Race as a Key Part of International Relations
In a quite unique argument, both Zvobgo and Loken describe how race has a significant impact in
international relations, and the factors that contribute to this conclusion. The pair of authors throughout
their writing address the western dominance and white privilege that pervade international relations. In
their view, there are many components that are “raced” in the political climate, which makes international
relations “raced” as a whole. This argument that the pair of authors are making deals with many
theoretical components such as realism, liberalism, and constructivism. Race is in fact a central organizing
figure in world politics due to its influence on many of the key components of it.
There are two important terms when it comes to international relations that are important to consider the argument of Zvobgo and Loken: anarchy and hierarchy. Anarchy, where there is no supreme power or authority in the world, is a huge building block of international relations theory. Hierarchy, is where more dominant states set terms and rules for “lesser” states in the world. A key argument that both Zvobgo and Loken make is that anarchy and hierarchy are both raced, and it shows when you take a look at international organizations such as NATO. There are many countries in NATO, but only China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are in the security council. These five countries all have one thing in common: they are Western and are more or less white populated. This is a prime example of race being a central organizing figure in global politics. On one hand, there is now absolute power in international politics, but it is crucial to see how much the power hierarchy favors Europe and the West. There is a clear hierarchy of countries with more power than others, and it is from no coincidence that they all happen to be from the same demographic. This is because over time, discourses that are raced, and favor western, white privilege keep prevailing, and keep such countries in power.
Additionally, it is important to consider how realism, liberalism, and constructivism, were all built on racist intellectual foundations, which limits the ability to answer key international relations quandaries.
I agree that hierarchy is highly related to race. It seems obvious that most of the major super powers are white and have been favored by white privilege. The odds have continuously been against people of color. Countries that are predominantly white have an easier time rising to power and therefore keeping power. Do you believe that states that consists primarily of people of power will ever have the chance to gain as much power as for example the US today, or will the odds always be stacked against them?
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with your point about how race is a hierarchy. Within this global organizations there are a lot of injustices about how and why these specific countries are in power. I will say though that these global organizations don't pick which countries are in power based on who is white rather who is in power. That being said those two correlate. White people were able to maintain power because of colonialism and racist ways. There is the pressing issue that these in power no hold white interests in mind.
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