Polémiques by Le Zadig

POLÃ&#x2030;MIQUES

MAR C H 12, 2 0 1 7

POLÉMIQUES Le Zadig

Editorial

Imagining the Other

Julian Vierlinger

Orientalism, or an Appeal to Academic Integrity

Zeynep Aksoy

Occidentalism: The West from the Eyes of the East

Vantage Points

Ryan Zohar

Through the Looking-Glass

Kryštof Selucký

The Slow Zoom-In on One Life

Trump’s America

Sebastian Torero

Donald Trump: The President America Needs

Sara Elbanna

Trump Is Not My President—Literally.

Elias Forneris

Politique: s’engager ou se désengager?

Seetha Tan

The Toxic Psychology of Aid

Anonymous

Pick Your Battles

Abigail Merelman

British English—The Real English or an Outdated Dialect?

Tommy Marro

Simplicité Made in Vallée Roya

Hugo Petit-Jean

Emmanuel Macron : Nouveau leader dont l’Europe a besoin

Mathieu Perruche

Le revenu universel ou l’abandon de la lutte contre les inégalités 48 1

RaphaĂŤl Colombier

Globalization: Bringing the World Closer Together

Clayton Becker

Milo Yiannopoulous: Right to Speak But No Right to be Heard

Rebecca Chacon Naranjo Living in Fear: A History of Police Violence in America

Robin Couton

Restricting Liberty for Security Threatens Security Itself

Kaz Tomozawa

Power of Description & the Place of the Immigrant in The Satanic Verses 62

Credit: The Telegraph

PO L É MI Q U E S

Editorial RYAN ZOHAR & BERKE ALIKASIFOGLU ON BEHALF OF LE ZADIG’S EDITORIAL BOARD

Credit: CSPAN

After the roller coaster of a year which was 2016, the world was waiting and wishing for a less eventful 365 days. But a year which was kicked off by Donald Trump being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, of course, could not stay quiet for long. For the past 3 months, our news feeds have been full of debates; whether the repealing and replacing of the Affordable Care Act in the United States, the drama-filled French Presidential campaign or Turkey’s constitutional referendum.

campus, Sciences Polémiques, this edition of Le Zadig is focused on debate and the exchange of ideas. Polémiques will kick off with with a series of opposing views across a wide array of topics. From ideas of philosophical grandeur, to the harsh political realities across the globe. We have paired writers to debate each other in a sort of battle of ideas. The second portion of the issue will focus on single opinions intended to enrage or engage. These are topics that individuals on campus have chosen to write about or read. We hope that the views reflected in this issue can serve as a mirror of the many different opinions one encounters on campus.

This yet another rocky start to a new year made our job somewhat easier in Le Zadig’s Board. After all the turmoil that we witnessed so far, the search for a new theme for this calendar year’s first Le Zadig edition was a short one as we settled on the theme of Polémiques. For this issue we wanted to open the floor for our readers to express their opinions and discuss some of the many contentious issues facing our campus, our region, and our world. Inspired by one of our favorite associations on

After all, as the Soviet Union’s last leader Mikhail Gorbachev put it best in 1987, “It is better to discuss things, to argue and engage in polemics than make perfidious plans of mutual destruction.” It is only through discussion and mutual understanding that we can solve today’s problems one at a time. 3

PO L Ã&#x2030; MI Q U E S

Imagining the Other On Orientalism JULIAN VIERLINGER

On Occidentalism ZEYNEP AKSOY

PO L É MI Q U E S

Orientalism, or an Appeal to Academic Integrity BY JULIAN VIERLINGER

Credit: Jean-Léon Gérôme The first time I was confronted with Ed-

and was confronted with a smile of recog-

ward Said’s 1978 masterpiece was - un-

nition from the interviewer’s side. The

surprisingly - the first time I was con-

theory was confirmed, and proven in the

fronted with a student from Sciences Po

field. What other way to get a Christian

Menton, roughly three years ago, in a

to accept you than to quote the Gospel to

small café in the old city of Jerusalem.

him, right?

“Orientalism,” I was told, “is the Bible of

It was only in Menton that I grasped the

all students of the MENA region.” Con-

true meaning of the Bible analogy. While

vinced of the validity of this argument, a

everybody seemed to quote and mention

copy of the book was the first item on my

it (“Orientalist here, orientalist there”),

packing list when I traveled to Istanbul

and above all claimed to have read it -

for my admission interview. Cunningly, I

discussion and in depth inquiry had

mentioned the book in the interview, 5

shown that, well, hardly anyone had actu-

about this (p. 28), is a horrifying fate -

ally ever opened the 350 page plunder.

for any form of valuable discussion con-

Edward Said’s fate is therefore that of

cerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is

most grand philosophers, scholars, think-

flawed by the labelling (even if subcon-

ers and prophets: Forever doomed to

sciously) of the Palestinian as “the Orien-

shallow reference.

tal.” Said states that: “No person academically involved with the Near East—

I would not call Orientalism - the Bible

no Orientalist, that is— has ever in the

analogy still holds - a deeply misunder-

United States culturally and politically

stood text: most ragged part time wan-

identified himself wholeheartedly with

derlings of the trade get the basic con-

the Arabs” and no such identification

cepts about right. Yet, and I promise I

has ever “taken an ‘acceptable’ form as

will stop with the Bible here, an actual

has liberal American identification with

look into the text reveals that it offers a

Zionism.” For Said, the Orientalism is

lot more than what is generally quoted

one of the grand impeachments of any

and requoted and, well, abused.

form of Western involvement in the con-

What the subtext of this text here is

flict - for the basic premise is flawed.

meant to tell you, is to stop reading here,

It is this specific word that is key: prem-

to go beyond the bullshit, and to do what

ise. Edward Said, much contrary to what

you told everyone you did a long long

many people think, did not invent the

time ago: Read Orientalism. I know how-

term Orientalism. Researchers in the geo-

ever that we’re all the same tribe, so if

graphical sphere reaching from Morocco

You decide to keep on reading, you’ll

all the way to China have for centuries

find a short resumé of the basic concept

called themselves Orientalists, and

that Orientalism is in Edward Said’s vi-

proudly so. In the entire German-

sion.

speaking world, the study of the MENA

Edward Said’s text is a product of his

region has been until today called Orien-

own experience being a Palestinian

talistik, Orientalistics. What Edward

scholar in the United States, where he

Said did was to introduce another vision

taught literature at Columbia University.

of Orientalism by describing it as, in es-

Being Palestinian in the American aca-

sence, a self-consolidating premise that

demic context, and Said is quite explicit 6

is inherently flawed. Now, what does

sidered as necessary to dominate, firstly

that mean?

through colonialism, and the European tutelage of the Ottoman empire and the

For Said, the premise of Orientalism

mini states it encompassed. The occiden-

rests on a number of fundamental pillars

tal domination of the Orient had a three-

whose genesis is found in history. First

fold effect on the Western perception of

of all, the term “Orient” and its meaning

the East: Political, cultural and methodo-

by extension as being the absolute oppo-

logical, intertwined and each necessitat-

site of “Occident”, is one such pillar. Said

ing the other.

argues that the epistemological separation of “East” and “West” is one that was

The political effect is most easily cap-

born of conflict. He cites the Greco-

tured by the new purpose that Oriental-

Persian wars as the beginning of this con-

ist (in the original sense) scholarship

flict, as they were a fundamental experi-

had gained: Studying the Orient now

ence for the Greek cultural conscious-

meant to study how to govern the Ori-

ness, which later on - by means of litera-

ent. This effort was clearly stipulated,

ture and eventually the heir the Greek

and the line between colonial officer and

empires, Rome - expanded in Europe.

orientalist scholar became increasingly

The depiction of the “Easterners” as bar-

blurry. The orientalist scholarship in

baric invaders, radically different from

turn reflected the relationship of domina-

the civilised Greek polis, who come to in-

tor and dominated, increasingly describ-

vade and must be dominated, survived

ing existing structures as less valuable

over the centuries as the entrenchment

than the european counterpart - as, in a

deepened; finding its bloody climax in

form of reversed causality, dominion

first Islamic conquests, the crusades and

needed to be justified and rendered nec-

eventually the fall of Constantinople to

essary.

the Ottomans. The “Orient”, in Euro-

The cultural effect was much more com-

pean literary, scholarly and political dis-

plex, and can be subdivided into three

course, was forever branded as some-

points: Firstly, it was now possible for

thing radically different - more impor-

Orientalists to travel to the Orient, while

tantly, threatening.

enjoying relative security and economic

The second pillar is the eventual achieve-

superiority in the field, turning their ob-

ment of dominating what was long con-

servations into “top-down” travel re7

ports. The importance of these travel re-

static object. Cultural and scholarly pro-

ports as a concept is reflected by the mas-

duction was based on this methodologi-

sive increase of interest in the Orient on

cal premise, and therefore fuelled fur-

the part of the Occidentals: The colonial

ther production in the same manner.

machine produced an obsession for the

The continuation of political conflict

Orient in European

with the Orientals (colonial wars and

cultural production - reaching from ap-

crackdowns on uprisings), the intensifica-

plied arts (just tap “modern day cleopa-

tion of domination (ongoing colonial-

tra painting” in Google), to music (listen

ism) and the increasing production of ro-

to “Le Desert” by Felicién David to see a

mantic, Orientalist (and now we talk

high grade occidentalisation of the Ad-

Said) scholarship and culture led to the

han in a classical Orchestra piece) to lit-

phenomenon of Orientalism to be a self-

erature (all the way from Goethe to Flau-

consolidating mechanism, a premise

bert). This, together with the way jour-

that is flawed - for no traveller or stu-

neys to the Orient were facilitated to do-

dent of the Orient ever managed to es-

minion turned any form of observation

cape this toxic logic; never had the

in the field into textbook examples of self

chance (nor will) to approach the orient

fulfilling prophecies: Doing something

in an objective manner.

with clear expectations increases the

This objectification of the Orient led to a

probability of finding exactly what you

de-humanization of the orient’s inhabi-

were expecting.

tants: The oriental was just as much a

The methodological effect is more com-

subject of study as the tiger, rhinoceros

plicated to explain: Said argues that the

or elephant. The Bedouin making tea,

definition of the Orient as the opposite

the devout Muslim praying was depicted

of the Occident, supercharged with the

(and studied) with the same amount of

all-encompassing romanticism and long-

humanity as the camel navigating the de-

ing for adventure, in essence turned the

sert.

western vision of the “Orient” into a pas-

Said also insists on the sexual compo-

sive and unchanging monolith. The Ori-

nent of Orientalism: The oriental woman

ent was not studied or regarded as a

as the passive, belly dancing goddess of

place with shifting dynamics and muta-

beauty, fulfilling the occidental’s every

ble realities, but much rather as a sort of 8

wish (take Flaubert’s Kucuk as a prime

So, how not to be an Orientalist? First of

example) became the Europeans ulti-

all, stop referring to the MENA region as

mate object of desire. For Said, this re-

the orient. And stop approaching it as if

flects the general repression and institu-

it were a static concept: Take the region

tionalisation of love and life in general in

for what it is; another region of the

the Western sphere (Church, Marriage,

world. Approach the study of, say, the Si-

Bank and Army - the four apocalyptic rid-

nai with the same methodology that you

ers), which found the “Harem” as a lust-

would apply to studying, say, Austria.

ful, hallucinogenic paradise on earth as

Look at Ibn Khaldoun with the same

the perfect escape from their sad reali-

premises that you use for Nietzsche (by

ties.

the way, you will find some surprising similarities!). And most of all, stop tap-

So, what is Orientalism today? What

ping “Oriental music” on Youtube.

Said argues is that Orientalism is today (in 1979, at least) is more alive than ever.

But then again, lending from Hegel’s dia-

Our depiction of, our fascination with

lectic, it is definitely not correct to call

and imagination of the Orient might

everyone that is critical of the Arab

have changed, but the basic premise is

world an Orientalist. Orientalism is not

the same: a (homogenous) “land” of won-

an interdiction to criticise - it is just an

ders, full of camels, wise old men, flying

argument to be objective, to question

carpets and belly dancing goddesses -

your preconceived notions. Criticize,

but not necessarily a land of intellectual

study, but do not argue taking the orient

richness, of diverse cultures, and most of

as a cause for any form of relative deficit

all, human beings just like “us”, the occi-

you find. And also, do not demonise ori-

dentals. The orient has stayed an object,

entalist attitudes - but see them as an ob-

rather than just a place like any other

ject of study themselves. That is, next

that tends to be

time you tune in into Homeland or le Bureau des Legends just reflect upon what

slightly different, but whose habits are of

its representation of the “orient” can tell

equal value. There is, however, indeed

you about France or the US respectively.

an orientalist revival- or a renaissance re-

For what Said has done with his book is

turning to its base: The orient as a

he has turned the subject into object: Ori-

threat, with Islam at its imagined “heart

entalism, Orientalist production and Ori-

of darkness.” 9

entalists can be studied themselves - and

erences, anecdotes and reflections, and a

it is a fascinating field. But most of all,

classic that is worth reading before You

stop calling a white man who makes

cite it, or use it in any form of argumenta-

good hummus an Orientalist. (By the

tive context. Just like the Bible, the Qu-

same token, an Egyptian who makes

ran, the French Constitution, the Human

good Pizza would be an “Occidentalist” -

Rights Charter, the Geneva Convention,

and modern day Italy would lose its

Plato’s Republic, Machiavelli’s The

charm entirely)

Prince, Le Deuxième Sexe of Simone de Beauvoir and last but not least, another

Here it must be said again, that Said’s

favourite on the Sciences Po Menton’s

analysis of Orientalism is much more

list of books-we-only-read-the-name-of-

than just this. It is a book of indeed bibli-

and-think-we-understood: Imagined

cal importance for all that studies the

Communities.

