IS429 - Power and Resistance (Midterm) Flashcards

1
Q

Robert Dahl on Power

A

A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do
Example of power “over” others

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2
Q

Hannah Arendt on Power

A

power is something that is generated when actors come together to express shared views of the world; a capacity to change the world.
*involves acting together

“The ability, not just to act, but to act in concert”

“Power springs up between men, when they act together, and vanishes the moment they disperse”

Example of power “with” others

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3
Q

Gaventa - First dimension of Power

A

Control over jobs, important resources, votes, etc.

Effectiveness or skill in using resources

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4
Q

Gaventa - Second dimension of Power

A

Direct Forms of Power:
Threat of sanctions
Intimidation
Mobilization of bias - within every political system there will be “biases”. The use of established systems/rules to oppress/push political goals.
ex. Making it difficult for minorities, poorer, or younger citizens to vote.
Manipulation of symbols *including symbols as a threat.
ex. The term hippie - used to discredit people refusing to conform to failed systems.
or CANVAS’s use of marketing/ branding -
Creating an image of heroism to encourage youth to participate. * Made activism look “cool”.

Indirect Forms of Power:
Institutional inaction. ie. Setting up policies to undercut their implementation
Ex. oil spill regulations to do environmental report but allowance to bypass it if not considered a risk or using tools to prolong a decision while the problem persists.
Anticipation of defeat - rationally calculating your likelihood of loss relative to your powerful opponent.
Ex. having a lack of resources to go to court.

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5
Q

Gaventa - Third dimension of Power

A

Direct Forms of Power:
The use of power to shape people’s beliefs or perceptions. Very efficient, because it can
normalize the status quo “it is what it is”.
Ex. General ideology of “progress” - “work hard!” and get what you want? * Spreading the Culture of Capitalism
Control of information, Control of mass media - used to shape perceptions.
Controlling institutions * Socialization by controlling important institutions that exist in a society, which “socialize” individuals
ex. Schools and (indirectly) churches)

Indirect Forms of Power:
The anticipation of defeat manipulated overtime, in which there is an adaptation to defeat - “unconscious pattern of withdrawal”. Ie. acceptance or complacency.
Deprivation of Political Participation - Participation is part of what shapes your consciousness *may make you more aware of inequalities and systemic issues *fuels resistance.
Ex: Isolation.

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6
Q

Gaventa - What were some of the mechanisms/dimensions of power used by the company to maintain control in Power and Powerlessness?

A

First Dimensional:
Control of the local government
*power of taxation and power of law enforcement
Control of Votes/Politics
*They used money/resources in order to get their desired candidates elected - Local leaders became partial through bribery
*brought in candidates from outside that were sympathetic to their views to run in the election and they defeated respected local figures

Second Dimensional:
Manipulation of symbols
*actively stigmatized the traditions and values of local peoples, while glorifying all the things that represented “progress”, luxury, and modernization through the media.
Mobilization of bias
*using laws (which they controlled) in their favour.
Threat of sanctions
*blacklisting workers, including blacklisting family.
There were holdouts - the company used force, intimidation, fraud and forgery

Third Dimensional:
Socialization - by owning all of the land in the valley they controlled its use.
*what institutions, businesses, etc.
*who wants to use the land (money for schooling, etc.)
*who worked in these institutions
ex. they brought in a pastor from outside who preached about their views (and if they didn’t they would be silenced), which gave them indirect control over what local children were taught and what local adults were allowed to learn and share in their religious lives.
Control of Information/Media
*newspapers described locals as lazy, ignorant, unsanitary, etc.

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7
Q

What was Gaventa’s core argument about why and how the company was able to gain and maintain power over the people. The manufacturing of compliance and quiescence.?

A

The company played a significant role in all aspects of their lives; supplied shelter, churches, school, which created dependency. The succeeded in achieving “unitary control” over virtually the whole land and its resources.

Encouraged compliance through the threat of blacklisting workers, including blacklisting family.

dependency and unitary nature is important and isolation helps give them that.

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8
Q

Identify the techniques of how second dimensional power is being used. Consultative relationship 185-187.
Extract the key points.

A
International convention (held every 4 years)
In theory was a forum for expression of consensus and grievences
In practice provides a classic study of agenda control

Deprivation of political participation - miners’ convention being held far away
Mobilization bias - subsidizing transport for favorable delegates.
Manipulation of labels - “white hats” glorifying the leaders - stigmatizing descendants
Intimidation -

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9
Q

Genovese - Why were slave uprisings so infrequent in the US?

