took conflict and cooperation in international politics (PS40) my sophomore year and gained a basic understanding of the mainstream theories of international relations (liberalism, realism, and radicalism). I enrolled in this course because I wanted engage in a more detailed study of the historical events, philosophies, and theories that make up the discipline of IR, in addition to the major figures (Kant, Machiavelli) whose works are able to provide a lens for the way that we view the world today. My hope is that this course will deepen my understanding of the causes behind the major crises that our generation faces such as war, terrorism, disease, poverty, and global warming and the ways in which actors such individuals, states, and international organizations can work together to alleviate humanity’s suffering. In response to the question, “Should we forget 9/11?” I would argue that we should not. The first reason that we should not forget 9/11 is that in doing so we would dishonor the memory of the 2,973 American and foreign nationals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks, not to mention the firemen and policemen who bravely served in their efforts to save them. The tragic loss of so many lives is an event that must remain within the national consciousness, not only for the sake of the people who lost loved ones, but because of the affront that it was to each and every citizen of the United States. As such an affront, it challenged each citizen to consider the extent to which he/she would be willing to sacrifice individual civil liberties for the sake of preserving internal national order. The second reason that we must not forget 9/11 is that it served as a wake-up call for America as a nation. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the victory of the coalition forces in the Gulf War, the U.S. developed a false sense of invincibility which was challenged after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The 9/11 attacks showed the American people that no nation, no matter how great its wealth or military strength, can fully insulate itself from external threats. Despite the current administration’s decision to act to the contrary, I believe that this was a lesson to our nation in the foolishness of espousing an isolationist foreign policy (such as in the WWII era) and the need for an adept foreign policy which values international organizations such as the UN in order to gain feedback and support in decision-making on salient issues. The third reason that we must not forget 9/11 is for what it revealed to the American people about the changing trends in the international system in regards to war. The terrorist acts of 9/11 challenged the existing definition of war as a battle between two states over territory or access to resources. The 9/11 terrorist attacks resembled guerrilla warfare-type tactics rather than those of traditional warfare, especially seeing that the culprits were not sponsored by any one state but were scattered in training camps and residences throughout the world. Not only this, but it shed light upon the increasing role of religion and culture as the key sources of fuel for future conflicts. After all, the criticisms that Osama bin Laden proffered against the United States were not only economic in nature but also cultural, in the U.S.’s irreverence for the upholding of Muslim beliefs and statutes. Many scholars would argue that the acts of al Qaeda were not only efforts to stave off Western influence but also efforts to influence the world-at-large in non-Western ways. By recognizing the changing nature of war itself and the justifications behind it, it is important that the U.S. make several adaptations in order to ensure its preservation. First, it must strengthen its alliances within the Western camp, knowing that the Middle Eastern/Islamic countries will be doing the same within their camp. Second, it must acquire a basic understanding of non-Western perspectives and trace of commonalities within these societies for the purpose of encouraging peaceful coexistence. Posted by Erin Morioka on September 17, 2007 04:39 PM | Permalink |
Should we forget about 9/11?Hola, Posted by Angela G. Villanueva on September 17, 2007 02:56 PM | Permalink |
Not Forgetting 9/11My name is Jin Huang. I doubly concentrate in physics and economics. I interest in IR because it deals with some of the most fundamental contemporary questions that are essential to understand global phenomena. Despite the importance of the field, I personally do not have a foundational understanding of its frameworks, methodology, or theories. While I do pay much attention to histories and current events that are in the realm of IR study, I do not know whether I possess the vocabularies and critical mind to analyze those historical moments that are too important to ignore. Taking the class, I hope to learn about the organization and the intellectual traditions of the field. As a curious young scholar (maybe not so much of IR, but of knowledge in general), I would also like to see and appreciate the rigor and power of IR theories at work. To address the question(s) of 9/11, I will start by asking yet another question: does 9/11 deserve the magnitude of attention that it has been getting? The war in Afghanistan alone was a huge undertaking that was comparable in magnitude as the event that preceded it. Subsequent efforts, both abroad (Iraq being the prime example) and home (Patriot Acts, Dept. of Homeland Sec.), are all overarching projects that will become very prominent historical events. The combined active response (by our government) has exceeded (in my opinion) even the calculations of those who planned and forecasted the consequences of 9/11. The cascade of changes that happened worldwide requires us to wonder: did 9/11 really cause all those changes that we normally associated with 9/11? My simple answer is YES. That single event shaked our worldview and especially shaped our politics in fundamental ways. Like it or not, for personal philosophical, ideological, or political standpoint, 9/11 has permeats our culture and society and establishes itself as the foundation and starting point of international as well as national political discourse. Therefore, the answer to my own rhetoric question (does 9/11 deserve....?) is irrelevent if we are looking to understand the world after 9/11. Whether 9/11 should have had such an impact in our society is irrelevant because it has had enormous influence, in fact, it is the #1 most important factor (at least in the limited geographic region that is vital in this discussion) in the world after 9/11. This goes back to the question that I suppose to be answering: should we forget 9/11? The answer matters very little. If political and socioeconomical discourses center on and starts from the assumptions and responses specificly linked to 9/11, it seems to me that 9/11 has become the cornerstone of any discussion. And any other conversation that tries to do without taking into account the event of 9/11 is pointless, non-constructive, and simply, naive.