“Orient” - plastered with fascinating ref-

Credit: Middle East Revised 10

PO L É MI Q U E S

Occidentalism The West from the Eyes of the East BY ZEYNEP AKSOY

Credit:Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images “A taste of their own medicine! They de-

The car smelled heavy with a combina-

serve it those heretics!” echoed the voice

tion of vanilla scented air freshener and

of the angry cab-driver. I was not exactly

cigarettes. It was a Friday after-school,

sure what he was referring to, but I

and I was a senior, my college applica-

wasn’t going to ask either. He was speak-

tions were sent, and my dress was set for

ing about Americans, surely, because we

the graduation. I had nothing to do, and

had just exited the grounds of my high

so naturally (being the type-A personal-

school, Robert College, founded by

ity I am) I filled up every inch of my

American imperialists and philanthro-

agenda with various activities. Bursting

pists 154 years ago.

from my secular-elite bubble, my favourite pastime was to explore new neigh11

bourhoods in Istanbul. The worn-down,

disillusioned youths of the East, the

dirty yellow cabs of Istanbul were, and

West can be a source of endless seduc-

still are, sacred to me; perhaps because I

tion and constant humiliation. I de-

saw them as an opportunity for sociologi-

voured Rousseau, Hegel and Marx; all

cal research.

those years, I was dazzled by the West. That day, the contempt in the voice of

I have countless anecdotes, crazy sto-

the cab-driver when he spoke of the deca-

ries, near-death experiences that all took

dency of the West made me think about

place in cabs but one epiphany was

‘the other’ in Turkish society. For me, a

about the discourse regarding the ‘West’

secular Istanbulite, Islamisation was the

. Whatever the driver was referring to; I

greatest existential threat of my teenage

did not need to know. I knew how to pro-

years. Whereas the ‘other’ for the major-

ceed with the conversation, throw in the

ity of the Turkish population was the

following words: colonialism, injustice,

West.

petrol, Saddam, and Hollywood. The keywords of the anti-Western rhetoric that

I felt as if a clash of civilisations were

has etched itself into the collective mind

happening right inside me.

of the urban-dwellers of Istanbul, were

Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit, in

obvious to me. I wanted to provoke and

their work Occidentalism: The West in

to understand.

the Eyes of Its Enemies, track the forma-

I became aware of the problematic dis-

tion and the dissemination of anti-

course regarding the ‘East’ earlier than

Western ideas. Whether argued by a 19

its Western counterpart. Raised in a secu-

year old Kamikaze pilot, or by Moham-

lar household, learning from my grand-

mad Atta the young Egyptian annihilator

mother that ‘headscarves are un-

of the Twin Towers, the rhetoric is the

republican’ and never holding a Quran

same: the West suffers from inhumanity

until the age of sixteen- I had to over-

caused by sterile materialism, combined

come my prejudices against the religion

with urbanization that rips the individ-

I was born into.

ual from the collective fabric. Metropolis is a whore; its society revolves around

Having had Western education all my

trade, it’s soulless and greedy. Perhaps

life, however, I was not exposed to the

the most influential of all accounts on

Occidentalist rhetoric. To the idle and

the West is Sayyid Qutb’s description of 12

New York in 1948. Qutb thought that the

to attain this comfort and pleasure in

city resembled a ‘huge workshop’; it was

life. This life of comfort, materialistic

‘noisy’ and ‘clamouring’. Even the pi-

decadence and lack of heroism in the

geons looked unhappy; he longed for a

West have all been common threads in

conversation that was not about ‘money,

the wars against the West, whether de-

movie-stars and car-models’ (Buruma,

clared in the name of the Russian Soul,

32).

the German Race, State Shintoism, Communism, and Islam.

I was surprised, and exhilarated to learn, however, the inception of the anti-

Another link tying Osama Bin Laden to

Western philosophical rhetoric and ideas

Jacques Verges or to Tokkotai volunteers

were first developed by German National-

is the will to grandeur. All Occidentalists

ists of the 1920s and 30s. One of the key

view the West as dull, confined in rea-

theorists of Germany’s war against the

son, lacking in spirituality and heroism.

West was Werner Sombart, a social scien-

Plagued with Konformismus, as Som-

tist who published Handler und Helden

bart would put it. Therefore, in the mind

(Merchants and Heroes) in the second

of the Occidentalist (For German Roman-

year of World War I. In his mind, the

tics, and Mujahideens alike) dying in

‘Western European civilization’ (namely

self-sacrifice is the most heroic act of

Britain and France) has been corrupted

which one is capable. The Death-Cult of

by the ‘ideas of 1789’ and commercial val-

Occidentalism enables the average man

ues. They have become nations of mer-

to feel heroic. Better to die gloriously

chants; as the values of liberty, equality

than live in Konformismus, in social and

and fraternity are true merchant virtues,

spiritual decadence. Right? Occidental-

benefiting only certain individuals.

ism can be seen as the expression of bit-

Whereas, In Somabart’s eyes Germany is

ter resentment toward an offensive dis-

a nation of heroes, prepared to sacrifice

play of superiority by the West, based on

themselves for higher ideals (Buruma,

the alleged superiority of reason. This

52-55). The ‘merchant’ or bourgeois men-

‘reason’ is perceived by the East differ-

tality that Sombart rejects is explained

ently: prudence is timidity, stability is

through Konformismus. Comfort is a pas-

dullness. The West seeks an uninspiring,

sive experience, it is dull, it is stagnant.

sheltered life. For Dostoevsky, the

The ‘merchant ideals’ of the West aspire

Western-import of political rationality 13

and utilitarianism constitute a danger-

wealth if it had colonised and subjugated

ously deluded ideology. The West is

the majority of the world’s population?

driven is nothing but arid rationalism.

Surely not. Feelings and ideas toward

This is a dehumanising Occidentalist dis-

the West were shaped simultaneously as

tortion (Buruma, 98).

the West mystified and romanticised what it saw as the dogmatic, the illogical

It is the point in this article when the

East. ‘‘This is a tale of cross-

author is supposed to explain, that just

contamination, the spread of bad ideas’’

like Orientalism, Occidentalism is also a

(Buruma, 149).

reductive, pejorative vision of a very nuanced and complicated entity that is

Fighting fire with fire, prejudice with

West. Just as Easterners are dehuman-

prejudice may not be the best solution

ised as savages who need political guid-

for our increasingly disillusioned socie-

ance, those who are incapable of reason,

ties. Rhetoric seeking to combat ‘Radical

Westerners are dehumanised as me-

Islam’ is increasingly popular in UK, US,

chanic, without spirit or virtue, rotten in

and European populist politics. Politi-

values. Let’s assume that all the sophisti-

cians have a awoken to the lucrative busi-

cated readers of Le Zadig are aware of

ness of ‘otherizing’ Muslims order to as-

the dangers surrounding simplification

sert legitimacy and mobilise the masses

and generalisation; and avoid redundant

through politics of fear. Which, in turn

words on the perils of Occidentalist per-

only perpetuates the negative arguments

ception.

concerning the West, and demonizes it in the eyes of the Eastern populations.

We are in south of France learning about

Yes, both of the rhetoric is scary. How-

the Middle East, and naturally we are all

ever, if world leaders from the Western

preoccupied with the implications of Ori-

hemisphere continue their battle, with

entalism, more than we give time and en-

these forms and institutions of intoler-

ergy to understanding Occidentalism.

ance and close their societies in an exis-

The aim of this article to start a conversa-

tential defence of their civilisation; we

tion, to acknowledge that the two are con-

will all be Occidentalists and there will

nected. Would the West be seen as deca-

be nothing left to defend.

dent and deliriously obsessed with

PO L É MI Q U E S

Vantage Points The Case for Outside Perspectives RYAN ZOHAR

The Case for an Insider Perspective KRYŠTOF SELUCKÝ

PO L É MI Q U E S

Through the Looking-Glass: The Case for Outside Perspectives BY RYAN ZOHAR

Credit: The New York Times US-based media outlets from coast to

more well-versed in the political land-

coast are closing their bureaus abroad.

scape of their homelands and can get

Indeed, many have proclaimed the death

hard-hitting stories that would be almost

of the foreign correspondent. Only a

certainly be out of reach for a foreigner

handful of American newspapers main-

in their land. But what do we lose in ex-

tain considerable cadres of journalists

change for this new insight?

posted abroad; a profession is decaying

I have written in previous pieces for Le

before our own eyes. Some have hailed

Zadig about how I believe outside per-

this trend as a budding opportunity for

spectives can afford new insight to issues

local journalists to fill-the-gap and use

normally considered banal. I have even

sociocultural fluency of their own socie-

invoked the words of Peter Berger about

ties to project local stories to a global

the sociologist who “travels at home with

platform. In many ways, this would be a

shocking results.” There is, certainly, an

good thing. Local journalists are often 16

inherent bias of the outside perspective

clearly pronounces a caveat emptor

which can obfuscate or misinterpret

quite early in the transaction.”

events which occur in a foreign land. As

Pamela Constable, a journalist at The

globalization and its ever-present yet

Washington Post, highlights foreign cor-

Only a handful of American newspapers maintain considerable cadres of journalists posted abroad; a profession is decaying before our own eyes.

less discussed counterpart, localization,

respondents’ ability to embed them-

continue to reshape our vision of the

selves within the stories they tell, all the

world, even our notion of foreign is in-

while maintaining a perspective not un-

creasingly enigmatic. In a report by the

like that of the publication’s readership.

Reuters Institute for the Study of Jour-

For her, newspapers should not aim to

nalism at the University of Oxford, Rich-

be authoritative sources on a given topic

ard Sambrook speaks to this point, claim-

but should “fill an important

ing, “In multicultural societies the no-

niche...offering an accessible way for

The outsider can filter through the jargon and bureaucracy to find the story his or her audience needs to hear.

tion of ‘foreign’ is more complex. Interna-

busy people to learn about distant events

tional and domestic news agendas have

and an outlet for writing that captures

merged to a significant degree.” In this

the essence of a time and place without

regard, bias is inescapable and the duty

polemics or pedantry.” The outsider can

of the journalist converges with what Pe-

filter through the jargon and bureauc-

ter Berger sees as the charge tasked to

racy to find the story his or her audience

each sociologist before undertaking his

needs to hear. While such writers must

or her research: “The sociologist who

never internalize the experiences of an

sells his wares should make sure that he

article's subjects as their own, “foreign 17

correspondents can burrow into a soci-

The leap that a reporter from Columbia,

ety, cultivate strangers’ trust, follow me-

Missouri takes in embedding with US

andering trails and dig beneath layers of

and coalition forces in Kunduz, Afghani-

diplomatic spin and government propa-

stan can encapsulate many of the reac-

ganda.” However, there is indeed a

tions and sentiments that we too would

wrong way to do such writing. A short

feel in such a situation. These writers

The leap that a reporter from Columbia, Missouri takes in embedding with US and coalition forces in Kunduz, Afghanistan can encapsulate many of the reactions and sentiments that we too would feel in such a situation.

fling of “adventure tourism” or quick

can traverse perspectives and explore

scribblings in travelogues betray the

multiple sides; their job is not so much

trust of the reader and the accuracy of

to deliver their own opinions but to re-

any account.

veal those of others. The end product should be a portrait, with some brush-

Lisa Cullen, a Japanese-American jour-

strokes inevitably more detailed than oth-

nalist writing for Time, responded to

ers, but the image should do justice to

Constable’s lament of the steady decline

the size of the frame chosen as its

of US reporters working overseas. She

bounds. Such a work should not mas-

calls upon her personal experiences with

querade as an exhaustive encyclopedia,

her solely American colleagues to de-

it is no more than a snapshot. “It's no ac-

scribe the unique perspective such writ-

cident that some of the best foreign corre-

ers can provide when reporting on Japa-

sponding we have today is in magazines

nese issues. “I’ve worked with enough

like the New Yorker, written by journal-

all-American foreign correspondents to

ists who have months to pull together a

know that they bring special skills, too—

single long report,” writes Timothy Gar-

say, the ability to see a country with to-

ton Ash for The Guardian. Such under-

tally fresh eyes. I may not find the all-

takings can inform us more than the cold

female trains in Tokyo new or interest-

statistics of death tolls or the nonstop

ing. An American might—as might his

footage of roadside bombings ever could.

audience back home,” she argues.

