Chapter 16: Empire at home: from civil rights to black lives matter Flashcards
What is the significance of the Black Lives Matter protests in relation to IR theory?
The Black Lives Matter protests, especially after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, have brought questions of racialized state violence to the forefront of IR theory.
How is police militarization framed in debates about racialized state violence?
Some scholars argue that debates about police militarization often rely on a false distinction between the police and the military, overlooking the deep roots of violence in colonial and war contexts. (Howell, 2018) (McMichael, 2016)
What are some arguments for militarisation theory?
Use of Military Equipment: This acquisition of military-grade equipment suggests a blurring of the lines between civilian policing and military operations.
Training and Tactics: Supporters of the thesis point to the adoption of military-style training and tactics by police forces
Cultural Shift: Some argue that there has been a cultural shift within law enforcement agencies, with a growing emphasis on militaristic language, symbolism, and attitudes
What are some arguments against militarisation theory?
Historical Precedent: Critics contend that the use of military tactics and equipment by police forces is not a recent phenomenon but has historical precedent
Limited Scope: Some argue that while certain aspects of policing may have become more militarized, such as the use of SWAT teams, this does not necessarily indicate a wholesale militarization of law enforcement. They contend that the majority of police work, such as community policing and routine patrols, remains non-military in nature.
Functional Justification: Opponents of the thesis assert that the adoption of military tactics and equipment is often justified by functional considerations rather than a deliberate attempt to militarize policing.
What concept does Laleh Khalili use to underscore the colonial origins of contemporary policing practices?
Laleh Khalili (2010) draws on Aimé Césaire’s notion of the ‘boomerang’ to highlight how colonial war zones served as ‘social laboratories’ for testing control techniques that later influenced policing in the colonial metropole.
How does Stuart Schrader (2019) characterize the relationship between domestic policing methods and counterinsurgency tactics abroad?
Stuart Schrader argues that domestic policing methods often serve as models for counterinsurgency tactics and operations abroad, as part of the USA’s global projection of power.
How does Schrader contextualize mass incarceration in the USA?
Schrader contextualizes mass incarceration in the USA within the broader context of the USA’s global war on communism, emphasizing the connection between domestic policing and global decolonization efforts.
What are the global and colonial roots of carceral violence
Colonial Origins: Carceral violence has deep colonial roots, dating back to the era of European colonialism when punitive measures were used to subjugate colonized populations and maintain colonial rule. Colonial powers employed brutal methods of punishment, including imprisonment, torture, and executions, to suppress resistance and assert control over indigenous peoples.
Global Circulation of Penal Practices: The colonial era also witnessed the global circulation of penal practices, as colonial powers exported their methods of punishment to other parts of the world. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “colonial boomerang,” highlights the interconnectedness of colonial and domestic systems of control.
Counterinsurgency and Imperial Policing: Carceral violence has also been closely linked to counterinsurgency strategies and imperial policing efforts. During the era of decolonization, Western powers, particularly the United States, employed coercive tactics to suppress anti-colonial movements and maintain imperial dominance.
Transnational Networks of Control: The global nature of carceral violence is further underscored by the existence of transnational networks of control, which facilitate the exchange of knowledge, technology, and practices among states and security agencies.
What conceptual frameworks do scholars propose to transcend dichotomies in understanding state violence?
Scholars propose conceptual frameworks such as ‘martial politics’, the ‘police-military continuum’, and Huey Newton’s theory of intercommunalism to transcend domestic/international and peace/war dichotomies, highlighting the global nature of state violence.
How do these scholars view policing and incarceration in relation to colonization and racialization?
These scholars view policing and incarceration as historical and ongoing practices of colonization and racialization on a global scale, challenging notions of territorial state sovereignty and emphasizing W.E.B. Du Bois’ concept of a global ‘colour line’
How do abolitionists differentiate their approach from more liberal perspectives on criminal justice reform?
Abolitionists aim not to reform but to abolish the criminal justice system altogether, contrasting with liberal efforts for a more just and less racist system. (McLeod, 2019)
According to Angela Davis (2005), what concept does prison abolition draw from, and how does she frame it?
Angela Davis draws from the DuBoisian notion of abolition democracy, framing prison abolition as both a negative process of dismantling violent structures and a generative project of building new democratic institutions.
How does George Lipsitz (2004) characterize the scope of the abolitionist struggle?
George Lipsitz argues that abolition is inherently a global project, emphasizing the need for transnational and inter-ethnic anti-racist efforts due to the global nature of white supremacy.
What does Lipsitz mean by stating, “The empire is ‘in here’ as well as ‘out there’”?
Lipsitz suggests that the impacts of empire and white supremacy are not limited to external territories but also manifest within domestic contexts, highlighting the global reach of these systems of oppression.
How have recent scholars in International Relations built upon the idea of abolition as a global project?
Recent scholars in IR have expanded on the notion of abolition as a global project, emphasizing its transnational and intersectional nature, as seen in works by Axster (2021) and Manchanda and Rossdale (2021).
