The Ethics of Recognition in International Relations: A Global and Cross-Cultural Perspective By Mahmoud Masaeli A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario ©2010 Mahmoud Masaeli Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaONK1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-79627-6 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-79627-6 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. 14-1 Canada The Ethics of Recognition in International Relations A Global and Cross-Cultural Perspective Abstract Recognition is a concept that has recently been employed by political thinkers in the analysis and addressing of the growing demand for recognition by those who have been marked racially, sexually, culturally, and ethnically as different Such a demand -has been launched in a number of strands in contemporary politics both in domestic and international spheres. Central to the demand - the struggle - for recognition is the idea that unwillingness to recognize the equal worth of different others give way to exclusion and oppression, and consequently to injustice. Recognition is not only a vital need for formation of the sense of personhood, but it is also a necessary condition for a just life-world: recognition as justice. In other words, recognition, in its fullest sense, is both an authentic way of expressing the sense of nationhood/statehood, and an operative concept in the liberation from patterns of social devaluation, exclusion, and invisible forms of repression. The most relevant to the conception of recognition is the impacts of the process of globalization on enhancing the scope of the public sphere, and more specifically, providing opportunity for the marginalized and silenced forces to become conscious of their unequal share in the life-world. This consciousness motivates the struggle for recognition through democratization of the public sphere both internally and internationally. Indeed, in the globalizing world, where a common destiny is being experienced, the struggle for recognition is further heated by implication, and theoretically, advances the possibility of a more effective participation in global governance. In light of these observations, the argument must be advanced that the full recognition of nations/states must be considered as the most basic expression of their selfhood/nationhood. By addressing the increasing demand for a more inclusive international relation, theorizing of recognition also gives urgency to the removal of the patterns of exclusion and oppression. Theorizing recognition involves an examination of the historical backgrounds in which the different senses of nationhood/statehood have been developed. Such differences must not become the subject of the already dominant arrangements in the life-world if a democratically more transparent and just international public sphere must be achieved. In other words, by acknowledging such differences, the theory of recognition has potentials to accommodate cross cultural/ethical divisions and bring disparate voices together in a more participatory and inclusive manner. 1 Acknowledgment I owe completion of this dissertation to the following professors, whose comments and recommendations prevented me from falling down in intellectual pitfalls I express my thanks to them (In the alphabetical order]: 1. Rajaee, Farhang 2. Robinson, Fiona 3. Schmidt, Brian n Table of the Contents: Abstract Acknowledgment Introduction 1 Scholarly Background 11 The Plan of Research 15 Chapter 1: Globalization and Recognition 18 The Globalization Debate 24 Transformationalist Thesis and the Issue of Recognition 26 Glocalization: A Different Transformative Thesis 38 Globalization and the Backdrop of Reflexive Modernity 45 Globalization: Exclusion or Inclusion 50 Chapter 2: Difference and Recognition in International Political Theory 59 Part One: The Question of Difference in Liberal Normative Tradition 60 Part Two: Acknowledgment of Difference in Alternative Approaches 74 Liberal-Communitarian Debate and Questions of Difference 79 Difference in Post-Foundationalist Perspectives 86 Critical International Relations Theory and Appreciation of Difference 95 Chapter 3: Beyond Mere Respect: Towards the Politics of Recognition 110 Theory of Recognition 113 The Politics of Recognition of Difference: Taylor's Account 128 Dialogue over Recognition of Identity 139 A Recognition-based Approach to Justice 146 Recognition and Socio-Political Solidarity 156 Chapter 4: Toward an Ethics of Recognition in International Relations 160 Dilemma of Non-Recognition and Power 165 Recognition as Justice 174 Civil Society Helping Recognition as Justice 179 Recognition, Justice, and Solidarity 193 Conclusion 196 Bibliography 208 Cm] Introduction The importance of recognition is now universally acknowledged in one form or another; on an intimate plane, we are aware of how identity can be formed or malformed through the course of our contact with significant others. On the social plane, we have a continuing politics of recognition of equal recognition. Both planes have been shaped by the growing ideal of authenticity, and recognition plays an essential role in the culture that has arisen around this ideal. Charles Taylor, "The Politics of Recognition", p. 232. This thesis is concerned with the ethics of recognition in International Relations.11 use recognition, here, to convey something more substantive than conventional/legal usage of the concept prevalent in both International Relations and International Law. I propose substantive recognition instead that is a meaningful acknowledgment of all voices that are either ignored or suppressed and still or are not articulated. Therefore, my use of recognition differs from the practice of "constitutive recognition" of statehood through which political entities receive international rights and obligations when they are recognized by other states as states. It is also different from "declaratory recognition" which considers autonomy and independence as necessary conditions for the actualization of the state. In the declaratory account of recognition i.e., the realist view, statehood depends on the active application of authority over a given territory. In the liberal account of recognition, statehood depends not only on the ability to control actors and activities within national boundaries, but also the ability to display it beyond its borders. Indeed, the latter demands the state's ability to cope with internationally generated problems and issues 1 In writing this thesis I have been inspired by Charles Taylor's account of recognition of difference. See Charles Taylor, "The Politics of Recognition," in Philosophical Arguments (Cambridge, Harvard University Press. 1977]. 1 effectively. In both cases, recognition is a matter of benefit calculation via the lenses of legal considerations, since both perspectives understand statehood in terms of the principle of sovereignty. My purpose in this dissertation is to go beyond the narrowness of both liberalism and realism and explore how those who have been misrecognized or non-recognized by these dominant discourses of recognition, and consequently have been excluded from the discourse of international life, might be acknowledged and counted. In this sense recognition is not a legal framework but a substantive institution facilitating the active participation of all states on equal terms with all other players. In the practice of current international law, although states of different social and constitutional systems might be legally recognized what is lacking in international relations is a meaningful sense of membership. That is to say, merely counted in the