Pamela Constable corroborates this senti18

ment by quoting Polish writer Ryszard

ing, all seemed to reach the same conclu-

Kapuściński: “There is something more

sion: All writing is travel writing. I must

valuable and more enduring than facts.”

say that I tend to agree with this as the logical endpoint. Like any good travel-

A recent issue of the British literary

ing, good writing occurs when one gets

magazine Granta implored readers to

lost. Writing is truly good when it helps

ask, “Is travel writing dead?” For some,

you forget where you are. The assess-

this scathing indictment of travel writing

ment of Bergin that “writing is by its

was a long time coming; its exotification,

very nature an intrusion: voyeuristic; fet-

objectification, and ‘colonial high-

ishistic; impolite; self-serving – the self

handedness’ were all invoked by Sigrid

is the finished piece of writing,” implies

Rausing in the issue’s introduction. And

that writing is always done from the out-

while, these are all often nasty byprod-

side looking in. We are transported by

ucts of bad travel writing, these do not

writing because there is never any fixed

have to be the hallmarks of the genre.

point of departure for us as readers.

There is a third-way.

Texts of any kind seek to introduce us to

Contributors to the issue such as Tara

an unknown topic in an unknown place,

Bergin, Geoff Dyer, and Mohsin Hamid,

or time.

by way of different methods of reason-

Credit: Travel & Leisure 19

There is another reason why outsider per-

understanding each other has real world

spectives can inform us in ways that we

implications. In 1998, Franco-Lebanese

are often unable to mirror from the in-

author Amin Maalouf wrote an essay en-

side. This is because contrasting our dif-

titled In the Name of Identity, in which

ferent experiences can teach us about

he claimed, “When the modernity bears

ourselves. I maintain that I did not truly

the mark of ‘the Other’ it is not surpris-

understand the United States until I left

ing if some people confronting it bran-

it for an extended period of time. Some-

dish symbols of atavism to assert their

times the things that are missing from us

difference.” In this regard, the ultimate

are the most present reminders of who

goal of an outside perspective should be

we are. It is this projection of minutiae

to reveal links where others might im-

to a macro-level that confers unto us the

pose distance, to find a reflection in what

ability to step back and view things as

is otherwise branded as the unknown.

they are.

Journalists have their own domestic

Legal scholar H. Patrick Glenn suggests

audience, but their work can spur inter-

that the comparative method is useful in

national interest. As globalization brings

law because it is important for under-

the world closer in some respects, hybrid-

standing how each legal system is

izes it in some cases, and still Balkanizes

unique. The origin of this subfield of law

it in others, it is necessary that discourse

has its roots in Montesquieu's discussion

goes global. The days of the isolationist

of legal diversity in The Spirit of the

option are over, and as such the scope of

Laws. While the merit of the compara-

debate must broaden. In order to partici-

tive method can seem like an abstruse

pate in a global conversation, we should

theoretical reflection, the importance of

not eschew the external perspective.

Credit: Regional Geography of the World 20

PO L É MI Q U E S

The Slow Zoom-In on One Life BY KRYŠTOF SELUCKÝ

Credit: Horst Faas

This story is fictional. Lucas Morrald: The Mobbio-

that this was a crucial step which even-

Dosian War in 1975 in a new per-

tually enabled the Mobbians to win the

spective, OxBridge Press 2022,

war.

Cambridge, p. 213: His [General

Ibid., p. 215: In the previous accounts

Mobbi’s] wit is especially visible with re-

of the war, one aspect of this crucial de-

gard to the events of 21st November

cision was regrettably overlooked.

when the Mobbian troops finally with-

When general Mobbi issued the com-

drew from the centre of Dosiopolis. The

mand, he added that the withdrawal of

Mobbian headquarters issued the with-

forces must be – no matter what hap-

drawal command in the early morning

pens – finished in under one hour. Even

hours, only a few minutes after they re-

though this decision cost the Mobbians a

ceived word of massive attack started

few troops, it enabled the others to with-

by the Dosians. In this chapter I argue

draw in time, regroup behind the bor21

derlines of the city and, just a few days

All five helicopters got the lowest needed

later, begin the decisive counter-

altitude for a safe flight and speedily left

offensive.

the airport.

The 1st helicopter squad of the 2nd

“Do you think they are really gonna

air division

send someone to get them, John?”

21st November 1975, 7:45 AM:

“I fucking hope so. Eric is there.”

“Captain, look! Number three is not tak-

John Wood's diary

ing off. What’s wrong?” The young sol-

21st November 1975:

dier was leaning out of the ascending

The worst day of my life. We’ve been up

helicopter.

all night, waiting for the Dosians to at-

“Are you serious?” Captain peaked out

tack. Nobody said anything, but we

of the window, the walkie-talkie already

were sure they would attack that day.

in his hand. “Number three? Do you

Don’t ask me how, we just knew it. And

copy? What’s wrong?”

then the order came. You must leave un-

WE ARE MISSING TWO MEN, SIR.

der an hour. I was shocked. There was

THEY SHOULD BE HERE IN ABOUT

no way I was getting my squad back to

TEN MINUTES. WE’LL CATCH UP

the airport on time. Especially Eric and

WITH YOU.

James, they were too far away. I called all of them immediately.

“Are you kidding me? Haven’t you heard the orders? We must leave this

…

fucking place! Now! That’s a fucking or-

We took off. There was no other option.

der!”

I hoped, I hoped they would send some-

“Sir, we can’t leave them here.”

one back for them. Captain promised he would call the HQ and I know he did.

“I’ll ask the HQ to send someone in here

He did and they promised him. As we

to pick them up, ok? But now take off for

were leaving the airport, we called the

God’s sake.”

two and explained the situation. They

“Copy, sir. Taking off.”

were heading back to the airport. They were frightened to death. We all knew the attack was coming. I tried to com22

fort them, but then the signal got lost.

Each life story is the most valuable one.

We were too far. By that time, I already

Even though big decisions need to be

knew that no one was coming back. HQ

taken without studying each and every

fucked with us. As always.

one of them, we cannot give up the personal, emotional and empathic part of our lives, because that is what truly

These were the two first men I lost in

makes our lives meaningful. Outside per-

this bloody war for no reason. Ten min-

spective is important, it can save lives,

utes. Ten minutes only and they were

but it is never sufficient.

alive. How could they be that heartless? THE

E N D .â&#x20AC;¨

Credit: AP

PO L É MI Q U E S

Trump’s America The President America Needs SEBASTIAN TORERO

Not My President SARA ELBANNA

PO L É MI Q U E S

Donald Trump: The President America Needs BY SEBASTIAN TORERO

Credit: Reuters “Oh ye people who are free, remember this maxim: Liberty may be acquired, but never recovered.” - Jean-Jacques Rousseau On September 30, 2011, 90 miles outside

Those two weeks in 2011 saw three

of Yemen’s capital Sana’a, Anwar al-

Americans killed without trial, in a for-

Awlaki was getting into his car when a

eign country, on the President’s orders.

US drone missile struck his vehicle, kill-

Their rights had been utterly disre-

ing him. One of the other people killed in

garded, their Constitutional protections

the blast was Samir Khan. Two weeks

moot to the fact that they were members

later, out searching for his father, 16-

of al-Qaeda, an organization once consid-

year old Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, is

ered to be America’s greatest enemy. At

killed, once again by an unmanned

least, two of them were. The final one,

drone. All of them were American cit-

that teenage boy searching for a father

zens.

he hadn’t seen in years? According to for-

mer White House Press Secretary Robert

on Terror. The reaction to the terrorist

Gibbs, well, he should’ve had a more re-

attacks of September 11th, 2001, to the

sponsible parent.

deaths of 2,996 innocent people, is understandable when taken in context. The

President Obama was the second presi-

world Americans thought they lived in

dent in American history to use armed

was destroyed that day. The old play-

drones. He did so extensively. In the

book had been torn to shreds. It was no

eight years of his presidency, Obama or-

wonder things changed as drastically as

dered 473 drone strikes, killing 2,436

they did.

people in Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, and Somalia. According to the administra-

But more than 15 years later, the impe-

tion’s own numbers, 64 to 116 of those

rial nature of the American presidency

killed were civilians. The Bureau of Inves-

remains intact. The powers of war have

tigative Journalism has that number six

consolidated themselves around one per-

times higher.

son, and the War on Terror drags on, whether in name or not. Those powers

The drone program is an instance where

that transferred to the hands of Barack

technology and the contemporary politi-

Obama, the power to kill American citi-

cal climate have combined to bequeath

zens, sanction torture, and monitor mil-

the president with powers far beyond

lions without a warrant, now belong to

those granted to the office in the Consti-

Donald Trump. This enigma of a man

tution. Another was the invention of nu-

with an utter disregard for the truth,

clear weaponry. The bombing of foreign

who has said he would murder the fami-

countries by unmanned aircraft and the

lies of terrorists, bring back waterboard-

potential destruction of the entire both

ing and “a hell of a lot worse.” Who says,

lie in the hands of a single person.

and perhaps even believes, that he is the

The past decades have seen the emer-

one man to bring safety back to America.

gence of the imperial presidency, a mas-

National security is not the only area in

sive expansion of presidential powers cre-

which the powers of the presidency have

ating a political landscape that our

expanded during the previous admini-

Founding Fathers would be unable to rec-

strations. President Obama had a pen-

ognize. This change has been given the

chant for using executive orders to enact

most spectacular assistance by the War

policy. Now, major initiatives such as a 26

prohibition on US government officials

Donald Trump is not an evil man. He

using torture methods, or the Deferred

may not even realize the full extent to

Action for Childhood Arrivals, can be

which he is threatening democratic insti-

signed away with the stroke of a pen.

tutions. He does not call the media the

And Donald Trump can create Â a signifi-

enemy of the people or say a judge who

cant amount of domestic policy from the

decides against his executive orders is a

Oval Office. Just as the president can do

threat to national security out of some in-

good, so he or she can do evil.

sidious desire to undermine our system of government. He does so because he is

Americans have allowed the presidency

a man used to being the boss and having

to continue to accrue more and more

total control, and because he is a narcis-

power, upsetting the system of checks

sist. Unfortunately for Trump, our sys-

and balances our government is based

tem of government is meant to reject to-

upon. All the while keeping quiet be-

tal control and narcissism. It is meant to

cause their man was in charge. A person

limit the power of the president, and the

they had voted for was at the reigns, so

media is meant to keep a critical watch

they trusted the system. And all the

over the actions of those in power. But

while, the imperial presidency was wait-

Donald Trump is not used to being lim-

ing to spring its trap on the American

ited in his power or such criticism, so he

people.

lashes out. And Congress lets him. We

Donald Trump has clear hallmarks of an

let him. And if in the future, a leader

authoritarian leader. That should be a

who seeks absolute power does arise, the

cause for alarm, regardless of political af-

guardians of democracy will have been

filiation. Authoritarianism is antithetical

stripped of their posts, and we will be

to every political value our country is

left to the will of a despot.

meant to uphold. The problem is that

This is why Donald Trump is an ex-

Donald Trump has assumed his position

tremely dangerous president. But it is

of power at the very moment our country

also what makes him the president Amer-

is most in danger of slipping into authori-

ica needs at this exact moment. We live

tarianism. Our polarized Congress is

under a system of weakening of checks

more concerned with fighting the oppos-

and balances, increased influence of

ing party Â and political points than pre-

money and corporate interests in poli-

venting tyranny. 27

tics, and a growing dissonance between

sentatives in 2018, but resistance against

the policies carried out by our govern-

a system of government which has seen

ment and the desires of the people who

power coalesce into the hands of few and

are meant to be ultimately sovereign.

become subject to the highest bidder.

Donald Trump is the wake-up call we

And there must be an active effort

have long needed; a cold shower to make

among Americans of all political and

Americans realize just how close our

ideological persuasions to change the sys-

country is to slipping into autocracy.

tem in major ways. This could mean Democrats getting rid of superdelegates,

The duties of the American people to

perhaps an end to state legislatures draw-

counter the authoritarian tendencies of

ing congressional districts, maybe creat-

Donald Trump are many. Conservatives,

ing an electoral system that allows

true conservatives, those who believe in

greater access to third parties. Whatever

a free press, Â an independent judiciary,

the change is, change is necessary.

in our Constitution, must speak out

Trump is a clear sign that our system of

when the president threatens these foun-

government is failing, and an even

dational aspects of our democracy. They

clearer sign that we have strayed too far

must demand that their representatives

from the principles of governance our

do the same. Republican politicians have

country was built upon. The power of the

every right to forward their policy

presidency was intended to be limited in

agenda, but they must not at the same

the expectation that it could fall into the

time become lackeys of an administra-

wrong hands. Now, it has. Donald

tion that acts in violation of our most ba-

Trump is the president. That is why we

sic principles. As for progressives, resis-

must change, why the country must

tance cannot only be a rallying cry

change, to ensure that we do not dread

against Donald Trump, but against the

on the morning after Election Day be-

entire system of government that is so

cause we understand we are not ruled by

clearly failing the American people. The

an authoritarian leader but by a presi-

goal of resistance cannot only be for

dent wisely limited in his or her powers.

