Disturbing the Peace: How the United States Influences Trends in Global Political Violence

Vortrag von Prof. Matthew A. Evangelista (Cornell University) innerhalb der Ringvorlesung des Exzellenzclusters „Die Herausbildung normativer Ordnungen“: „The End of Pacification? The Transformation of Political Violence in the 21st Century“ am 30.01.2019

In the debates over whether the world is undergoing a long-term decline in political violence or merely a transformation, the United States plays a distinctive role. Having accumulated more political and military power than history has ever seen, the United States finds itself in a hegemonic position that offers it disproportionate influence on the norms governing the use of force. Even if prevailing global trends point toward greater pacification of political life, can US behavior undermine those trends? This presentation seeks answers by examining several patterns evident in recent US behavior, some of which represent US initiatives, others of which follow other states’ examples. These include: selective individualization and permissive legalization of armed conflict, violent polarization of domestic conflict; government-sanctioned persecution of refugees and immigrants; and promotion of misogynist nationalism. Some of these behaviors are the product of Donald Trump’s administration, but others are of longer gestation.

Veranstalter:
Exzellenzcluster „Die Herausbildung normativer Ordnungen“