A

They existed in greater isolation than other areas in the caribbean/south america.
Were not aloud to practice their own religious beliefs (which in other areas was used as a means/forum of uprising); forced into christianity.
*by 1830s, southern Christianity became a mechanism to control the slaves
*Southern Christianity was not conducive to inspiring a transformative movement in society, rather, it helped the slaves merely cope
Cultural Hegemony - Ruling class in the American south was not as divided. There was a homogeneity in the slave-owning class in the US so no opportunity for slaves to take advantage of the differences between slave owners

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10
Q

Genovese - The ideology of paternalism (A exercises power over B for Bs own good)

A

Paternalism is at the core of the slave-master relationship
Described as a form of reciprocal obligations
Rests on the idea of an inferior race; slaves ‘needed’ their masters.
For slaves, paternalism allowed them to twist the ideology to suit their own needs and improve their living and working conditions
For slave owners, paternalism was a means to justify appropriating their slave’s behavior and consider themselves as well-meaning. Paternalism also downplayed the impact of the slave trade and provide a moral cushion for slave owners.
The plantation is like a family and the landowner is like the parent. Provides shelter, teaches them. In return, the slaves “owed” the slave owners to be obedient, work hard, etc.

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11
Q

Genovese - “The dialect of accommodation and resistance”

Forms of slave resistance (and their dual effects)

A

Running away - was not necessarily effective. Limited in that it made no changes to slavery as a whole
*unless resistance is challenging the system itself, it is working within it.
Ex. The underground railroads as a “safety valve” to the slave system. “brain drain”. - can be compared to Marxist view of ‘trade unionism’.
However..
It was not physically possible for slaves to form an effective uprising that would challenge the status quo due to religion, isolation, media spreading slave-ideology.
One of the few forms of resistance available - slaves running away and disrupting productivity could be a cost they could inflict on the slaveholders and overseers.
*The example of runaways kept alive the knowledge/awareness that there was an alternative where “freedom” existed.

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12
Q

Genovese - Stealing vs. taking

A

Is it stealing when it remains in the hands of the master? If a slave was to “steal” an apple, it remains with the slave who belongs to the slave owner.

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13
Q

Genovese - Collective vs individual resistance

A

Collective resistance is stronger. Example (pg. 656): temporary group runaways. These practices demonstrated the power of collective resistance.
Believed in Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony to the slave south

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14
Q

Genovese - Political vs apolitical resistance

A

“Strictly speaking, only insurrection represented political action, which some choose to define as the only genuine resistance since it alone directly challenged the power of the regime. From that point of view, those activities which others call “day to day resistance to slavery ‘ - stealing, lying, dissembling, shirking, murder, infanticide, suicide, arson - qualify at best as pre-political and at worst as apolitical.”

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15
Q

Apartheid in South Africa

& Factors Contributing to the Anti-Apartheid Movements’ success

A

13% of the land in south-africa was set aside by the government for blacks (who comprised of 80% of the population). - The land designated for blacks was generally infertile.
Inter-racial marriage and relations were prohibited.
These policies were enforced in a variety of ways.
“Banning” - the use of banning against organizations and individuals from speaking publicly or other forms of resistance.

Violence played a large part in the success of the anti-apartheid movement.
The violence that the state used against black SA played a major role by encouraging government sanctions and international allies to pull back support

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16
Q

Biko - What is black Consciousness?

A

Psychological liberation/emancipation
“Black Consciousness is in essence the realization by the black man of the need to rally together with his brothers around the cause of their oppression the blackness of their skin and to operate as a group in order to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them to perpetual servitude”

17
Q

Biko - Non-white vs Black

A

Non-whites “internalized” white norms.
Black isn’t a matter of pigmentation, it is a matter of how closely you accept or identify yourself with white norms.
1. Being black is not a matter of pigmentation being black is a reflection of a mental attitude.
2. Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being.

18
Q

Biko - What are his views on the role of white liberal activists in the struggle against apartheid

A

Whites shouldn’t be a part of the black consciousness movements - instead create your own movements.
Their material interests are at odds with the material interests of the blacks.
If participation is freedom, then a white speaking for blacks is not free.
If your alliance is motivated by guilt than you can’t ever fully rely on your ally.
Think Empowerment

19
Q

Lodge - State Repression

A

Financial crisis weakened regime: debt, inflation; pressure from international sanctions, etc.
*Extreme suffering from high inflation, unemployment, prices for goods going up, etc. increases the likelihood for opposition - potentially a sense of “nothing to lose”. (similar to runaway slaves)
*Unemployment rates for black SA youth was extremely high in the 80’s
End of cold war removed key source of support for ANC; regime felt less threatened by ANC > greater willingness to negotiate.
*With the umbrella organization there was more pressure for complete economic reform, rather than pressure solely on employers.
Consolidation of trade unions
*Result of long-term action from resisters on the ground
International sources of funding for UDF
*The distinctions between violent and nonviolent struggles is key here. It is more likely that international supporters will supply funds/assistance to nonviolent resistance struggles.