Democrats to take the House of Repre-

Credit: Travel & Leisure 28

PO L É MI Q U E S

Trump Is Not My President—Literally. BY SARA ELBANNA

Credit: Rolling Stone Franklin Roosevelt once said that “no

deportation process are all over the

man can occupy the office of President

news. Or the fact that as a woman, the

without realizing that he is the President

right to control my own body is slowly be-

of all the people.” Donald Trump has se-

ing stripped away after years of trying to

lectively chosen not to be the President

reclaim such rights. Or how my friends

of all the people. He has no intention to

now live in fear that the rights finally

represent me, my family, or my friends.

given to them by the Supreme Court,

In fact his intention is quite the oppo-

which enables them to one day marry

site. It seems as if the purpose of many

the person they love, could somehow be

of his policies is to strip us of our rights

taken away from them.

until the place that I called home no

President Trump once gave quite the con-

longer feels like home. How can the US

tradictory statement, “Our obligation is

be home when reports of people getting

to serve, protect and defend the citizens

pulled off the streets and thrown into the 29

of the United States. We are also taking

the concept of being able to vote for the

strong measures to protect our nation

first time as they turned 18 the year of

from radical Islamic terrorism.” Yet he is

the election, I, however, was left out. I

attempting to protect the nation at the

participated in debates in classrooms,

cost of taking away most people’s rights.

read articles and shared my opinion and

During a weekly phone call with my par-

although I may have thought I had a

ents, the usual conversation topics of

voice, or spoke out as if I did, in political

school and daily life were absent, instead

terms; I was voiceless.

the issue of whether I would be allowed

When Trump became president I was

to come home or not filled up our allot-

filled with all of the same emotions and

ted catch up time. Donald Trump’s travel

fear as everyone, but I was also over-

ban was more than just a topic of discus-

whelmed with a feeling of distance. My

sion on Facebook or amongst friends; in-

inability to participate in the election

stead it was my potential reality. News of

made me feel less like an American and

people with Green Cards stopped at JFK,

at the moment I wasn’t even living there,

the same airport that I would land in on

so I had felt somewhat immune to every-

my way home, flooded my newsfeed and

thing. However the moment when his

although Egypt was not one of the coun-

policies started to come into effect and

tries on the list, the potential for it to be

the realization that no one’s rights were

was there and as a consequence the po-

safe made me realize that it was impossi-

tential of me being unable to return to

ble to feel immune. Trump’s effect goes

the only home I’ve ever known was also

beyond his policies. His rhetoric has cre-

present.

ated an environment in which certain

Although I have grown up in the US,

hate speech and acts can be tolerated.

spent all of my years of education there,

My home of New York, one of the most

made all of my friends and memories

liberal cities in the country, had its peo-

there and literally never known any

ple wake up to subways covered in swas-

other home, I am not a citizen. I cannot

tikas. No one is immune from this Presi-

technically call the US a place where I be-

dency, therefore it is important to con-

long, and as a result, I did not have the

stantly speak out and fight for everyone's

right to vote. This election, when all of

rights and your own—even if in technical

my friends and peers, were thrilled at

political terms, you do not have one. 30

PO L É MI Q U E S

Politique: s'engager ou se désengager? PAR ELIAS FORNERIS

Credit: Le Parisien En novembre dernier, François Fillon a

Nicolas Sarkozy. Des deux côtés, à droite

pris la France par surprise en rempor-

comme à gauche, on pouvait critiquer le

tant les primaires de la droite grâce à

programme de François Fillon, mais il y

une campagne basée sur l’honnêteté.

avait une rare unanimité autour de sa sin-

Nombre de jeunes français ont été

cérité.

séduits par ce thème et l’apparente sincé-

Le dur réveil.

rité du candidat. S’ajoutant à cela un programme concret visant à relancer l’écono-

Quelques semaines plus tard, les

mie, à rendre flexible le marché du tra-

Français apprirent par les révélations du

vail, et à combattre le terrorisme ; un

Canard Enchaîné que l’épouse du candi-

grand nombre de français virent en M.

dat avait été employée en tant qu’atta-

Fillon un candidat d’une espèce rare :

chée parlementaire de son mari, pendant

honnête, qualifié, et pragmatique.

plus de dix ans, aux frais du contribuable, sans preuve convaincante de réelles

L’électorat était tellement convaincu

tâches effectuées. Même si cela n’avait

qu’il le préféra à l’ancien Premier minis-

peut-être rien d’illégal, les Français ont

tre, Alain Juppé, et à l’ancien Président, 31

été choqués par cette révélation et une

compétence en matière économique ; à

pratique immorale.

gauche, il donnait espoir. Comme pour M. Fillon, les portes de l’Élysée lui sem-

Le candidat Fillon a maintenant rendez-

blaient grandes ouvertes. Jusqu’à l’af-

vous devant un tribunal le 15 mars. Il y a

faire du Sofitel de New York.

quatre mois sa campagne paraissait imperdable, aujourd’hui, elle parait difficile-

Il est malheureusement une leçon que

ment gagnable. Au-delà de cette élection

les français connaissent bien depuis

particulière, cette malheureuse affaire

longtemps. Nous vîmes avec Robespierre

peut avoir des conséquences négatives

au XVIIIe siècle que personne n’est “in-

Il y a quatre mois sa campagne paraissait imperdable, aujourd’hui, elle parait difficilement gagnable.

sur la participation des jeunes dans la

corruptible”, surtout ceux qui s’autoproc-

vie politique, aggraver le cynisme ambi-

lament comme tel. Rares sont les

ant et donner du « grain à moudre » aux

hommes d’État français dont le nom n’a

extrêmes qui dénoncent le « tous pour-

pas été terni par un scandale ; Georges

ris!» Comment convaincre un jeune

Clémenceau, Pierre Mendès-France, le

français, en 2017, de s’engager en poli-

Général de Gaulle…. Et peu d’autres !

tique, de voter, et de ne pas succomber à

Un autre symptôme du malaise ambiant

l’appel des sirènes du populisme et de la

est de voir des vétérans de la politique,

démagogie, quand les hommes poli-

aguerris et admirés, refusant de se por-

tiques ne cessent de créer des espoirs

ter candidat dans des campagnes prési-

avant de nous décevoir ? Pourquoi leur

dentielles, par dégoût, peut-être. Ainsi,

consacrer notre temps et notre énergie ?

Dominique de Villepin qui a longtemps

Voilà quelques-unes des questions que

pensé à se présenter, a écarté cette possi-

ma génération, mes amis et camarades

bilité dans une interview récente ac-

étudiants se posent. Il est de plus en plus

cordée à Sciences Po TV.

difficile de leur répondre.

Le patriarche respecté des Républicains

En 2011, nombreux imaginaient un Prési-

Gérard Larcher, à la tête du Sénat de

dent Dominique Strauss-Kahn. À droite,

façon intermittente depuis 2008, ne sou-

il rassurait par son pragmatisme et sa 32

haite non plus être un jour président. Et

plutôt que s’engager en politique de

pourtant, ces deux personnages auraient

façon militante ou comme candidat.

pu mobiliser des électeurs de droite (et

Ne peut-on pas considérer en effet qu’un

même de gauche) ne demandant rien de

Elon Musk ou un Bill Gates contribuent

plus qu’un candidat dévoué et sans histo-

davantage aux avancées de la société

rique de scandale.

grâce à leurs inventions ou leurs actions

François Fillon, lui, pensait probable-

caritatives que les politiciens ? Le grand

ment que la pratique qui lui est au-

John D. Rockefeller a connu vingt-cinq

jourd’hui reprochée n’avait rien d’excep-

présidents américains durant sa longue

Le grand John D. Rockefeller a connu vingt-cinq présidents américains durant sa longue vie, et seuls Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, et les deux présidents Roosevelt sont aussi mémorables que lui.

tionnel ou d’illégal. De fait, cette pra-

vie, et seuls Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow

tique d’emplois fictifs était peut-être tel-

Wilson, et les deux présidents Roosevelt

lement courante et si anciennement

sont aussi mémorables que lui. Son im-

établie, au sein de tous les partis, qu’elle

pact sur les États-Unis, son industrie et

devint en quelque sorte « normale ». La

sa finance, est sans doute plus grand que

réaction des citoyens montre qu’il n’en

celui laissé par vingt-et-un des autres

est rien et que l’exigence de probité et de

présidents qui ont été ses contempo-

transparence ne fait que croitre. La per-

rains.

ception citoyenne est celle d’une décon-

Je voudrais lancer un débat dans nos col-

nection des politiques par rapport à la

onnes et je pose la question à mes cama-

réalité ; d’un sentiment d’impunité que

rades : comment convaincre nos contem-

les Français n’acceptent plus.

porains, les étudiants de ce premier

Si la corruption en politique semble

quart du 21ème siècle qu’il reste impor-

inévitable, les jeunes vont soit s’en

tant de s’engager en politique au-

détourner soit être tentés de donner leur

jourd’hui ? C’est une question essentielle

chance aux candidats des extrêmes. La

pour l’avenir de notre société. Je pour-

tentation de rester à l’écart est forte :

rais donner mon avis mais je voudrais

peut-être devrions-nous essayer d’amé-

vous donner la parole.

liorer la société depuis le secteur privé, 33

PO L É MI Q U E S

The Toxic Psychology Of Aid BY SEETHA TAN

Disclaimer: in the following article I generalise ‘Western aid’ as a paradigm, based on social perspective and not geographical location, I suggest Western approaches to aid are not exclusive to the ‘West’. Furthermore, as a member of Amnesty, this article is intended to be constructive and to work with the approach of the organisation. We constantly strive to reflect upon and consequentially improve our initiatives and our perspectives to ensure our actions remain ethical, relevant and effective. Are you perpetuating the toxic psychology of aid?

I acknowledge that I am entirely the

ties of language or the ‘moral’ lessons we

product of my context. At birth, the

teach our children. Particular paradigms

cards were arbitrarily drawn in my fa-

that even pervade the most altruistic as-

vour, and I write this today for the Uni-

pects of our society: humanitarian aid.

versity I attend, largely because I have re-

With our immense privilege, indisputa-

ceived every benefit from the indiscrimi-

bly comes great responsibility. Responsi-

nate lottery of life. As a self-professed

bility to actively strive to share our privi-

product of the West, I have been spoon-

lege, but more importantly to question

fed specific narratives; narratives that

the narratives we have become so com-

have come to define a perceived and in-

fortable believing.

herent superiority denoted by the subtle34

When William Easterly published ‘White

Language is incredibly subversive, and

Man’s Burden’ a confronting exploration

as such, should be handled with care.

of the toxic psychology of Western aid,

Disclaimers must be made, and each ethi-

the developed world collectively heaved

cal crossroad should be broached with

an anxious sigh. The conscience of our

the same caution: should I say this?

humanitarian sector was pulled harshly

Should I share this? Is this what she

into focus, and I, among many, begun to

wants? Is this what she really thinks?

question ‘our’ collective approach to aid.

What will this achieve? Do I have any

Too often, our charity masquerades as

right to speak as if her voice was my

purely altruistic endeavours, and too of-

own? I am a strong believer in the fact

ten, in our attempt to give voices to the

that our jurisdiction to ‘speak’ is limited

voiceless, we simply overshadow theirs

to our own individual reservoir of experi-

with our own. We embellish our ‘humani-

ence. I will never be in a position to un-

tarian’ experiences with flourish and ver-

derstand the way another individual

We embellish our ‘humanitarian’ experiences with flourish and verbosity, emphasising our altruism as the headline and abandoning their experiences to the footnotes.

bosity, emphasising our altruism as the

views and comprehends the world, and

headline and abandoning their experi-

accordingly, I believe we should refrain

ences to the footnotes. We have the

from assuming. One of the most patronis-

audacity to suppose that we can discern

ing aspects of human interaction is to as-

the complexity of their lives and experi-

sume. To assume particular truisms that

ences and thoughts in a single conversa-

you believe summarise someone’s experi-

tion and distil those observations into a

ence and accordingly, to export your

single article. We try to empathise and

own values and belief system.

fail dismally, and in our attempts to ren-

As social justice warriors, we use our

der their experiences digestible to our

cameras and pens like weapons, prod-

audience, we unintentionally doctor

ding and invading and simplifying. Ulti-

their stories so they conform to our ideas

mately, turning humans into stories and

and expectations.

poverty into a section on our resumes. 35

Falling into the trap of anesthetising pov-

be actively countered, and I hope that

erty and glamourizing our roles as

we, as a collective body, strive to under-

volunteers.

stand the world and not simplify it. Ultimately recognising that we are never go-

I do genuinely believe organisations like

ing to fully ‘understand’. I hope that the

Amnesty are essential and play an indis-

next time we talk to a young mother liv-

pensable role in advocacy; but I also be-

ing in Caritas, we don’t presume, we ask

lieve that their mandate must be exe-

and we refrain from transforming her

cuted with caution and sensitivity. Am-

As social justice warriors, we use our cameras and pens like weapons, prodding and invading and simplifying. Ultimately, turning humans into stories and poverty into a section on our resumes. Falling into the trap of anesthetising poverty and glamourizing our roles as volunteers.

nesty’s power lies in its persistence and

story into something it is not. Instead,

coverage, forcing the developed world to

let's arm ourselves with open ears, open

confront its privilege, to acknowledge

hearts and open minds and change the

mass human suffering and ultimately

way we view aid.

mobilise action. Narratives of aid need to

This article originally appeared on the website of Amentsty International Sciences Po, Campus de Menton

PO L É MI Q U E S

Pick Your Battles ANONYMOUS

Credit: The Washington Post When I first heard that the theme for Le Zadig’s new issue would be “Polémiques”, there was one topic that immediately came to my mind - a topic so much of a “polémique” on this campus that I have tried to avoid it for peace of mind, despite how close to my heart it is - feminism. A year ago, you would have found me sit-

mostly, of course, to the importance of

ting in a room of a private school in New

intersectional feminism.

