FINAL REVIEW -- MARCH

RACISM AND THE LAW

AS/SOSCI 3561 6.0A

{SYNOPSIS AND GENERAL OVERVIEW: THE FINAL SECTION OF THE COURSE HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO FIVE SUBJECT AREAS: (1) CRIME IN CONTEXT {THE SOCIOLOGY CONCEPTION AND RELATIONSHIP OF DEVIANCE AND CRIME; CRIMINAL JUSTICE MODELS; THE PROBLEMIZATION/CRIMINALIZATION OF BLACK YOUTH· (2) GENDER JUSTICE {THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER RELATIONS AND FEMINIST THEORIES; MARILYN WARING – “WHO IS COUNTING”} (3) ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CANADA {ABORIGINAL WOMEN AND SELF-DETERMINATION – FILM: “KEEPERS OF THE FIRE”; ABORIGINAL CHALLENGES TO THE STATE; ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM; ABORIGINALITY AND SELF-GOVERNANCE} (4) MINORITIES AND THE MEDIA {MEDIA AS A FORM OF HEGEMONIC DISCOURSE; MEDIA IN THE CONTEXT OF MULTICULTURALISM; BELL HOOKS – “CULTURAL CRITICISM AND TRANSFORMATION” [ON CRITICAL THINING AND TRANSGRESSION]}; (5) UNDERSTANDING GLOBALIZATION {GLOBALIZATION AND GLOBALISM; CORPORATE GLOBAL MARKET MODEL – FACETS AND CONSEQUENCE; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY; CONTRADICTIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER [EX: TRANSNATIONAL CORPS: ENGINES FOR INJUSTICE OR CATALYSTS FOR GROWTH? -- TRANSNATIONAL HYBRID IDENTITIES AND BLOOD CULTS]; “HUMANITARIAN” GLOBALIZATION [FRAMEWORK FOR SPREADING WEALTH AND BENEFITS MORE EQUITABLY]}.

 

I)       THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF CRIME AND THE CRIMINALTYPE: CRIME IN CONTEXT

WHEN SOCIOLOGISTS STUDY CRIME AND DEVIANCE, THEY ATTEMPT TO ====> [1] LEARN WHAT TYPES OF BEHAVIOR ARE DEFINED AS DEVIANT, [2] WHO DOES THE DEFINING, [3] HOW AND WHY PEOPLE BECOME DEVIANTS, [4] AND HOW SOCIETY DEALS WITH DEVIANCE.

ALMOST EVERY HUMAN BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN DEFINED AS DEVIANT AT SOME PLACE OR AT SOME TIME, AND AS NON-DEVIANT AT OTHER TIMES OR IN OTHER PLACES == THESE DESIGNATIONS ARE "CULTURALLY RELATIVE" == DEVIANCE IS A STATUS CONFERRED BY SOCIETY, NOT A QUALITY INTRINSIC TO THE ACTS THEMSELVES == DEVIANCE BECOMES "CRIMINAL" WHEN A BEHAVIOR IS DESIGNATED AS DEVIANT AND CONSIDERED TO BE WORTHY OF LEGAL SANCTION (AS A SOCIAL CONTROL).

IN A SOCIAL SCENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE, CRIME IS A CULTURALLY RELATIVE PHENOMENON, MEANING IT IS PART OF A CULTURAL “DISCOURSE” THAT PROVIDES CONCEPTUAL MODELS FOR PEOPLE AROUND WHICH THEY MAP THE WORLD {DIFFERENT UNARTICULATED FRAMES OF REFERENCE AND UNACKNOWLEDGED SETS OF BELIEFS}. IN OUR SOCIETY, CULTURE DISCOURSES ON CRIME ARE PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY POWER AS A PRIMARY FRAME OF REFERENCE.

THE ISSUE OF CULTURE, POWER AND SOCIAL CONTROL — FROM A POLITICAL-ECONOMIC POSITION, CONSTRUCTING IMAGES OF CRIME AND CRIMINALITZATION IS A SOCIAL CONTROL STRATEGY THAT CREATES THE ILLUSION THAT THE “DANGEROUS CLASS” IS PRIMARILY LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY. THIS ILLUSION MELDS POVERTY AND PUNISHMENT.

