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Neoliberalism and Genocide the Desensitization of Global Politics By Neoliberalism and Genocide The Desensitization of Global Politics by Robert J. Calleja Jr. A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Approved April 2013 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: Mary Romero, Chair Daniel Schugurensky Beth Blue Swadener ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY May 2013 ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of neoliberalism on the occurrence and intervention of genocide, particularly the ability to create othered groups through a process of dehumanization that desensitizes those in power to the human condition. I propose Social Externalization Theory as paradigm that explains how neoliberalism can be used as a means social control to create subjects vulnerable to political and collective violence that is justified as the externalized cost of economic growth, development, and national security. Finally, the conflict in Darfur (2003 - 2010) serves as a case study to analyze the influence of neoliberal policies on the resistance of the International community to recognize the violence as genocide. Analysis of the case study found that some tenets of neoliberalism produce results that fit within the ideologies of genocide and that some aspects of neoliberalism assume a genocidal mentality. In this case, those in positions power engage in daily activities that justify some suffering as acceptable, thus desensitizing them to the harm that their decisions generate. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am pleased to have the opportunity to thank my wife Christina and our children Kyrstin and Jacob; none of this would have been possible without their understanding, sacrifices, and tremendous support. I would like to thank my committee members, Mary Romero, Daniel Schugurensky, and Beth Swadener for their support, valuable input, and most importantly – patience. Additionally I would like to thank my colleagues, friends, and faculty members who have assisted with me with this research project. Finally, I would like to thank Nancy Winn for her unwavering dedication to her graduate students and for her assistance during this process. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER Page 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Focus on Neoliberalism .................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction to Genocide ............................................................................................................... 7 2 GENOCIDE ................................................................................................................................................. 10 3 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 26 Genocide Literature ...................................................................................................................... 27 Social Control Literature ............................................................................................................. 36 Neoliberalism Literature ............................................................................................................ 41 4 NEOLIBERALISM AND VIOLENCE ................................................................................................ 47 Genocide Ideology ......................................................................................................................... 48 Land and Race .................................................................................................................. 49 Cults of Antiquity ............................................................................................................ 51 Expansionism .................................................................................................................... 52 Neoliberalism and Development ............................................................................................ 54 Effects of Structural Adjustment Policies ........................................................................... 57 Neoliberalism and Unemployment ........................................................................................ 58 Institutionalized Desensitization and Dehumanization .............................................. 60 Othering .............................................................................................................................................. 62 National Security ............................................................................................................................ 65 5 CASE STUDY: DARFUR ........................................................................................................................ 67 Brief History of Sudan .................................................................................................................. 68 iii Darfur and the Second Civil War ............................................................................................ 69 Genocide in Darfur ......................................................................................................................... 72 Genocide Behavior ......................................................................................................................... 73 Delayed International Intervention ...................................................................................... 76 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 83 6 SOCIAL EXTERNALIZATION THEORY ......................................................................................... 85 State of Exception ........................................................................................................................... 87 Nazisim ................................................................................................................................................ 90 National Security Doctrine ........................................................................................................ 93 Pure Sociology/Social Control ................................................................................................. 96 Introducing Social Externalization Theory ........................................................................ 97 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 104 7 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 105 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 108 iv Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION “Neoliberalization has not been very effective in revitalizing global capital accumulation, but it has succeeded remarkably well in restoring, or in some instances (as in Russia and China) creating, the power of an economic elite. The theoretical utopianism of neoliberal argument has, I conclude, primarily worked as a system of justification and legitimation for whatever needed to be done to achieve this goal.” ― David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism The Nuremberg trials were established at the conclusion of World War II to bring those responsible for the Holocaust to justice. The rallying cry of “never again” symbolically established a precedent that would prevent future genocides and led the United Nations, in 1948, to create the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide as a mechanism to prevent future atrocities. Despite these efforts, genocide continues to happen and the international community is still reluctant to act when it occurs. What events influenced such a dramatic change in moral philosophy from never again to one of apparent tolerance? As I looked for answer to this question, I began to notice patterns in the genocide literature that started me down a different path of research. A frequent research methodology is the use of case studies to document atrocities of genocide and as a tool for giving victims a voice. The most common direction of inquiry focuses on establishing a chain of events that led to the genocide, frequently making connections to existing ideologies supporting or explaining how the genocide occurred. Included in this approach are several themes: documentation of victims’ suffering, determining the additional destruction 1 resulting from delayed intervention, and challenging the definition of genocide. Comparative analysis was used to compare statistical data that examine the way traditional genocide ideologies are present prior to the outbreak of violence. What is missing from the literature is research that begins to identify changes in the world that has allowed genocide to occur more frequently in the 20th century. In addition, inquiries into the factors or guiding philosophies that have attributed to delayed recognition and response during the early stages of genocide need to be examined. And, finally, we must examine why defining genocide has become so difficult. I realized that my proposed research on genocide was falling into a similar pattern so I redirected my focus to examine genocide from different perspectives and frameworks. When thinking about
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