York City, filled with “minorities”, snap-

A student at a majority White (French)

ping to moving stories of people’s experi-

Catholic school, my daily life became a

ences with discrimination and prejudice.

constant “struggle” to “fight” against

I was the “wet dream” of American “PC

pretty much everything - racism, sexism,

Culture”: a young Muslim Arab-North-

islamophobia, homophobia, etc. - my

African woman etc. (I ticked all the

own personal struggle being against the

“other” boxes), who was willing to lend

school’s oppressive dress code that con-

her voice to important causes, and 37

stantly got me in trouble because of my

violence on a global scale, we believed

love for crop tops and high waisted

that convincing even one person of our

skirts. Not a day went by without a

arguments for equality was a success

Friends of mine would boycott romantic comedies and even certain musicians due to their negative portrayal of women, removing from their schedules movies nights as a form of protest.

heated discussion with a classmate or a

worth celebrating, no matter how small

teacher about why doing so and so is op-

in comparison.

pressive or why you can’t say so and so

When I first arrived to Sciences Po, I was

for this or this reason. This all sounds

still partially naive and gullible, and was

quite extreme, right? Surprisingly, I was

quite excited to meet other budding so-

considered to be tame. Friends of mine

cial scientists, eager to change the world,

would boycott romantic comedies and

one bullshitted essay at a time. Despite

even certain musicians due to their nega-

being aware that European attitudes to-

tive portrayal of women, removing from

wards political correctness are slightly

their schedules movies nights as a form

more negative than in my liberal New

of protest. We genuinely believed that

York City, I was still shocked during the

At first, still with a spark of belief in the magic of change, I would throw myself into those head-first, the way I used to back in New York, expecting at least a “Let’s agree to disagree!”

this was our door to contributing to

first couple of weeks when I heard jokes

slowly yet surely “making the world a bet-

and opinions that, in the United States, I

ter place,” even if at times we wondered

would have retaliated with a “Social Jus-

whether or not fighting such small, daily

tice Warrior” type sermon. Of course, as

battles could make an ounce of differ-

Sciences Po students, my friends are al-

ence. Recognizing our inability as high

ways up for a debate. At first, still with a

school students to end female genital mu-

spark of belief in the magic of change, I

tilation or other forms of gender based

would throw myself into those head38

first, the way I used to back in New York,

with endless frustration. Eventually, I

expecting at least a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agree to dis-

learnt to pick my battles. I began to let

agree!â&#x20AC;?... but little did I know that Sci-

jokes slide, and soon even began laugh-

ences Pistes are relentless, leaving me

ing at them. When heated Facebook

Eventually, I learnt to pick my battles. I began to let jokes slide, and soon even began laughing at them.

Credit: The Detroit Times

threads about female beauty standards

cus on the big picture without paying at-

or rape culture came about, I made sure

tention to the daily occurrences that ulti-

to never get involved. I even found my-

mately feed into the big picture? And

self to be very uninvolved with the Femi-

this exists the paradox of modern social

nist Union, a club I would’ve probably

activism… which battles are really worth

created and led in High School…

fighting for?

Now, what did all this mean? Did my

In discussing these questions with some

views on feminism change? Had I lost

friends from back home and recounting

faith in the importance of women’s

meaningless daily crusades, one of my

rights and gender equality?

friends reminded me that “you have the

No, definitely not. My life mission still re-

right to speak… actually no, the obliga-

volves around improving life conditions

tion to… for all of us.” I couldn’t help but

for women around the world and increas-

feel a pinch of guilt. Was I betraying my

ing representation for women of color

ideals? I spent some time beating myself

both in the media and politics. Then,

over it, letting my guilt get the best of

what changed? Well, my perception of

me. However, after quite some thinking,

what activism means.

I realized that there was a reason behind my decision to “pick my battles”. I have

Can I call myself a feminist if I am not

accepted the fact that sometimes in Euro-

constantly fighting? How can I choose

pean culture, humour is used in second

when it is or isn’t convenient for me to

degree - people use it as their own way to

be vocal about my opinions? But then

highlight and denounce the problems we

again… is sending an angry tweet or call-

face in today’s society. My decision to

ing someone out for a “make me a sand-

“let things slide” was not a decision to

wich” joke really what we should be con-

surrender, but rather a decision to

sidering being an “ideal” feminist? Well,

trust… trust that in crucial moments,

yes: online activism can make a differ-

these people know what is right and

ence and such jokes do inherently rein-

what is wrong. Call me naive, but noth-

force the patriarchal ideas of women’s

ing great has ever been achieved without

place in society. But are there not bigger

a little leap of faith!

battles to fight? I would argue that yes, there are. But how can individuals consider themselves activists if they only fo40

PO L É MI Q U E S

British English—The Real English or an Outdated Dialect? BY ABIGAIL MERELMAN

Language Has No Essential Meaning, American English Wins Out Standard British English is one hundred percent a completely outdated dialect. It is stuffy, and posh, and nobody who speaks it ever sounds like he or she is saying anything remotely serious! In British English, they still use silly amounts of letters in their words that confuse pronunciation and take a full extra millisecond to write. Why put “colour” when you can write “color”? Why do the British have to make life hard on themselves like this? American English, by contrast, has lovely efficient spellings and handy contractions. In British English, you’d have to say “all of you all would have”, for instance in the sentence, “all

of you all would have had scones with your tea, but the corgis ate them all.” That takes a ridiculously long amount of time to say! In American English, one could reduce such a sentence by nearly a third: “All y’all’d’ve’d had scones with your tea, but the corgis ate them all.” Never mind that a situation like that would never occur in any self-respecting American household! Without American English, where would music be? It’s impossible to imagine the great New Orleans 1960s funk classic Eddie Bo’s “Check Your Bucket” sung in the Queen’s English! We’ve got 41

to admit, the British have no funk, bless their hearts. And literature? Without American English, we never would have As I Lay Dying, the wonderful masterpiece by Faulkner, nor would we have Walt Whitman, nor the deeply moving texts of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston! Not to mention our most wonderful lit-

ers of said language can communicate all they need to express in it and be understood by other speakers. A language is a good language if it evolves over time to meet the needs of its speakers and adapts to the world in which they are living. By this measure, every language is a good language (if it wasn’t, it would have died out long

All y’all’d’ve’d had scones with your tea, but the corgis ate them all.

erary transplant Vladimir Nabokov! Sure, the Brits have some authors, but they spend their time speaking in affected tones about highly contrived spiritual problems. Who even likes Charles Dickens, anyway?

ago). On top of all this, language, at its root, is completely arbitrary. It is a system of sound patterns to which we as a collective have assigned meaning. The words the Sciences Po library printer doesn’t have any more essential value than almost useless. So, it is also impossible to base the goodness of a language (or a dialect!) on its inherent meaningfulness.

Despite all of this (totally justified) mockery, is it really possible to judge a dialect or a language objectively? Can one way of speaking really be “better” than another? Well, it depends on what you mean by “better.” If you define “better” as more efficient, or with a larger number of native speakers, or a larger vocabulary, you can say that yes, some languages are better than others. These are objective questions that can be measured via empirical data. However, if, by “better,” you mean to discuss “good” and “bad” languages overall, the answer is no. This is a subjective question! My opinion could differ greatly from yours. All we can really say about good and bad is that a language is a good language if the speak-

Thus, there is no reason to call standard British English the “real” English (just as standard American English isn’t the "real" English). As we have established, neither one holds any inherent value above the other. However, going by the definition of a good language as one that evolves over time to meet the needs of its speakers, American English really takes the cake. British English may have come first, but as we all know, first doesn’t always mean best— and as American English’s contractions and fun funky tunes show, we’ve definitely made an improvement.

PO L É MI Q U E S

Simplicité Made in Vallée Roya PAR TOMMY MARRO

Credit: Tommy Marro Agriculteur, paysan, altermondialiste, mili-

roles intempestives sur l’immigration clan-

tant, révolutionnaire, activiste, passeur-

destine n’étouffent-ils le pas le débat ? Un

citoyen, Robin des Bois des migrants. Hé-

petit voyage en train au départ de Menton

ros. Criminel.

Garavan ne soulève-t-il pas assez de questions en raison d’un nombre déraisonnable

Voilà une petite liste des adjectifs utilisés

de policiers ?

par la presse internationale afin de définir Cédric Herrou, nationalement connu

Peut-être. Mais dans l’ombre de ce chaos

comme « celui qui aide les migrants dans

médiatique se cache une question bien plus

la Vallée Roya ». C’est tout ? Non. Ce n’est

excitante : Cédric Herrou, héros ou crimi-

que le début.

nel ?

Oui, Mesdames et Messieurs, Cédric Her-

Les émissions télé n’ont même pas le

rou s’apprête à retrouver un peu de tran-

temps de présenter les quelques actions de

quillité, loin du tumulte médiatique et des

ce tranquille paysan de Breil-sur-Roya que

conversations passionnées de jeunes scien-

cette question s’impose dans le débat pub-

cepistes. Mais (c’est une histoire pleine de

lic. D’ailleurs, n’est-ce pas agréable d’en-

mais, je vous préviens), il ne tombera pas

dosser le rôle de juge pour un instant et dé-

dans l’anonymat, lui qui a franchi l’Océan

créter le futur d’un concitoyen ?

Atlantique avec son histoire. Pourquoi ?

Héros ou criminel ?

Marine Le Pen, le FN et leurs prises de pa43

Tout le monde se pose la même question

ité. Ce genre de simplicité qui se rapproche

sauf l’acteur principal de ce spectacle médi-

difficilement de l’idée commune de « hé-

atique. Il ne s’agit sûrement pas du genre

ros » établie par une tradition de dessins

de questions qui agitaient les pensées

animés et caricatures médiatiques. Pas d’ef-

d’Herrou lorsqu’il transportait des mi-

fets spéciaux ni d’actions immortelles.

grants d’un bout à l’autre de la frontière

Mais juste une porte ouverte, celle de sa

franco-italienne ; ni même quand il a oc-

maison. Simple non ?

cupé un immeuble abandonné de la SNCF

Alors, que cache cette simplicité ? Un héros

avec une cinquantaine d’Erythréens.

moderne ? Un révolutionnaire contre l’E-

Derrière ses lunettes rondes ne se cache

tat ?

pas la volonté d’atteindre les quinze min-

Rien de cela. Pas de messages politiques,

utes de célébrité façon Andy Warhol ni

pas de volonté de surprendre, pas d’envie

même l’espoir de diffuser un message poli-

de se présenter comme un révolutionnaire,

tique de style « Femen ». Cependant,

et pas d’argent. Voilà la puissance de la sim-

Cédric est fier de la tradition de résistance

plicité « Made in Vallée Roya ».

et d’engagement civil de la Vallée Roya. Cela fait partie de son orgueil et de son en-

Mesdames et Messieurs, ne traitons pas

fance, inévitablement liés à l’association

Cédric Herrou de héros. Nous pourrions

Roya Citoyenne, un formidable réseau de

courir le risque que nos enfants se retrou-

solidarité toujours plus vaste grâce à ses

vent devant un dessin animé sur l’histoire

nombreux souteneurs.

de Herrou, au lieu de frissonner devant des luttes entre monstres ou de rêver devant

Quand le moment du rendez-vous avec

des Barbie girls. Imaginez, dans quel

Cédric était arrivé, deux membres de l’asso-

monde vivrions-nous si nous transmettions

ciation étaient venus lui rendre visite chez

à nos enfants des valeurs de tolérance et de

lui. Par le biais de leurs conversations, un

solidarité ? Le culte de la violence et la

irrésistible parfum de simplicité s’est pro-

perpétuelle quête de beauté physique sont

pagé dans l’air. Même deux jours avant le

des valeurs bien plus saines, n’est-ce pas ?

procès - qui a condamné Herrou à payer la somme de 3000 euros - les sourires abondaient dans son foyer self-made, caché dans les montagnes. En effet, la personnalité de Cédric semble être mariée à une naturelle dose de simplic44

PO L É MI Q U E S

Emmanuel Macron : Nouveau leader dont l’Europe a besoin ou réincarnation d’une élite ? PAR HUGO PETIT-JEAN

Credit: Europe 1 Avant de commencer cet article, deux

française tels que François Hollande et

réflexions s’imposent. La première est

François Bayrou. Cette performance ap-

qu’en raison de mon fort engagement parti-

paraît d’autant plus surprenante qu’à

san auprès d’En Marche, cet article man-

l’heure des nationalismes et du repli sur soi

quera sûrement, aux yeux de certains, d’ob-

annoncé, un des thèmes majeurs de cam-

jectivité. La seconde est que cet article est

pagne du candidat d’En Marche est l’inté-

écrit dans des conditions particulières, le

gration européenne. Alors la question se

Samedi 4 Mars 2017, date à laquelle nous

pose légitimement, un candidat qui réussit

ne savons toujours pas qui seront tous les

à susciter autant d’intérêt tout en parlant

principaux protagonistes de l’élection prési-

d’Europe positivement peut-il être celui qui

dentielle ; impossible donc d’en prévoir le

va relancer le projet européen qui s’est, ces

résultat. Mon argumentation portera donc

dernières années, depuis le référendum de

sur les promesses de campagne.