SOCIOLGICAL THESIS: PREVAILING CRIMINAL JUSTICE (AND INJUSTICE) SYSTEM IS FASHIONED BY POLITICAL DOMINATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTROL

CRIMINAL JUSTICE MODELS: (A) “RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE” REFERS TO A TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE METHOD OF RETRIBUTION OR FIXING BLAME AND ATTACHING PUNISHMENT, (B) “RESTORATIVE JUSTICE” REFERS TO AN INFORMAL MECHANISM FOR ADMINISTERING JUSTICE THROUGH REMEDIAL MEANS SUCH AS MEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION}}

[[EX: YOUTH JUSTICE ACT == IT REPLACES A LONG-STANDING FOCUS ON PUNITIVE JUSTICE WITH A FOCUS ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE – PLACING A GREATER EMPHASIS ON REHABILITATION, WHILE STILL HOLDING YOUTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS]].

[[EX: DANGEROUS OFFENDER LEGISLATION =====>[“INCAPACITATION” VERSUS “REHABILITATION”] --- INCAPACITATE: TO DEPRIVE OF CAPACITY OR POWER; RENDER UNABLE ---REHABILITATE: TO HELP TO READAPT; RESTORE TO HEALTH

IN RECENT DECADES, THE CONCEPT OF DANGEROUSNESS HAS NARROWED CONSIDERABLY TO ENCOMPASS AN OFFENDER'S POTENTIAL TO COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR THOSE OF A SEXUAL NATURE.

WHILE IT CAN BE SAID THAT DANGEROUSNESS IS THE POTENTIAL OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO CAUSE FUTURE HARM TO OTHERS, HOW A LEGISLATIVE BODY {SOCIETY/CULTURE} DEFINES ‘HARM' IS KEY TO THE DEFINITION OF DANGEROUSNESS. {?} =====>

NEW LEGISLATION IN CANADA: [BILL C-55, AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL CODE (HIGH RISK OFFENDERS), THE CORRECTIONS AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE ACT, THE CRIMINAL RECORDS ACT, THE PRISONS AND REFORMATORIES ACT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL ACT, CAME INTO FORCE ON AUGUST 1, 1997. THIS LEGISLATION WAS PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME TO DEAL MORE SEVERELY WITH CANADA'S WORST CRIMINALS ==

I) THE NEW LAW REPEALED A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TESTIMONY OF TWO PSYCHIATRISTS AT DANGEROUS OFFENDER APPLICATION HEARINGS; NOW, ONLY ONE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT MUST GIVE EVIDENCE AS TO THE DANGEROUSNESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

II) THE ACT ALSO CREATED A "LONG-TERM OFFENDER" DESIGNATION THAT TARGETS SEX OFFENDERS AND ALLOWS FOR A PERIOD OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OF UP TO TEN YEARS FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE LONG-TERM OFFENDER FROM CUSTODY (SOLICITOR GENERAL OF CANADA, 1997).

III) ADDITIONALLY, THE ACT INCREASED THE TIME THAT A DANGEROUS OFFENDER MUST SERVE IN PRISON BEFORE HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE, NOW SEVEN YEARS INSTEAD OF THREE]].

TWO TYPES OF INCAPACITATIVE MEASURES ARE USED TO DEAL WITH DANGEROUS OFFENDERS: {1} PREVENTIVE OR INDETERMINATE CUSTODIAL SENTENCES AND {2} COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION.

 

II)      GENDER RELATIONS: FEMINIST THEORIES

MARGRET WARING: WHO IS COUNTING

1.    WOMEN'S WORK AND THE GDP

{BECAUSE IT IS NOT EXCHANGED FOR DOLLARS, WOMEN'S WORK IS NOT COUNTED --- AND NOT CONSIDERED PRODUCTIVE ==== NOT INCLUDED IN GDP, THEREFORE DON'T GET A SENSE OF THE OVERALL WEALTH WOMEN'S WORK IS CREATING ==== IN END WHEN, WOMEN APPLY FOR PENSIONS THEY ARE SEEN AS A BURDEN (INSULT TO INJURY)

2.    TIME CHARTS

{ALTERNATIVES --- TIME CHARTS OF PRODUCTIVITY --- WHEN THE SUN WAS HERE, WHAT WERE YOU DOING? ===> “TIME USE SURVEYS”}

3.    ELEMENTS OF VALUE AND EXCHANGE

ECONOMIST COUNT DISASTERS LIKE EXXON VALDEZ BECAUSE IT CREATES WORK AND VALUE ---

4.    PRODUCTIVITY

 HOW CAN PRODUCTIVITY BE RECALIBRATED? TIME USE SURVEYS? HOW DO WE MAKE WOMEN COUNT?