So how do we go beyond 9/11? We do not. I would ask the question: how can we do better starting from 9/11? We must look forward to formulate our world views (and politics) while keeping the consequences of 9/11 in the back of our minds. The event certainly has changed our value judgement (for example, the tolerance of infringement to personal liberty), but I am not suggesting that we them as they are given to us now. If we believe that rules and values of our society are not consistent with our highest standard, we may demand changes. But we do not do so by appeal to the olds and the befores and the forgotens by saying--forget about 9/11. The correct attitude must rest on reasons and philosophical and moral merits. We should believe our propositions not because these are what they used to be but because these are what we truly believe as better forms of government. Posted by Jin Huang on September 15, 2007 12:22 AM | Permalink |
Should we forget September 11?My name is Daniel Block and I’m a potential Economics concentrator here although I have a diverse array of interests. As a current sophomore, I have taken multiple courses in Spanish (and visited Latin America), closely follow what transpires in the Middle East (as I feel a strong affiliation with Israel), and explored coursework in several different economic modes. This semester, I am taking three courses in economics, two of which pertain directly to international affairs – economics of the middle east and intermediate macroeconomics. As I also take an interest in investing and like to be informed about what is happening in our world, exposing myself to the multidisciplinary approach to international relations that this course provides is a valuable resource. In particular, I appreciate the combination of political philosophy and historical context to root contemporary issues and provide insight into the patterns that surface today. This relates to two other fascinations of mine, philosophy and history, that I have yet to examine with respect to political relevance. With respect to the question posed in class today, (Should we forget September 11th?), and the work that the Global Security Matrix appears to be doing to examine and rank the grand array of international threats that exist beyond terrorism in the contemporary world, I think it is important not to lose sight of the imminent threat that terrorism poses. September 11th no longer simply refers to the tragic events of that date, but now is symbolic of the current global age whereby terrorists are capable of operating beyond state boundaries and are more capable of inflicting serious harm on the world than any one state will. Given this new age where unclassifiable, amorphous, covert operators can upset the world balance more than individual states, I would be highly concerned with removing 9/11 from memory. To forget 9/11 is to forget what it represents: terrorism as a threat to global security. In effect, it would be similar to refusing to consider the harm that CFCs and Greenhouse gases have inflicted on the climate or ignoring the term Global Warming when considering current threats to the environmental well-being of the planet. This would be absurd just as forgetting the biggest terrorist attack in an era with international conflict and trauma that is dominated by terrorism is outrageous. When we consider 9/11 as part of a system of events that have signaled a change in world order dominated by the intellectual and physical rise in power of extremism, its significance becomes undeniable. Having said this, I want to caution that although I believe unflinchingly that terrorism is the most imminent threat to the safety of the Western World today, I do not condone the way emotional appeals to 9/11 have often been used to garner support for illegitimate causes or misguided missions. Furthermore, I do not believe that terrorism should be the sole focus of international relations as other significant threats to global security certainly predominate as well. Nevertheless, I believe that US foreign policy should have resolution of the terrorist threat as one of its primary objectives with September 11th as a reminder of the stakes of failing to achieve this goal. I was surprised by the relatively moderate ranking that terrorism received from participants of the Matrix in terms of severity. While I do not condone pursuing military intervention with heads of states to combat subversive forces operating with that state, I do support the intention to focus on eradication of terrorism as a central theme to international relations. Clearly, the current methods for combating terrorism, particularly deceitful in light of September 11th references, have been largely unsuccessful. But that does not mean the priority is misguided. To forget September 11th is to forget the problem because there is as of yet no viable solution. Eliminating terrorism as a concern will not eliminate its threat. By forgetting September 11th, we would be ignoring the greatest threat to world stability of this generation. Posted by Dan R. Block on September 14, 2007 12:17 PM | Permalink |