2005, enfermé et éloigné des citoyens européens à tel point qu’on oublierait

Quel que soit le président ou la présidente

presque que « l’Europe », « ceux de Bruxell-

élu(e) le 7 Mai prochain, Emmanuel Ma-

es », ce sont nos chefs d’Etat ? Emmanuel

cron aura marqué la campagne en ayant

Macron pourrait-il réformer l’Union Eu-

réussi en l’espace de 2 ans à s’imposer

ropéenne ?

comme un des principaux candidats à cette élection et ayant son rôle à jouer dans le re-

De mon point de vue, sa démarche nou-

noncement de poids lourds de la politique

velle vis-à-vis d’une réforme de l’Europe 45

permettrait d’aller plus loin, de relancer ce

ment du nombre de français à partir en pro-

projet. Il est évident que l’Europe ne peut

gramme ERASMUS chaque année à 25%

pas relancer son projet sans l’approbation

d’une tranche d’âge.

de celui-ci par voie référendaire. Sinon

Le projet d’En Marche est donc indéniable-

l’Union Européenne apparaîtrait une nou-

ment européen et pro-européen, mais la

velle fois comme un appareil éloigné des ci-

vraie question est de savoir si, une fois élu,

Il est évident que l’Europe ne peut pas relancer son projet sans l’approbation de celui-ci par voie référendaire.

toyens. Cependant il est évident que ces

Emmanuel Macron réussira à mettre en

référendums doivent être préparés si on

œuvre ce projet et à le faire mettre en œu-

veut leur donner une chance d’aboutir.

vre au niveau Européen. Réussira-t-il, s’il

L’idée de conventions démocratiques pour

accède au pouvoir en France, à avoir l’influ-

créer un débat Européen pendant six à dix

ence nécessaire pour faire bouger les cho-

mois en est l’occasion. Elles permettraient

ses au niveau européen ? Nombre de détrac-

de consulter les habitants de l’Union Eu-

teurs de son projet pensent qu’il ne fera

ropéenne des différents Etats pour, avant

rien car « c’est un technocrate soumis à

de définir le projet à soumettre au référen-

Bruxelles », une réincarnation sous une

dum, savoir précisément ce qu’en atten-

autre forme d’une élite européenne déta-

dent les citoyens de l’Union.

chée des citoyens. Il est évident qu’Em-

Le fait d’appartenir à cette élite ne représente pas une entrave à ses capacités à devenir un nouveau leader dont l’Europe a besoin pour se transformer et aller de l’avant...

Si un rapprochement entre la structure eu-

manuel Macron appartient à une élite

ropéenne et ses citoyens est primordial, la

française, que ce soit dans le parcours sco-

relance du projet européen doit passer

laire qu’il a suivi (classe préparatoire, Sci-

avant par la connaissance de l’autre. Et une

ences Po, Ecole Nationale d’Administra-

nouvelle fois pour cela les propositions de

tion). Cependant le fait d’appartenir à cette

campagne d’Emmanuel Macron vont en ce

élite ne représente pas une entrave à ses ca-

sens. Il propose notamment l’élargisse-

pacités à devenir un nouveau leader dont 46

l’Europe a besoin pour se transformer et al-

fin j’entends des commentaires à propos de

ler de l’avant, justement car, différemment

ce projet de conventions démocratiques en

de toutes les autres solutions proposées

Europe comme quoi ce ne serait que des

jusqu’à maintenant, il entend s’adresser di-

promesses de campagne qui ne seraient au

rectement aux citoyens européens et pas

final pas tenues par la suite ou bien que ce

aux Etats avec lesquels la négociation peut

serait trop difficile à mettre en place. Je

s’avérer plus difficile. De plus c’est égale-

suis de ceux qui laissent le bénéfice du

ment, de tous les dirigeants et candidats à

doute à tous et quant à la difficulté de met-

être dirigeants européens, celui qui

tre en place un tel système, quelqu’un

démontre la volonté la plus forte de s’im-

croit-il vraiment qu’il sera simple de réfor-

pliquer dans ce projet européen.

mer l’Union Européenne ?

E n-

Credit: En Marche !

PO L É MI Q U E S

Le revenu universel ou l'abandon de la lutte contre les inégalités PAR MATHIEU PERRUCHE

Credit: Ouest-France Le projet d'un revenu universel, contraire-

défenseurs du revenu universel, l'on com-

ment à ce que peuvent en dire ses parti-

prend que la sociale-démocratie française a

sans, n'est pas une idée nouvelle. Ce con-

définitivement décidé de renoncer à la lutte

cept défendu par Benoît Hamon est en effet

contre les inégalités économiques et leurs

directement tiré du travail de Milton Fried-

fondements. De plus, la problématique du

man, sans doute le plus célèbre représen-

financement de cette réforme et de l'avenir

tant actuel du néo-libéralisme économique.

des allocations sociales met en péril l'exis-

Par ailleurs, des concepts analogues au

tence du système social construit par le

revenu universel ont été développés par les

Conseil National de la Résistance. Système

philosophes Thomas Paine, André Gorz et

social que les libéraux considèrent au-

Bernard Friot.

jourd'hui comme obsolète. Le projet de revenu universel défendu par Benoît Ha-

Le candidat désigné à l'issue de la pri-

mon (ainsi que par Yannick Jadot depuis le

maire socialiste présente cette réforme

27 février) apparaît alors comme le sym-

comme un moyen de protéger les plus frag-

bole d'une sociale-démocratie ayant aban-

iles face à ce qu'il nomme « la fin du tra-

donné le combat contre les inégalités pour

vail », comme une façon d'« accompagner

servir au mieux les intérêts de la bourgeoi-

les transitions » de l'économie capitaliste

sie libérale.

vers la précarisation de l'emploi et le délitement de notre système de sécurité sociale.

La stratégie employée par le candidat so-

C'est ainsi que, au travers du discours des

cialiste pour rassembler les électeurs de 48

gauche derrière lui consiste à entretenir la

Le plus grave, enfin, est la continuation

confusion sur les origines de son projet de

toujours plus préoccupante du désengage-

revenu universel et d'en masquer les vérita-

ment de la République, et du pouvoir poli-

bles fondements. C'est ainsi qu'il présente

tique en général, vis-à-vis de la trajectoire

Thomas Paine et André Gorz comme pré-

prise par notre société, conséquence des

curseurs de son projet de réforme en omet-

rapports de force existants. Au-delà de posi-

De plus, la problématique du financement de cette réforme et de l'avenir des allocations sociales met en péril l'existence du système social construit par le Conseil National de la Résistance.

tant qu'ils défendaient une société libérée

tions intellectuelles aberrantes comme

de la propriété privée et de l'exploitation

celle de la « fin du travail », les sociaux-

des travailleurs. Par ailleurs, l'idée de

démocrates veulent substituer le revenu

revenu universel chère à Benoît Hamon ne

universel à toutes les autres allocations soci-

vient en réalité pas d'une réflexion philoso-

ales que le patronat finance afin que cette

phique sur la nature du travail dans l'écono-

aumône faite aux travailleurs précaires soit

mie capitaliste mais du rapport d'une mis-

uniquement financée par les citoyens. Par

sion sénatoriale d'octobre 2016, elle-même

conséquent, l'instauration du revenu uni-

précédée d'un rapport du Comité national

versel conduirait à la remise en cause des

du numérique de janvier 2016. Ce dernier

syndicats, des conventions collectives et du

recommande d'expérimenter le revenu de

salaire minimum. Son but est en effet de

Ce que l'on nous présente comme la libération de l'individu est en réalité la destruction de ce qui fait société : les solidarités et les normes collectives.

base pour faire face aux conséquences de la

casser les solidarités collectives au profit

« révolution numérique » en terme d'em-

d'un « individu-marchandise » mis en con-

ploi. Notons d'ailleurs que Manuel Valls

currence avec ses semblables.

défendait l'idée d'un revenu de base au mo-

Ce que l'on nous présente comme la libé-

ment des manifestations contre la « loi El-

ration de l'individu est en réalité la destruc-

Khomry ».

tion de ce qui fait société : les solidarités et 49

les normes collectives. C'est donc l'avène-

tion du travail salarié qui puisse permettre

ment d'une société anomique (de a-

l'épanouissement de tous et assurer le

nomos : absence de norme) dans laquelle

plein-emploi. Car ainsi conclut William

seul le profit fait désormais sens et dans

Beveridge dans son rapport Full employ-

laquelle l'homme se meurt. Plutôt que

ment in a free society : le plein-emploi est

d'« accompagner les transitions », il nous

la nécessaire condition pour qu'une société

faut changer profondément de modèle de

soit libre.

société et construire une nouvelle concepPour aller plus loin : - BROUÉ, Caroline, « Quel salaire pour quel travail ? », La grande table (2ème partie), France Culture, Paris, 26 avril 2016. - NOUCELMANN, François, « André Gorz, un penseur pour le XXIè siècle », Le Journal de la philosophie, France Culture, Paris, 31 mai 2012. - PERCHERON, Daniel, Le revenu de base en France : de l'utopie à l'expérimentation, Rapport d'information n°35 fait au nom de la mission d'information sous la présidence de VANLERENBERGHE, Jean-Marie, Sénat de la République française, Paris, 13 octobre 2016.

Credit: Europe 1

PO L É MI Q U E S

Globalization: Bringing the World Closer BY RAPHAËL COLOMBIER Credit: Kerim Okten/EPA

In 1998, the American discount-retailing

als around the world. By bringing the

giant Wal-Mart announced, to great fan-

world closer together, globalization has en-

fare, that it was expanding into South Ko-

abled billions of people to live the lives of

rea. Eight years later, following perform-

their choice.

ance that was lackluster, Wal-Mart sold its

Globalization as a phenomenon is incredi-

stores in South Korea and ended its opera-

bly hard to define. Many definitions of

tions in the country.

globalization deal only with its economic

Wal-Mart’s poor showing in South Korea

aspects: the expansion of free-market capi-

was not due to gross mismanagement or

talist forces into international markets.

scandal, rather, South Korean shoppers

However, globalization is much more than

simply weren’t interested in the shopping

that. In addition to being characterized by

experience Wal-Mart offered. Wal-Mart’s

the spread of things, globalization is also

Korean failure demonstrates a key point

inherently about the spread of people, cul-

that is often overlooked in the debate over

tures, and even values. Watching an Ameri-

globalization: that globalization is not an

can Netflix series in Menton, or a Spanish

unstoppable international conspiracy di-

football game in the United States? That’s

rected by our ‘neoliberal overlords’ in

an instance of globalization. Wearing a

Washington, D.C. and Western Europe. In-

pair of jeans, or eating falafel? That is also

stead, globalization is the sum total of con-

globalization. Protests in Tahrir Square fu-

scious choices made by billions of individu-

eled by the desire for democracy? That, 51

too, is globalization! The fact that globaliza-

vor of “Western culture,” it is because Egyp-

tion has brought the world closer together

tians themselves decided, on the individual

is undeniable.

level, that “Egyptian culture” was n0t as appealing as the alternatives. South Koreans,

Despite its manifold accomplishments,

on the other hand, made the opposite

globalization is not without its faults. Yet,

choice, at least vis-à-vis Walmart. In nei-

the recurring charge leveled at globaliza-

Globalization is not an unstoppable international conspiracy directed by our ‘neoliberal overlords’ in Washington, D.C. and Western Europe.

tion—that it destroys local culture—misses

ther case was globalization imposed with

the mark. In July 2000, an editorial in an

the intent of cultural destruction.

Egyptian newspaper decried globalization

Where it does occur, coercive imposition of

as “cultural aggression.” The author wrote,

both goods and culture is indeed problem-

“Aggression does not come from armies,

atic. However, it makes no more sense to

but from … sandwiches, jeans and sexual

reverse globalization because of such inci-

writings, the songs of Madonna and the

dents, than it would be to ban cars because

films of Stallone and Michael Jackson.”

of hit-and-run drivers.