 

FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES ====> OFFER VARIOUS, SOMETIMES COMPETING, “SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST” EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PERVASIVENESS OF RELATIONSHIPS OF DOMINATION AND SUBORDINATION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN ====> AND FOR A RANGE OF UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE CHANGES REQUIRED TO REDRESS EXPLOITATIVE AND OPPRESSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

LIBERAL FEMINISTS

1) MAIN SOURCE OF GENDER INEQUALITY IS THE "PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION" (LEARNING PROCESS BY WHICH YOU ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND MOTIVATIONS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL LIFE).

2) THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SHAPED WOMEN’S LIVES WERE THE LAWS AND PREJUDICES (SHARED BY MEN AND WOMEN) THAT EXCLUDED THEM FROM THE PUBLIC SPHERE AND FROM THE RIGHT TO EARN THEIR OWN LIVING ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH MEN.

3) WOMEN STRUGGLED FOR THE RIGHT TO HIGHER EDUCATION, ENTRANCE INTO THE PROFESSIONS, THE RIGHT TO OWN PROPERTY AND HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE, AND FOR SUFFRAGE, THE RIGHT THAT CAME TO SYMBOLIZE FULL CITIZENSHIP.

4) THE SOLUTION: – EDUCATION = REMOVE INDIVIDUAL IGNORANCE. THEREFORE, THESE LAWS AND THE PREJUDICES THAT UNDERWROTE THEM WOULD GRADUALLY BE REPLACED BY EXTENDING EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY TO WOMEN.

SOCIALIST FEMINISM

1) OPPRESSIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SEXES ARE NOT SIMPLY DERIVATIVE OF CLASS.

---THE INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN SEX OPPRESSION AND CLASS EXPLOITATION HAD TO BE ADDRESSED.

2) A. FOCUSED ON THE LABOUR DONE BY WOMEN IN THE HOUSEHOLD—CALLED DOMESTIC LABOUR—HELPS TO SUSTAIN THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM.

(A) REARING CHILDREN;

(B) SUSTAINING HUSBANDS.

RESULT: BOTH CAPITALISTS AND INDIVIDUAL MEN BENEFIT FROM THE UNPAID AND PERSONAL SERVICE OF WOMEN IN THE HOME.

3) SOME SOCIALIST FEMINISTS ANALYZED THE INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC SPHERE OF CAPITALIST AND STATE RELATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SPHERE OF THE FAMILY/ HOUSEHOLD.

(A) CAPITALISM DONE AT FRACTION OF THE COST;

(B) THE APPEARANCE OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SUSTAINS THE UNEQUAL RELATIONS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT SOCIETY.

4) SOLUTION: OVERCOME THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SPLIT ===> FAMILY WAGE; DENIAL OF EDUCATION; NO SOCIAL SUPPORTS FOR CHILD CARE.

RADICAL FEMINIST

1) GENDER INEQUALITY IS ROOTED IN THE MATERIAL CONDITIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN. THE BIOLOGICAL FAMILY IS AN INHERENTLY UNEQUAL POWER DISTRIBUTION.

LIKE MARXISM WHICH CONTENDS: MONOGAMY WAS THE FIRES FORM OF THE FAMILY TO BE BASED NOT ON NATURAL CONDITIONS BUT ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS: THE EXCLUSIVE AIMS OF MONOGAMOUS MARRIAGE WERE TO MAKE THE MAN SUPREME IN THE FAMILY AND TO PROPAGATE, AS THE FUTURE HEIRS TO HIS WEALTH, CHILDREN INDISPUTABLY HIS OWN.

2) THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MONOGAMOUS MARRIAGE IS TO SUBJUGATE THE FEMALE SEX TO THE MALE ===> THEY LOCATE MEN’S POWER OVER WOMEN IN THEIR ABILITY TO CONTROL WOMEN SEXUALLY AND TO DEVELOP THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ENSURE CONTINUING CONTROL.

WESTERN SOCIETIES ARE A FORM OF PATRIARCHY -- RULE OF MEN, MEN ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF THESE SOCIETIES ====> IN A WORLD OF UNEQUAL POWER RELATIONS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, COMPULSORY HETEROSEXUALITY ENSURES NOT ONLY WOMEN’S SEXUAL DEPENDENCE UPON MEN BUT ALSO THEIR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE.

3) THE SOLUTION: THE ELIMINATION OF MEN AND THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY FROM WOMEN'S LIVES -- "COMPULSORY HETEROSEXUALITY" IS THE KEY WAY WOMEN ARE SUBORDINATED AND ENSLAVED IN THIS SOCIETY ===> WOMEN SHOULD BUILD THEIR OWN INSTITUTIONS FROM HEALTH CLINICS AND WOMEN'S SHELTERS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, ART GALLERIES ETC.

 

[[[FLERAS {NOT EXAMINABLE}: PP.132 "SOCIAL PROBLEMS" == LIBERAL FEMINISM (LEVELING THE PLATYING FIELD -- REMOVING DISCRIMINATORY BARRIERS) == MARXIST FEMINISM (WORKERS (WOMEN AND MEN) OF THE WORLD UNITE -- RESTRUCTURE SOCIETY TO ELIMINATE PRIVATE PROPERTY AT THE BASE OF EXPLOITATION) == RADICAL FEMINISM (HEY, HO, PATRIARCHY HAS TO GO -- ELIMINATE PATRIARCHY AND THE NUCLEAR FAMILY THAT SUPPORTS IT) == CULTURAL FEMINISM (CELEBRATE AND POLITICIZE WOMEN AS DIFFERENT AND VALUABLE) == RAINBOW FEMINISM (COATS OF MANY COLOURS -- WHITE FEMINIST AND FEMINIST OF COLOUR HAVE DIFFERENT AGENDAS WHERE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES RELATED TO RACISM AND ETHNICITY ARE SUPERIMPOSED ON AND INTERSECT GENDER AND CLASS, AMPLIFYING INEQUALITY) == CONSERVATIVE FEMINISM (THE GOOD OLD DAYS -- ESPOUSES A VIEW OF EQUALITY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES WOMEN IN TRADITIONAL, MATERNAL, DOMESTIC ROLES TO CURE THE BREAKDOWN IN THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY)]].

 

III)     ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CANADA

A STORY OF COLONIALIZATION, CULTURAL GENOCIDE AND RESURRECTION THROUGH ORGANIZED RESISTANCE}}}

CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL RELATIONSHIP IN CANADA:

1) INEFFECTUAL GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE AND PATERNALISTIC HANDOUTS.

2) THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM ====> EXPANDING LEGIONS OF EXPERTS IN HOPE OF FOSTERING ASSIMILATION THROUGH SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

3) RHETORIC OF SELF-GOVERNMENT AND A “NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT” ======> IN REALITY MOST INITITATIVES SIMPLY REFORM/ TWEEK THE OLD ONE AND REFUSE TO RELINQUISH ANY SUBSTANTIVE POWER.

SO, WHEN WE TALK OF THE “ABORIGINAL PROBLEM” IN CANADAWE NEED TO TALK IN A WIDER DISCOURSE THAT PUTS THE BURDENS ON INSTITUTIONS SO THAT WHAT COMES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE ARE THE POLITICS, THE CULTURE, AND THE ECONOMICS OF DOMINATION

