Beyond Security, Ethics and Violence
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Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 1111 2 Beyond Security, Ethics 3 4 and Violence 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 In a world plagued by war and terror, Beyond Security, Ethics and Violence 4 sounds a warning: not only are global patterns of insecurity, violence and 5 conflict getting ever more destructive and out of hand, but the ways we 6 understand and respond to them will only prolong the crisis. When security 7 is grounded in exclusion and alienation, ethics licenses killing and war, 8 and freedom is a mask for imperial violence, how should we act? 9 Anthony Burke offers a ground-breaking analysis of the historical roots 20111 of sovereignty and security, his critique of just war theory, and important 1 new essays on strategy, the concept of freedom and US exceptionalism. 2 He pursues searching critical engagements with thinkers such as Giorgio 3 Agamben, Hardt and Negri, Emmanuel Levinas, Carl von Clausewitz, Jean 4 Bethke Elshtain, Michael Walzer, Michel Foucault and William Connolly. 5 Combining a diversity of critical thought with analyses of the war on 6 terror, Iraq, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the Vietnam war, the Indonesian 7 crisis, globalisation and the new drive for empire, Burke refuses easy 8 answers, or to abandon hope. 9 This innovative study will be of key interest to students and researchers 30111 of politics and international relations, security studies, social and cultural 1 theory and philosophy. 2 3 Anthony Burke is Senior Lecturer in the School of Politics and 4 International Relations at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. 5 6Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 7 8 9 40111 1 2 3 4 45111 1111 Praise for Beyond Security, Ethics and Violence 2 3 4 It’s time someone in international relations penetrated the many rationales for 5 security that enable us to get away with murder. To Burke, security is a self- 6 justifying system of politics that operates mainly to keep itself going. How 7 leading philosophers, scholars and governments bolster that system becomes clear 8 through Burke’s careful, fearless, innovative, tender and important analysis. Professor Christine Sylvester, University of Lancaster, UK 9 1011 In a lucid and compelling book Anthony Burke dissects the politics of security 1 in several theories of state territory. He also addresses closely a series of recent 2 state practices of security. In doing so, he opens the door to a post-security 3111 politics, a politics that goes beyond the construction of permanent, unspecified 4 enemies. 5 Professor William E. Connolly, Johns Hopkins University, USA 6 7 It is rare to find a work of political philosophy that so skilfully combines a 8 detailed knowledge of the contemporary scenes of national and international 9 violence with close attention to the ontological and ethical principles by which we might regard and evaluate them. This properly scathing treatment of the 20111 modern paradigm of ‘security’ opens the way to an urgently demanded inter- 1 rogation of the terms on which the lauded freedom of the West might be pursued 2 beyond its current blatant disregard for the life of the Other. 3 Dr Fiona Jenkins, Australian National University, Australia 4 5 The volume engages many of the major figures in political and ethical thinking 6 in a dialogue that is both informative and self-reflective. Burke refuses to duck 7 the big questions or take sides in some of the more polarised debates about inter- 8 national ethics. As such these meditations are provocative critical essays that 9 should raise numerous talking points for scholarly discussion. Pitched as such 30111 to critical scholars looking for a fresh innovative theoretically informed but non- dogmatic voice in the seminar room, this book should do very well. 1 Professor Simon Dalby, Carleton University, Canada 2 3 This is a very substantial book with an excellent and timely analysis of many 4 significant security issues currently at play in the international community. 5 Professor Thomas Keating, University of Alberta, Canada 6 Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 7 Beyond Security, Ethics and Violence is one of those rare books that success- 8 fully combine sophisticated philosophical reflections with meticulous analyses 9 of concrete political situations. In a series of compelling studies that range from 40111 the Middle East to East Timor, and from Vietnam to the war on terror, Burke 1 convincingly demonstrates that the strategic use of violence is far less control- lable – and far less ethical – than commonly assumed. Beyond Security is a 2 must-read for anyone interested in critical moral reasoning at a time when war 3 has become widely accepted as a normal and rational way of pursuing political 4 objectives. 45111 Associate Professor Roland Bleiker, University of Queensland, Australia 1111 2 Beyond Security, Ethics 3 4 and Violence 5 6 War against the Other 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 Anthony Burke 4 5 6 7 8 9 20111 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30111 1 2 3 4 5 6Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 7 8 9 40111 1 2 3 4 45111 1111 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 First published 2007 4 by Routledge 5 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN 6 Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 7 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 8 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business 9 20111 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2006. 1 “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s 2 collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” 3 © 2007 Anthony Burke 4 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted 5 or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, 6 including photocopying and recording, or in any information 7 storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing 8 from the publishers. 9 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data 30111 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Burke, Anthony, 1966– 2 Beyond security, ethics and violence: war against the other/ 3 Anthony Burke. 4 p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 5 1. Security, International.2. National security – International 6 Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 cooperation.I. Title. 7 JZ5588.B88 2007 ′ 8 355 .033 – dc222006017558 9 ISBN 0-203-96570-1 Master e-book ISBN 40111 1 2 ISBN10: 0–415–38464–8 (hbk) ISBN10: 0–415–41088–6 (pbk) 3 ISBN10: 0–203–96570–1 (ebk) 4 45111 ISBN13: 978–0–415–38464–3 (hbk) ISBN13: 978–0–415–41088–5 (pbk) ISBN13: 978–0–203–96570–2 (ebk) 1111 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 In memory of Joachim and Paul 4 5 And dedicated to those who loved them: 6 Nicola, Bernard and Robyn 7 8 9 20111 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30111 1 2 3 4 5 6Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 7 8 9 40111 1 2 3 4 45111 1111 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 4 5 6 7 8 9 20111 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30111 1 2 3 4 5 6 Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 7 8 9 40111 1 2 3 4 45111 1111 2 Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 Acknowledgements ix 4 5 Introduction: security, freedom and death 1 6 7 8 PART I 9 Security 25 20111 1 1 Aporias of security: from the Leviathan to the 27 2 security state 3 4 2 Poetry outside security: the jagged edges of 54 5 Southeast Asia 6 7 3 Security after security: Israel, Palestine and the wall 66 8 9 30111 PART II 1 Ethics 99 2 3 4 Strangers without strangeness: power and difference 101 4 between Australia and Indonesia 5 6Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 5 The perverse perseverance of sovereignty 120 7 8 6 Just war or ethical peace? Morality and strategic 139 9 violence after 9/11 40111 1 2 PART III 3 Violence 167 4 45111 7 Violence and reason on the shoals of Vietnam 169 viii Contents 1111 8 Iraq: strategy’s burnt offering 187 2 3 9 Freedom’s freedom: American enlightenment and 212 4 permanent war 5 6 7 Notes 238 8 Index 274 9 1011 1 2 3111 4 5 6 7 8 9 20111 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30111 1 2 3 4 5 6 Downloaded by [University of Defence] at 20:40 09 May 2016 7 8 9 40111 1 2 3 4 45111 1111 2 Acknowledgements 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3111 The sole name of an author always disguises their debts. Mine are in- 4 estimable: this book reflects many conversations with, and the advice and 5 generosity of, a great many people. My wife, Jenny Millea, has been a 6 wonderful source of inspiration and support in this book’s long life, through 7 four cities and much happiness, travel and change.