Such an argument is typical of opponents of globalization, who decry the supposed

Globalization therefore offers an enormous

loss of traditional values and culture. How-

range of choice to a large number of peo-

The recurring charge leveled at globalization—that it destroys local culture—misses the mark.

ever, it is important to remember that no-

ple. All over the world, people can choose

body forced Egyptians to watch Stallone

to embrace globalized products and ideas—

movies or listen to Madonna. Leaving aside

or not. Fears of the destruction of local cul-

the fact that cultural change is an inevita-

ture are insufficient grounds to deny bil-

ble part of the human experience, if, as the

lions greater choice in how to live their

editorial’s author seemed to think, tradi-

lives.

tional Egyptian culture has been lost in fa52

PO L Ă&#x2030; MI Q U E S

Milo Yiannopoulous Has Every Right to Speak, but No Right to be Heard BY CLAYTON BECKER

Credit: Milo Yiannopoulous Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be perfectly clear here: Milo Yianno-

briated hummingbird, which makes it so

poulous is one of the most easily hated peo-

hard to defend him on the one position

ple in the entire world. His rampant misog-

where he is correct: Freedom of Speech. De-

yny, his casual racism towards and fetish-

spite the fact that I find his positions com-

ism of minorities (particularly black men),

pletely useless, he has a right to speak. This

and his constant intentional provocation

is why Milo is so dangerous. If he is the

are all repugnant. This is, after all, the guy

face of free speech; free speech will lose.

who proposed having a formal cap on the

Milo does not deserve an audience. His mo-

number of women in science because they

dus operandi is to pack as many intention-

drop out of those fields more frequently

ally provocative things into a single sen-

than men (a claim for which he provided

tence and then wait for the outrage to roll

no evidence, and ironic given he dropped

in. He traffics in manufactured outrage and

out of college twice). He is, in my consid-

faux concern for actually protecting free

ered opinion, a relatively garbage human

speech. His policy positions are a 13 year

being.

old Call of Duty playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insults masquerad-

It is precisely this fact, that Milo is a titanic

ing as serious ideas and deserve to be

waste of oxygen whose positions have all

treated as such, ignored by anyone with lit-

the nuance and intellectual rigor of an ine-

erally anything better to do than get sucked 53

into a mud fight with a pig. You won’t win,

bring. Couching his abdication of responsi-

and the pig enjoys it.

bility to maintain at least a semblance of decorum as a fight against the tyrannical left,

In short, there is something far more inap-

Milo pushes the limits of what people will

propriate to Milo’s typical game plan than

put up with.

simply having reprehensible ideas. He takes it multiple steps further and ex-

All of which amounts to a poor defense of

presses his positions in such a way as to de-

free speech and a systematic erosion of peo-

liberately offend as many people as possi-

ple’s tolerance towards allowing people like

ble. For example, telling reporters that he

Milo to speak in the first place. In the same

believes people become feminists because

way that calling racist people racist shock-

they are “deeply physically unattractive,”

ingly doesn’t suddenly solve racism, calling

and that he dislikes Planned Parenthood be-

people special snowflakes and the like is un-

cause “They kill all those black babies,” and

likely to get them to stop trying to deny

“In 20 years, they could be my harem.” He

Milo the right to speak. If we want to pro-

then acts as if there was nothing wrong

tect freedom of speech, then it needs a far

with his position nor with the way he ex-

better champion that Milo Yiannopoulous.

pressed it and passes the blame to the peo-

Solving this problem requires just two

ple who, in his view, are erroneously of-

things: Denying Milo the outrage that sus-

fended by his perfectly reasonable view-

tains him by completely ignoring every-

points.

thing that he has to say. The good news is

Milo professes to be a free speech funda-

that we may already be on track to ridding

mentalist, but rather than defend free

ourselves of his fatuousness. His unearthed

speech on any sort of ideological grounds,

comments condoning pedophilia seem to

he merely acts in the most deplorable way

have been the last straw for many of his

that he can and then blindly asserts that he

devotees. All that remains is for us to ig-

cannot be judged for it because of freedom

nore any attempt at a comeback, because at

of speech. He conflates freedom to speak

the end of the day, Milo’s positions are not

without being punished by the government

worth our time and his “defense” of free

with freedom from the judgement his delib-

speech really serves as anything but.

erately inflammatory remarks inevitably

PO L É MI Q U E S

Living in Fear: A History of Police Violence in America BY REBECCA CHACON NARANJO

Credit: Vice News

Since 1971, police violence in America towards minority populations has been steadily increasing. President Richard Nixon's declaration of the War on Drugs was followed by higher rates of incarceration within the Black community. The post-9/11 announcement of the War on Terror further exacerbated this level of violence. A combination of legislation, law enforcement policies and media-encouraged attitudes towards Black communities in America have caused violent and perpetually increasing police brutality. This has lead to their mass-incarceration, culminating in alarming figures: United States has 5% of the world’s population and 25% of the world prison population, Black incarceration comprising nearly six times that of whites. Recently, this has sparked large protest among disquieted citizens,

notably the rise of the Black Lives Matter activist movement, after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Black teen Trayvon Martin. The situation persists in the country, and with the election of Donald Trump, it appears that the policy will not be ameliorated by policy makers, but through the people. The policies that make up the War on Drugs have been a major culprit behind such astounding rates of incarceration among Black Americans.As reported by Human Rights Watch, the level of Blacks in prison in 2000 was 23 times the level in 1983. It began in 1971 with Nixon’s condemnation of substance abuse, and called for “all-out offensive” stating that the United States’ “number one public enemy was drug abuse.” As the War went on, it became clear that there was a 55

substantial disparity between Black and white incarceration rates for drug-related crimes. This would have made sense if Blacks committed more drug crimes than whites; however this was not the case. Many surveys and government reports, such as one conducted by the NHSDA, consistently found that whites were much more likely to consume, produce, and traffic narcotics that their Black counterparts, yet whites were continuously able to avoid being sent to prison for such crimes.

standing on a street corner, and police found them to be “suspicious”. The policies of the Reagan and Clinton administrations also increased the level of police violence against Black communities. The “crack epidemic” of the late 1980s under Reagan created a condition in the public’s minds in which drug crime became synonymous with Blacks, youth, the poor and the overall “hood” lifestyle. By making crack synonymous with Black criminals, the media played a major role in forming the police and public’s racial bias. As put by the New York Times, “America discovered crack and overdosed on oratory.” The Acts of 1986 and 1988 continued the War and created policy that increased the federal government’s involvement in combating street crime to an unprecedented level. Blacks were stopped, searched, and subsequently arrested for low-level drug crimes more frequently than whites. The War facilitated these arrests and drastically reduced the number of rules that constrained law enforcement in drugrelated offenses. These arrests were usually violent, and they affected Black communities, creating second class citizens. During the Clinton administration, federal cash grants based on the number of drug arrests incentivised seeking the maximum quantity possible, causing arrests of Blacks for low-level drug crimes to increase. Police found it easy to arrest poor Black criminals on inner-city street corners rather than spend months arresting the generally white producers and upper-level drug traffickers. From 1980 to 2000, rates of drug arrests of Black Americans increased from 6.5% to 29.1% per 1000 persons.

The first cause of increased police brutality comes from the policy makers.The Nixon administration was rife with systematic racial bias.. Nixon’s Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman wrote of his policy that “[Nixon] emphasized that you had to face the fact that the whole problem is really the Blacks…the key is to devise a system that recognizes this without appearing to.” This sentiment became the catalyst for legislation that was inherently biased against the Black community. Economists such as Gregory Jordan thus concluded that the War on Drugs became the perfect surrogate for the anti-Black agenda, likely stemming from the conservative outlook towards poverty and crime as caused by Black culture rather than economic problems. The “stop and frisk” policy that was established after the Terry v. Ohio Supreme Court case three years prior to the War would initiate a trend of law enforcement infringing upon privacy rights in cases of possible drug-related offenses.This had a particular effect on Black Americans.. The case held that Americans’ 4th Amendment right of police requiring probable cause to stop and frisk their person or property was not necessary where “reasonable suspicion” was present. This was due to “frisk” being defined as different from “search” because the (Black) defendants in question were

The effect on Black communities was immense, and continues to be so today. President Clinton’s “One Strike and You’re Out” address in 1996 created a policy where felons who are released from 56

prison are not entitled to food stamps, welfare, or public housing. Clinton’s harsh policies served as a gateway for employment discrimination. Considering that most probations and paroles required a released convict to retain gainful employment, ex-criminals were forced to either break their parole or seek employment in menial jobs that paid poorly and made them more likely to commit crimes in order to better their economic situation.

periences of Black people in this country who actively resist our dehumanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society.” This backlash provoked by police violence is mainly due to the highly publicized cases that shed light on the atrocities routinely committed by police in America. 37% of unarmed people killed by police were Black in 2015 despite Black people comprising only 13% of the U.S. population. Statistics like these have revealed to the general public the horrors that the Black community faces in the country today. This brutality arising from policy has created a system that encases Blacks in a self-perpetuating cycle of criminality. Movements against this through social media and protests may have brought awareness to the public, but the election of Donald Trump has only served to change the nature of the brutality to encompass Latino communities as well.. Until people begin to change policy from within, deaths at the hands of police like those of, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant, and countless others will persist.

Many of these policies continue to exist,, creating a system which is cruel and biased against Black communities. This has also created a culture of mistrust toward law enforcement, which further perpetuates police violence. In 1990, The Sentencing Project reported the number of people in prison to be the highest it had ever been. According to their statistics, 1 in 4 Black men were under the criminal-justice system and had been subjected to some sort of violence by law enforcement. However, this is changing. Black Lives Matter explains in their own words who they are, as an example of the backlash against this 40 year bias: “Rooted in the ex-

Credit: Patheos 57

PO L É MI Q U E S

Why Restricting Liberty for the Sake of Security Threatens Security Itself BY ROBIN COUTON

Credit: Hoover.org “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing

Now, one doesn’t have to delve too far into

crime. They’re rapists…”, said 2017 Ameri-

extreme ideologies to realize that security

can Presidential candidate, Donald J.

is a primary concern of all individuals and

Trump regarding Mexican immigrants.

societies. Our feeling of being ‘unsafe’

Listening to this kind of message, widely transmitted by political discourses across the world, one may perceive the world to be on the brink of chaos! The good thing is, we've been hearing such messages for hundreds of years: remember how the Jews of the Protocol of the Elders of Zion were supposed to take over the world by the end of the 19th century?

within society is disseminated and perpetuated by both the media and political discourses: terrorism, fundamentalism, authoritarianism... all these scary “isms” are ever present! So naturally, we try to protect ourselves against these threats to our life and our beliefs. And for this reason, security is such a powerful argument when it comes to justify

Well... we're still here! 58

power, domination, and restrictions of lib-

How do they propose to solve the insecu-

erty.

rity problem? By restricting liberties. And so their domination, even if it is terribly op-

After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade

pressive, is legitimized. And the stronger

Center and Pentagon, the United States

the fear is, the more readily citizens are to

Congress approved the Patriot Act, legaliz-

accept an alienating power, as this power

ing indefinite detention of people sus-

appears to be the only hope against the so-

pected of terrorism. Put simply, Congress

called “threats” citizens often do not fully

ignored the fundamental rights to fair trial

comprehend, but generally widely believe

and to presumption of innocence.

require a lot of strength to counter. As the

But after all, wasn't it the right thing to do

end justifies the means, protection then jus-

to protect American citizens? Wouldn't it

tifies oppression.

be legitimate, as former French President

“Nice theory”, you may think, “but techni-

Nicolas Sarkozy suggested, to detain all sus-

cally, how do they do this?” Instigating fear

pects of terrorism? It is indeed the duty of

is not as complicated as it seems. It is often

a government to ensure the security of its

done by designating a common enemy, by

people.

drawing a categorical line between the

Herein lies the problem: a power must en-

Good (“us”) and the Evil (“them”). And

sure the security of those who are under its

what better a way of creating a common en-

rule, but not instigate, exacerbate and use

emy than by labeling the othered “them” as

their fear, and their feeling of insecurity, in

terrorists? If you compile Putin's, Er-

order to justify an authoritarian character

dogan's and Trump's definitions of who

and the restriction of liberties. Unfortu-

constitutes a terrorist, you may end-up

nately, this is what is happening right now

with approximately every human being on

across the world, from the United-States to

earth; University professors and political

the Philippines, from France to Russia.

opponents will be on the same list as ISIS fighters. In the past, the “evil enemy” has

The first thing is, if danger is a reality, inse-

been Jews, Communists,Heretics, or even

curity is a feeling. And it is by using this

the Devil himself; the list is endless.

feeling that many powers justify their domination. By creating a feeling of insecurity,

So, how do you make people believe in this

these powers propagate a call for security

“evil” threat? Mass media, and the new con-

among the people. And of course, it is pre-

cept of “fake news” has proven to be a pow-

cisely security that these powers promise.

erful tool to exaggerate and distort facts, 59

creating stereotypes and fancy theories to

end of the story was the Holocaust, not Jew-

convince people the threat is real. Colin

ish domination.