{{{THE CONTEMPORARY POLITICS OF “ABORIGIALITY” REVOLVES AROUND THE KEY ISSUE OF SELF-DETERMINATION ======> OR MORE ACCURATELY, ABORIGINAL MODELS OF SELF-DETERMINING AUTONOMY =======> MEANS THE “DEVOLUTION” OF REPONSIBILITY AND FEDERAL JURISDICTION OVER ABORIGINAL LANDS AND AFFAIRS, AND THE TRANSFERENCE OF RIGHTS AND AUTHORITIES TO ABORIGINAL PEOPLE ====> IN SHORT, LAND, IDENTITY AND POLITICAL VOICE}}}

STRATEGIES OF RESISTANCE

FOLLOWING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND MORE PARTICULARLY IN THE 1960S -- WHILE THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL STILL PREOCCUPIED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA AN AROUND THE WORLD -- A PLATFORM OF WIDER AND MORE PROACTIVE CONCERNS BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE THROUGH:

1. VIOLENT CONFRONTATION OR ARMED RESISTANCE.

2. “DECOLONIZATION” OF THE MIND STRATEGIES

3. NURTURING AND SUSTAINING CULTURAL SYSTEMS.

4. NEW AGENDA FOR INDIGENOUS ACTIVITY THROUGH A FRAMEWORK FOR GLOBAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES.

ABORIGINAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

TERMS OF ALL INHERENT SELF-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS ARE SET OUT IN A 1995 FEDRAL POLICY DOCUMENT; INHERENT SELF-GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON CONTINGENT RATHER THAN SOVEREIGN RIGHTS --- THAT IS, ABORIGINAL SELF GOVERNMENTS MUST OPERATE WITHIN THE CANADIAN FEDERAL SYSTEM, WORK IN HARMONY WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS, BUT CONSISTENT WITH THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOME, AND ENHANCE THE PARTICIPATION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN CANADIAN SOCIETY

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CANADA ENTAIL RETHINKING THE PLACE OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES WITHIN THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK – THE FOUR POLICY PILLARS ARE:

1) ACCELERATED LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT,

2) IMPROVED SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON RESERVES,

3) RECONSTRUCTION OF ABORIGINAL-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, AND

4) FULFILLMENT OF ABORIGINAL CONCERNS (I.E., PRIVILEGING INDIGENOUS INTERESTS AND PRACTICES).

ABORIGINAL-PLUS STATUS

1.     THE VERY THINGS THAT ABORIGINAL PEOPLE WANT ARE THE VERY THINGS WE HAVE (AND SOMETIMES TAKE FOR GRANTED):

2.     PROTECTION AND FREEDOM IN EXERCISING THEIR CULTURAL LIFESTYLES AND LANGUAGE;

3.     SELECT ELEMENTS OF THEIR CULTURE CAN BE PRESERVED AND INTERPRETED WITHIN OUR CONTEMPORARY FRAMEWORK;

4.     FREEDOM FROM BUREAUCRATIC SUBJECTIVITY;

5.     ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM AGAINST THEM, SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY, WHICH THEY HAVE FACED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS; AND

6.     ACCESS TO POWER, RESOURCES, STATUS AND MEANINGFUL DECISION-MAKING CAPABILITIES.

THIS ABORIGINAL-PLUS STATUS ENTITLES:

O   THE RIGHT TO CONTROL LAND AND RESOURCES;

O   THE RIGHT TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND IDENTITY;

O   THE RIGHT TO CONDUCT THEIR AFFAIRS ON A NATION-TO-NATION BASIS; AND

O   THE RIGHT TO ESTABLISH INDIGENOUS MODELS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.

LEVELS OF ABORIGINAL SELF-GOVERNANCE

STATEHOOD

*ABSOLUTE (DE JURE) SOVEREIGNTY

*INTERNAL + EXTERNAL JURISDICTION

*COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE WITH NO EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE

NATIONHOOD

*DE FACTO SOVEREIGNTY

*SELF-DETERMINING CONTROL OVER MULTIPLE YET INTERLINKED JURISDICTIONS WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF SHARED SOVEREIGNTY

*NATIONS WITHIN/PROVINCE-LIKE

COMMUNITY/MUNICIPALITY-BASED

*CONDITIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

*COMMUNITY-BASED AUTONOMY

*INTERNAL JURISDICTIONS, LIMITED ONLY BY INTERACTION WITH SIMILAR BODIES AND HIGHER POLITICAL AUTHORITIES

INSTITUTIONAL

*NOMINAL SOVEREIGNTY

*DECISION-MAKING POWER THROUGH INSTITUTIONAL ACCOMMODATION

*PARALLEL INSTITUTIONS

 