20
Q

Lodge - The Roles of Violent Resistance

A

ANC: martial theatre; armed propaganda
The kinds of attacks they focussed on were quite limited. They didn’t bomb or attack places that would hurt civilians. They had clear boundaries.
*Very strategic and symbolical attacks, such as key infrastructure - making the government vulnerable. In a way, the attacks represented a challenge to the status quo.
Ex. oil refinery which generated power for white communities.
The impact was that it convinced young black SA that there was a chance - that they could challenge the strength of the state by channeling their anger into the movement.
*Changing the apathy towards the experienced oppression

Opening administrative space in townships for UDF
Benefitted from frequent attacks
It was implicated in quite a bit of violence against other blacks in the townships
*Necklacing was used by the black community to punish its members who were perceived as collaborators with the apartheid government
Brutal punishments (People’s Courts).
Despite the happy rhetoric that these courts are about rehabilitation and justice for the people, by the people, these punishments were very violent and brutal.
This administrative vacuum helped the UDF maintain authority through the use of violence.

21
Q

Lodge - The Roles of Nonviolent Resistance

A

Enabled inclusive, mass involvolvement
Involvement encouraged by the image of disorder, which was created by the mass nonviolent movements
*Thousands of people can be involved in mass demonstrations, boycotts. Children, women, elderly can be involved in large numbers in ways they couldn’t in armed resistance
*Armed resistance appeals to a smaller portion of the population who are willing to take the risks.

Enabled international support (funding) for UDF
International donations, sanctions, investments were revoked
*Boycotts resulted in serious economic issues that convinced international corporations to take investments/business from SA
- contributed to the economic problems which weakened the government
*Forced the international community to question the stability and competency of the government. Images of disorder from large-scale demonstrations deterred international companies from investing in the SA economy, weaken the regime, and ultimately brought it to its knees.

The realities of shifting power dynamics and a sense of vulnerability caused the government to resign, not a change of heart. * This may not have been as impactful had the government been nonviolent in its measures.

22
Q

UDF (United Democratic Front)

Lodge presents this story with a view as violence as a tactic against apartheid vs non-violence as a tactic.

A

Mobilised to try and organize black communities in SA against apartheid
Embraced non-violence as its official approach or philosophy
Careful to acknowledge the authority of the ANC as the leading organization against apartheid.
ANC had embraced armed struggle which resulted in a wave of oppression by the state against the ANC.
This repression drove the armed wing of the ANC out of the country and crippled the organization for many years.
Surge against the regime in the 1980’s, ultimately culminated in success through peaceful negotiations

23
Q

Overarching/background factors in play during the SA case

A

In addition to the strategizing and organizing by activists on the ground there are many backdrop factors
*Structural, political, economic factors outside the control of the activists on the ground that play a role in enabling effective resistance.
*The means by which a regime is willing and able to use will determine the success of the uprising
Ex. in SA and Indonesia where troops shot into protestors
*The state of the economy/economic strength of the regime is a key factor - Lodge acknowledged the role economics played in the background of the anti-apartheid regime.
Ie. SA was successful in part because it took advantage of a weakened economic state
*The consolidation of trade unions is a key factor - While black unions existed prior, they were fragmented (representing very specific industries) and independent.
*Unions were brought together under the Congress of African Trade Unions. Now, whereas before one union would go on strike and place pressure on one industry, strikes now would place pressure on major sectors of the economy by shutting down multiple industries.
*External funding received by the UDF gave them the ability to pay full-time organizers who could devote their time to planning/carrying out the opposition.

24
Q

Gandhi - Civil disobedience

A

Civil disobedience is the active expression of nonviolence
“Civilly” disobeying specific immoral laws, with the understanding and acceptance of the consequences.
Involves breaking a law in a peaceful way.
Ex. chaining yourself to a building, blocking a road

25
Q

Gandhi - Non-cooperation

A

Not confrontational - generally aren’t going to have to deal with the consequences - arrested, beaten, etc. *safer
Children can participate in non-cooperation
Ex. resigning from the state, withdrawing children from school, refusing awards, boycotting an election (when voting is not a legal obligation

26
Q

Gandhi - The Moral Case for Nonviolence

A

Our primary commitment should be to truth - Human beings do not have the authority to punish others because we do not possess the absolute truth.
*Violence is a punishment that causes permanent harm whereas other kinds of punishment can be taken back. Violence is absolute and since we do not have the absolute truth, it is against satyagraha to act violently
*Nonviolence is not a weapon of the weak, but a weapon of the strong and intelligent; to endure the pain; show bravery in the face of fear, it requires discipline, patience, and strategic planning.
Nonviolent struggle Aims to encourage our opponent to acknowledge and correct his error through patience and accepting suffering through oneself (violent struggle puts suffering on others)
*The oppressed should welcome violence as part of your cause; do not inflict it upon your opponent
*Allowing your opponent to use violence against you as a transformative moral example (I am abusing someone who is not resisting)
*Oppressors using violence to control, passiveness removes the joy from it - by passively absorbing the violence of the oppressor, the victim removes the motivation for the oppressor to use that violence

What are the limits to Gandhi’s nonviolent extremism?
*there are cases where the oppressor does not recognize the humanity or right to exist of the oppressed. (Like in genocide)