civilization, race, and the international order Flashcards
(32 cards)
What key turns happen starting from the 1790s to the 1800s?
British government takes control over EIC territories
When is the long 19th century?
1789 to 1914
french revo - ww1
Some crucial 19th century changes? (4)
- Switch to direct colonialism (peaks after 1870)
- Industrial revolution
- Dominance of GB
- Rise of racial ideologies
When does direct colonialism peak?
1870
Definitions of civilization (4)
A stage (most advanced)
A process (most advanced)
The society, culture and way of life of a particular area
Comfort and convenience of modern life
Which ideology is the term “civilization” central to?
Liberalism
When does the term civilization take off?
19th century
2 Core elements to Guizot’s definition of a civilization?
- Social Level: A condition of social progress (very often conceived in material terms)
- Individual Level: development of human mind and its faculties
What’s the difference between ancient and modern civilizations according to Guizot?
Ancient civilizations were totally homogenous
Modern (Europe) its heterogeneous, there’s variety - this experience of having governments that aren’t able to take over each other will create tolerance and liberty in Europe.
This is what makes European civilization distinct, and modern.
Why was Guizot’s definition so popular during the French Revo.?
Managed to reconcile conservatism and liberalism
Conservatives’ view on Guizot?
Conservationists favored law and order
Liberals’ view on Guizot?
Guizot says that because there have been multiple forms of government that had been at war, that had never managed to dominate each other - this made Europe special
Showed that principles of progress and liberty were fruits of the turbulent history of European civilization.
Progress doesn’t lie in preserving the past.
How do liberals twist Guizot’s point?
They drop the term “variety”
They say Europe is homogenous, there’s a European culture that’s responsible for European civilization
Which concepts of Guizot are liberals still committed to? What exception do they identify?
Liberals are still committed to principles of national self determination and non-intervention.
One key exception! If you are human beings in the maturity of their faculties. (justifies imperialism)
How do liberals define “human beings’ in the maturity of their faculties”?
Using the term “Family of Nations”
Family of nations core idea and consequence
There are two societies: part of family, not part
Two sets of rules are applied to those countries.
What was the core principle for societies within the family of civilized nations?
Non intervention
What was the core principle for “barbaric” societies?
Administer them to help stand by themselves in the conditions of the modern world.
What is the standard of civilization? (generally)
An expression of the assumptions used to distinguish those that belong to a particular society from those that don’t
The C19 standard of civilization had massive effects…
- Changes in cultures and civilizations
2. Changes in their patterns of interaction
Five rules of the C19 SoC
- Guarantee basic rights
- Have an organized political bureaucracy
- Maintains a domestic system of courts, adheres to international law
- Avenues for diplomatic interchange
- Conform to the accepted norms and practices of the civilized international society
The SoC was inclusive (Gong)
SoC emerged in order to include non-European societies within the domain of international law
The SoC was exclusive (Alexandrowicz)
SoC emerged as international law shrank from a universal into an exclusive Eurocentric system.
British are signing treaties with an Imam that has provisions based on equality
Anghie’s key points
Post 1989: belief in one desirable system of government (democracy) and economic organization (free market).
Mission: bring democracy and free market to the whole world. Democratic or undemocratic replaces civilized uncivilized.
This justifies violence although its illegal