IV)     MINORITIES AND THE MEDIA

FLERAS ARGUES THAT MEDIA ARE PROBLEMATIC (SOCIAL PROBLEM) IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

THERE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED NATURE OF MEDIA RELATIONS TO SOCIETY AND SOCIETY-BUILDING – IT INFORMS AND IT IS COMPLICIT IN THE INFORMATION [IT IS COMPLICIT IN GENERATING INFORMATION (A VIEW OF THE WORLD); IT HAS AN “ASSUMPTIVE REALITY”

THIS COMPLICITY MAKES IT DOUBLY IMPERATIVE TO EXPLORE HOW MEDIA CONTRIBUTE TO THE WAY IN WHICH INEQUITIES IN SOCIETY ARE CREATED, EXPRESSED, MAINTAINED, CHALLENGED, AND TRANSFORMED.

MASS MEDIA IS A FORM OF — UNPRECEDENTED — “HEGEMONIC” DISCOURSE

{{{{{FIRST, DISCOURSES ARE ALWAYS TIME-BOUND, SPACE-BOUND, CULTURE-BOUND, BOUND BY MULTIPLICITIES OF POWER RELATIONS THAT INFORM DAILY LIFE. //SECOND, THERE IS NO “PURE” REALITY OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS REPRESENTED IN DISCOURSE}}}}

EX: CULTURAL HEGEMONY, PARTICULARLY AS IT REFERS TO THE SUPREMACY OF A GROUP WHICH MANIFESTS ITSELF IN TWO WAYS: AS DOMINATION AND INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL LEADERSHIP (GRAMSCI, 1971; GIROUX, 1981).

1)       MEDIA ACTS TO REINFORCE POWER OF WHITE SOCIETY – DOMINATION AND INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL LEADERSHIP

2)       SOCIAL SCIENTISTS BELIEVE WITH THE CHANGING FORMS OF DOMINATION THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES. WITH THE RISE OF MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL CONTROL HAS BEEN EXERCISED LESS THROUGH THE USE OF PHYSICAL DETERRENTS AND INCREASINGLY THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF NORMS AND IMPERATIVES.

THOUGHT CONTROL ON A MASS — INDEED “GLOBAL” — SCALE LEADS TO A SUBTLE AND ACCOMPLISHED SOCIAL CONTROL HERETOFORE NON-EXISTENT. =====>

MEDIA IN THE CONTEXT OF MULTICULTURALISM

1)       MASS MEDIA IN A MULTICULTURAL CONTEXT – THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE RHETORIC AND THE REALITY OF CANADIAN MULTICULTURALISM AND ITS DIVERSITY COMMITMENTS AT INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS.

2)       FAILURE BY MAJOR INSTITUTIONS TO INCORPORATE DIVERSITY INTO THE ORGANIZATIONAL “MAINSTREAM”.

3)       MEDIA HAS BEEN SINGLED OUT AS VISIBLY NEGLIGENT IN RESPONDING POSITIVELY TO CANADA’S EVOLVING DIVERSITY.

[THEREFORE] MANY SOCIOLOGIST ARGUE THAT MEDIA CANNOT BE ANALYZED IN THE CONTEXT OF MULTICULTURALISM BECAUSE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT MULTICULTURALISM IS HOSTAGE TO THE MASS MEDIA CONTEXT.

bell hooks: CULTURAL CRITICISM AND TRANSFORMATION

 THESIS: TRANSGRESSION (TRANSGRESSIVE ACTS) DOES NOT MAKE YOU RADICAL --- BUT RATHER --- WHAT YOU ARE TRANSGRESSING IN THE SERVICE OF….