Powell swore to the world Hussein's Iraq

Furthermore, not only do security policies

possessed weapons of mass destruction,

relying on restricting liberties appear to be

therefore threatening the world, to justify

more of an instrument of power than legiti-

the 2003 invasion, although in fact, no

mate measures to ensure citizens’ safety,

such weapons were ever found there. By

but it appears that most of the time these

fabricating terrorist attacks in Sweden and

policies simply do not work.

in the US, President Trump justifies his “protecting the nation from foreign terror-

Taking a theoretical approach: in our lib-

ists” act, which in reality is nothing but a

eral societies, the individual is the core of

tempered version of his original “Muslim

the whole system. And most of all, what

ban” campaign promise. By calling journal-

makes an individual, what sets him or her

ists and university professors terrorists and

apart from mere machines, is choice. Indi-

painting them as a national security threat,

viduals have the capacity to choose for

Mr. Erdogan justifies the restriction of the

themselves, freely. Their actions are justi-

freedom of the press, using it as an instru-

fied by the power of will. This is what the

ment against political opposition.

program “Smith” cannot understand in Neo's behavior in The Matrix. In the more

But it makes no sense to say that terrorism,

traditional words of Sartre, “Man is con-

or gang violence are just made-up instru-

demned to be free”, otherwise he is not a

ments of politics to scare people into docil-

Man. So, limiting liberties is threatens the

ity. These threats are real, there is no deny-

very nature of individuality, and so the very

ing this. But in reality, they are objectively

nature of our contractual societies. Instead

insignificant compared to other dangers.

of offering safety, these policies threaten

You will find thousands of figures showing

us! Sure, liberties must be limited, rules

this; according to the Washington Post,

must be followed, or, as Hobbes wrote in

more Americans were killed by toddlers

Leviathan, it would be the “war of all

with guns than by terrorists in 2015. I'm

against all”. But these limits are set by prin-

not even talking about traffic accidents! In

ciples that are perhaps our most cherished:

regards to the perception of ‘Muslims try-

human rights. In fact, we believe in them

ing to dominate the world’, may we just re-

so much that we try to export them all over

member that in the 19th century, it was the

the world. Thus, ignoring these rights in

Jews who were supposed to do so, and the

the name of security threatens the very es-

to protect people, “security reasons” are a

sence of who we are: individuals.

way to legitimize restrictions of human rights, leading straight to authoritarianism,

But, when the safety of a people is at stake,

as we may be witnessing in the path Turkey

this theoretical argument may not be so

is taking. The real threat, one may think, is

convincing. However, empirical observa-

not the “evil enemy”, but the ones who pre-

tions show that restricting liberties and ig-

tend to protect us against such an enemy.

noring human rights does not improve security. The reason is simple: these meas-

But worse maybe, they create a society

ures are directed against the “evil enemy”,

ruled by fear.. And as we've shown earlier,

not necessarily against the real threat. They

there is nothing more irrational than fear.

aim to reassure the people and to make

And the only way for an irrational decision

them feel safe, but not necessarily to make

to become a good decision is luck. Who

them safe. Building a wall across a whole

would trust luck to run a country?

continent will not prevent those who may

The question remains, how do we actually

be willing to die to get where they want

ensure our security? The first thing is to

from crossing a border, and it is even less

think rather to feel. Gathering and compar-

likely to make a country safe.

ing information, critically looking at events

An even more explicit example of the failed

and phenomena, distinguishing facts from

logic of many policies carried out with the

“fake news”, and of course, education, are

effect of making us feel safe rather than ac-

the keys to identify what really threatens

tually improving our security is the inva-

who we are, what we believe in, our liber-

sion of Iraq. In 2000, according to Jean-

ties and our rights, and what does not, so

Pierre Filiu, “there was not a single jihadist

that we may react appropriately.

in Iraq”. After 15 years of western “War on

Perfect security does not exist, and we

Terror”, the Islamic State controls many

must accept the risks every decision im-

strategic territories in the country.

plies; this is what responsibility means,

The real nature of liberty-restricting secu-

and it's the cost of liberty. Only a dema-

rity policies then appears much darker

gogue in power can promise full security.

than it did at first glance. Far from aiming

PO L É MI Q U E S

The Power of Description and the Place of the Immigrant in Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses BY KAZ TOMOZAWA

Credit: Random Nerds Salman Rushdie’s epic novel, The Satanic

lam in the seventh century. Critics called

Verses, is a literary treasure. Since its publi-

Rushdie’s play on Islam an attack and re-

cation in 1988, the book has provoked vio-

sponded in kind with protests, bans, and a

lent debates over the nature of freedom of

fatwa was issued by the Ayatollah

speech and expression, forcing readers

Khomeini of Iran calling for Rushdie’s as-

(and quite a few non-readers) to ask the

sassination. As interesting as this contro-

question: When does satire become blas-

versy is, I want to focus on a theme preva-

phemy? The novel, a tale of two Indian ac-

lent in most of Rushdie’s work and espe-

tors who miraculously survive the explo-

cially important in The Satanic Verses: The

sion of a hijacked airplane, indeed pushes

power of description.

and tests this boundary with its parallel story arch of the prophet “Mahound”, whose monotheistic religion of “Submission” mirrors that of Mohammed and the revelation of the Quran and the rise of Is-

A common theme found in Rushdie’s work is that of the place of the immigrant in his or her adopted community. In The Satanic Verses, many of the main characters are im62

migrants. Sufiyan and his family immi-

in control. However, her “success” is not to

grated to London from Bangladesh; Cham-

her what it appears to others: Rushdie, af-

cha is a naturalized British citizen, having

ter describing the family’s motives for mov-

left Bombay for a British education; Osman

ing (her desire to prevent her husband

is a Muslim convert from Chatnapatna who

from engaging in political activism with the

came to Titlipur; Rosa Diamonds’s immi-

Communist Party, explores the costs in-

gration to Argentina is met with confronta-

curred and borne by Hind. First, her hus-

tion with the jealous women of Las Pam-

band has been brought down from the posi-

pas; Salman, the man who writes the recita-

tion of a teacher:

tions of Mahound, is originally from Per-

Why, when Sufyan, who had been de-

sia; Alleluia’s father, Otto, immigrated to

prived of vocation, pupils and respect,

England after surviving the death camps

bounded about like a young lamb, and

during the Second World War; the Imam

even began to put on weight, fattening up

in the beginning of Gibreel’s dream se-

in proper London as he had never before

quence is living in London in exile; and of

done back home; why, when power had

course, the exile (or hijra) of Mahound and

been removed from his hand and delivered

his followers from Jahilia to Yathrib is yet

into hers, did she act — as her husband put

another example. Through all of these ex-

it — the ‘sad sack’, the ‘glum chum’ and the

amples, Rushdie examines the condition of

‘mooch pooch’? Simple: not in spite of, but

inhabiting a place that is foreign to one’s

on account of. Everything she valued had

origins and effectively discusses the state of

been upset by the change; had in this proc-

being-but-not-from-here.

ess of translation, been lost.

Looking closely at several examples from

Rushdie portrays immigration as a process

the text, we can better understand what

of translation and, as in any effort to ex-

this means. Hind, the short, stocky wife of

tract meaning from one language and por-

Sufiyan can be seen as a typical immigrant

tray the same in other, important things

success story. Having come to England as

are lost. For Hind, these include not only

the mere wife of a humble schoolteacher

seeing her husband lose his honorable voca-

from Bangladesh, her adroitness in cooking

tion, but also losing her language, her con-

launches her into the position of matriarch

nection to her village, and a growing ten-

and breadwinner of the family, enabling

sion between her customs and her daugh-

her to open up a restaurant and then own a

ters’ adaptation to British youth culture.

bed and breakfast above that restaurant.

While her economic success elevates her

From the outside, and in many ways, she’s 63

status in the eyes of those around her, what

As an ultimate consequence of focusing on

cannot be transmitted is the immense loss

immigration, Rushdie’s narrative style

experienced when moving from one culture

takes on the power of description. This

to another.

manifests itself in many forms: The use of the Arabic phrase “Kan ma Kan, fii qaddim

A second, though different, example would

azzaman,” the transformation of Saladdin

be Osman, the clown of Titlipur. A low

into a beast, or even the obvious lies told

caste untouchable by birth, Osman con-

by the police about police brutality and the

verts to Islam and moves from Chatna-

dishonesty of the TV crews in covering the

patna to Titlipur. His move is in part influ-

riots. The power of description is key to un-

enced by his desire to escape the ostraciza-

derstanding the place of immigrants (or

tion and discrimination he experiences as

even other marginalized groups - often

an untouchable and in part by his love for

viewed as being alien or foreign) in their

the beautiful toy maker, Ayesha. His con-

“host” societies. It is the power to control

version, however, does not bring him the

the narrative that is told, the power to de-

equality he envisioned: When talking

scribe the immigrant and her actions or in-

against the village’s decision to follow Aye-

teractions with others, that Rushdie ques-

sha on a pilgrimage first to the Arabian Sea

tions throughout the text.

and then to Mecca, he is shot down as an outsider. Even as a convert to a religion

To take the first example, the use of the

that preaches equality of its members, Os-

phrase “Kan ma kan, fii qaddim azzaman”

man’s foreigner status delegitimizes his

(roughly translated to: “It was so, it was

opinions and silences him. The comment

not, in a time long forgot”) comes directly

Rushdie makes here is that even when

from a common way of beginning Arabic

there are clear benefits in front of the immi-

fairy tales. Although akin to the English

grant, the costs of making this immigration

“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away,”

are often unseen or out of the hands of the

the contradiction of “it was so” with “it was

immigrant’s control. This sentiment is

not” primes the reader that what follows

clearly expressed in the closing of the chap-

might not be entirely true. Used through-

ter, when Osman asks his bullock whether

out the novel, the phrase seems to say

or not they should have “stayed untouch-

“maybe this is true, maybe it isn’t” and the

able,” noting that a “compulsory ocean” is

verity of the following content is for the

worse than a “forbidden well.”

reader, not the narrator, to decide. The novel’s stories are all fantastical - Rushdie does not attempt to make the events seem 64

rational or logical (two men fall from an ex-

and tortured their own citizen? Their an-

ploded plane and survive, one becomes an-

swer comes easily enough: who would be-

gelic, the other transforms into a satyr; a

lieve Saladdin? He doesn’t even look hu-

woman becomes a prophetess and survives

man! Who would believe the outsider over

on a diet of butterflies; ghosts seem to ap-

the guardians of law and order? The immi-

pear in every chapter) - and the reader

grant, as an outsider, is at a disadvantage

finds it difficult to decide what is true or

because others will determine what has or

not. Through this phrase, Rushdie opens

has not befallen him or her.

the reader to multiple interpretations: He

In the hospital, Saladdin encounters other

or she can believe or disbelieve, the stories

similar humanoid creatures, one of which

told may or may not be true.

gives him an understanding of how this has

Following this vein, we can see more

happened. “They describe us, that’s all.

clearly Rushdie’s view on this subject in the

They have the power of description, and we

transformation of Saladdin Chamcha.

succumb to the images they construct.”

Upon returning to his home country (Brit-

This further drives the point that immi-

ain) from his country of origin (India),

grant is powerless in the face of his or her

Chamcha undergoes a “wild” transforma-

adopted community: perhaps Saladdin’s

tion: he grows a pair of horns on the top of

transformation is a result of some dehu-

his head, his feet turn into hairy hooves, a

manizing witchcraft conjured by the immi-

tail spurts from his backside, his breath be-

gration officers? In viewing him as some-

comes rancid, he poops tiny pellets, and

thing less than human, he has become

not even his genitals are spared from

something less than human. The immi-

change. He is ridiculed by the police, who

grant’s ability to self-determination is re-

arrest him and treat him like an animal,

placed by the officer’s view of understand-

mocking and abusing him in the back of

ing the immigrant.

their van. When their jokes go too far and

In the later part of the book, Dr. Uhuru

Saladdin passes out from illness and pain

Simbala, an outspoken and controversial

after convincing the police officers to find

civil rights activist, dies while in prison.

him in the citizen registry (and to their

Again, the “official” story is given by the po-

shock, they do find him as a registered Brit-

lice, though the overtly fantastical nature

ish citizen), the police fret over what the of-

of the story makes it hard to believe. The

ficial story will be. How will they account

police claim that in the middle of the night,

for the fact that they have wrongly arrested

Dr. Uhuru screamed in a nightmare, alert65

ing the on duty police who found Dr.

TV as being violent, disobedient, wild

Uhuru, asleep but elevated in his cell. After

masses, and conversely, that the police are

arriving, the large man crashed to the floor

simply “doing their job,” then the wider

and snapped his neck, dying instantly. The

public will come to believe it.

official story is immediately rejected by the

Why do we care about this? For obvious

wider community because it is simply ri-

reasons, Salman Rushdie’s novel has re-

diculous and communal riots begin. This

mained relevant since its initial publication

segment of the novel is covered from the

over two decades ago. The influx of “Oth-

point of view of a TV news camera: Rush-

ers” into the “West” is not a recent phe-

die “cuts” between segments showing the

nomenon, but rather a characteristic of our

arrests, the vandalism, the chief of police

time. How we incorporate immigrant com-

justifying their actions. Outside of the lens,

munities into our own, whether through in-

Rushdie also describes what is really hap-

tegration or assimilation, and how well we

pening, as the scenes continue, he adds

do this is wholly dependent on how well we

that the camera is inferior to the human

are able to listen to their perspectives. Dic-

eye and the microphone inferior to the hu-

tating others’ truths or taking away one’s

man ear. This emphasizes the fact that

ability to define oneself creates distrust

what the TV viewers see is not a holistic vi-

and resentment, leading to confrontation.

sion of reality, only snippets of it from one

In making room for people to tell their own

perspective that tell an entirely different

narratives we may arrive at a better under-

story. Thus, the power to control the narra-

standing of one another and avoid the vio-

tive on TV is immensely important in shap-

lent manifestations seen in The Satanic

ing people’s opinions. If the immigrant

Verses and in real life.

(non-White) communities are seen on the

Credit: AP 66

PO L É MI Q U E S

Berke Alikaşifoğlu Ryan Zohar Zeynep Aksoy Sebastián Torero Camille Azzam Sara Elbanna

Zélie Ducret Kryštof Selucký Omar Kamel Anna Stonehocker Kaz Tomozawa Elias Forneris

Cover Photo: Hardy Hewson Back Cover Photo: Hardy Hewson

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