ANALYTIC CONTEXTS:

1)      WHITE SUPREMACY (ASIDE: IN OUR CLASS WE HAVE USED THE TERM “CULTURAL HEGEMONY”)

2)      CAPITALIST

3)      PATRIARCHY

THE WORLD CULTURE OF IDEAS INTERPLAYS WITH (MINORITY) SENSIBILITIES ====> “POPULAR CULTURE” [MEDIA, MOVIES, HOLLYWOOD] CAN BE A LINK BETWEEN THE TWO

EX: MINORITIES/WOMEN LIVE OUT LIVES OF “STEREOTYPICAL DELUSION” [SEXIST AND RACIST AND CAPITALIST FANTASIES/ FALLACY]

POPULAR CULTURE REFLECTS VALUES AND VALUE CONTRADITIONS ====> WE LIVE WITH CONTRADITIONS BECAUSE OF THE VALUES THAT POP CULTURE PROJECTS (DISTORTED CONSCIOUSNESS) =====>

EX: “THE BLACK PRESIDENT” ON THE SERIES “24” IS AN IDEOLOGICAL DISCOURSE ON THE VALUE OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY THAT IS CONTRADICTED BY SOCIAL REALITY OF EVERYDAY LIFE

IT IS IMPERATIVE IN THIS CONTEXT THAT WE DEVELOP OUR “CRITICAL THINKING” ====> CRITICAL THINKING IS MORE THAN JUST A TOOL FOR SURVIVAL/ JOB, IT IS A PROACTIVE SENSE OF AGENCY [THE ABILITY TO SEE SELF IN CONTEXT --- INSTITUTIONAL, STRUCTURAL DIMENSION FOR IDENITY AND POLITICS].

 

V)      UNDERSTANDING GLOBALIZATION

THE DERIVATION OF THE TERM “GLOBALIZATION” IMPLIES THAT IT INVOLVES WORLDWIDE PROCESSES THAT ARE RELATIVELY NOVEL AND STILL UNFOLDING. THESE MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROCESSES ARE BEING EXPERIENCED UNEVENLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF SOCIAL LIFE.

GLOBALIZATION IS A COMPLEX SET OF HUMAN FORCES INVOLVING THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION/ TRANSMISSION, AND CONSUMPTION OF TECHNICAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIOCULTURAL GOODS AND SERVICES WHICH ARE ADMINISTRATIVELY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY INTEGRATED ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS

FLERAS ======>

1)       ECONOMIC PHENOMENON: HIGH VOLUMES OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND INVESTMENT.

2)       POLITICAL PHENOMENON: DIMINISHING STATE SOVEREIGNTY BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND REGULATORY BODIES.

3)       CULTURAL PHENOMENON: POTENTIAL HOMOGENIZE CULTURES BECAUSE OF MARKET FORCES THAT DISRUPT LOCAL CONVENTIONS.

4)       SOCIAL PHENOMENON: DISRUPTION OF COMMUNITY PATTERNS – E.G. URBANIZATION (DISPLACEMENT OF TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND LIFESTYLES) AND GLOBAL MIGRATION.

5)       COMMUNICATIVE PHENOMENON: NEW AND RAPID INFORMATION NETWORKS.

CONTRADICTIONS OF GLOBALIZATION

SOME RESEARCHERS EQUATE “GLOBALIZATION” TO AN EXERCISE IN “SOFT HEGEMONY,” THAT IS A TOOL BY RICH SOCIETIES TO GAIN DISPORPORTIONATE ADVANTAGE (CHAN AND SCARRITT, 2002).

OTHERS ARE LESS SANGUINE: IN A STRONGLY WORDED CRITQUE, WILLIAM ROBINSON (1996) COUCHES GLOBALIZATION IN APOCALYPTIC TERMS — AS A PLANETARY STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE COSMOPOLITAN RICH AND THE PAROCHIAL POOR FROM WHICH THERE IS NO ESCAPE. THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDS IS COMPARABLE TO PREDATORY SCALE TO THE RAVAGES OF 19TH CENTURY COLONIALISM. IN THAT CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION IS SIMPLY AN EXTENSION OF A COLONIALISM AND CAPITALISM WITH ITS COMMITMENT TO EXPLOIT CHEAP LABOUR UNDER INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES AND TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS, IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL (NAGRA, 2003) ... (FLERAS, 2005: 366)

I SAY ======> THIS PLANETARY STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE COSMOPOLITAN RICH AND THE PAROCHIAL POOR FROM WHICH THERE IS NO ESCAPE BREAKS DOWN ALONG CULTURAL AND RACIAL LINES EUPHEMIZED IN THE GEO-POLITICAL TERMINOLOGY OF — “THE NORTH-SOUTH BIFRUCATION” =====> “GLOBAL APARTHEID” [FILM: “NEW WORLD BORDER]

GLOBALIZATION” HAS AIDED IN THE RECONFIGURATION (RE-COLONIALIZATION?) OF THE WORLD POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY INTO THE “GLOBAL NORTH” AND THE “GLOBAL SOUTH”---- EX: IMMIGRATION FLOWS// MARXIAN RESERVED ARMY OF INDENTURED WORKERS FROM THE SOUTH OFTEN “WITHOUT PAPERS” AND EXPLOITED {NEO-COLONIALIST COMMITMENT TO EXPLOIT CHEAP LABOUR} — “THE BOAT PEOPLE” ======> EX: TERRORISM AND SCOURGE (EVER BROWN BODY — BODY OF COLOUR ---- IS A POTENTIAL TERRORIST — EX: "FLYING WHILE BROWN" MEANS YOUR ARE SUBJECT TO GLOBAL RACIAL PROFILING)}}}

THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION

SOCIAL FACT: TO DATE, GLOBALIZATION IS AN EXCLUSIONARY FORCE, DENYING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION TO PARTICULAR RACIALIZED REGIONS, CULTURES, AND CLASSES. IN TURN, THIS IS CAUSING BACKLASH. FOR MANY NATIONS, CULTURES, INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE WORLD, MODERN GLOBALISM CONSTITUTES AN ELITEST, NORTHERN-BASED, WESTERN-FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGICALLY SUPPORTED FORM OF ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPERIALISM.

IN ORDER TO TURN THIS VICIOUS CIRCLE INTO A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK (WOLFENSON, 997:6) HAS ISSUED A CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION “TO REDUCE ... DISPARITIES ACROSS AND WITHIN COUNTRIES, TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM, [AND] TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO BENEFITS OF DEVELOPMENT REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, RACE, OR GENDER

IN SOME SENSE, THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION IS TO CHANGE THE INERTIA OF GLOBALIZATION FROM AN IMPOSITION “FROM ABOVE” BY GREEDY CORPORATE INTERESTS TO A “BOTTOMS-UP” FOCUSED GLOBALIZATION THAT PUTS PEOPLE AHEAD OF PROFITS (STAR AND ADAMS, 2003)

[AS R. ALAN HEDLEY PUT IT IN — “UNDERSTANDING GLOBALIZATION”] WHETHER THIS CHALLENGE BECOMES REALITY REMAINS TO BE SEEN; HOWEVER, UNTIL IT DOES, THE WORLD AS A WHOLE CANNOT TRULY BE CHARACTERIZED AS GLOBALIZED.

HUMANITARIAN GLOBALIZATION

PRIORITIZES HUMAN NEEDS AND CONCERNS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF GLOBALIZATION THAT SPREADS THE WEALTH AND BENEFITS MORE EQUITABLY --- IT IS ABOUT CONSERVING COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, PUTTING PEOPLE'S NEEDS ABOVE PROFIT, USING LOCAL RESOURCES, ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY (FLERAS 372)

IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY A “BOTTOMS-UP” NEO-GLOBALIZATION THAT ENSURES BENEFITS ARE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED, RATHER THAN A “TOP-DOWN” GLOBALIZATION THAT IS DRIVEN BY TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CORPORATE ELITE

TO ACHIEVE HUMANISTIC GLOBALIZATION WE NEED TO:

·         SHIFT ECONOMIES FROM PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT TO PRODUCTION FOR LOCAL MARKETS

·         BECOME LESS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND MARKETS

·         DISTRIBUTE INCOME TO CREATE A MORE THRIVING INTERNAL MARKET

·         DE-EMPHASIZE GROWTH TO ENURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

·         SUBJECT THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MONITORING BY PRIVATE SOCIETY

·         ENCOURAGE PRODUCTION AT ALL LEVELS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGITY OF SOCIETY