A couple weeks ago we looked at a bit of history — the
history of our so-called Westphalian international system. We understand
today’s system of states and state sovereignty be an outcome of treaties signed
in Westphalia that ended the 30 Years’ War in 1648. If you read the treaty
text, you would have noticed that actually, a system of states and state
sovereignty were not explicitly established. Instead, the treaty reinforced an
assortment of political arrangements that were already in effect. Furthermore,
it emphasized the authoritative right that heads of autonomous territorial
holdings had on decisions with regard to the people and conveyance of property
rights within those distinct territories. The extent to which the treaty
“established” sovereignty within territories is debatable.
The broader point the treaty does reveal is that authority
over a particular polity is more broadly distributed than just a handful of
powerful institutions: the Catholic Church, the Roman Empire, a Protestant
union, etc. Those were not distinguished as the source of ultimate political
authority. Political authority was affirmed as distributed, consequently
distributing power beyond the Pope and the Empire. The next question then, is
how should that power be used? That is a question premised on theory. Should
power be extended or retained?
To help get a better perspective of extending power, let us
listen to two complementary speeches. The first is by former Secretary of
State, Madeleine Albright given just couple weeks ago at the Harvard Kennedy
School. The second is by former Chief of Staff of the Army and Secretary of
State, George C. Marshall, also given at Harvard. They characterize a view of
international relations that suggests state interests, such as gaining and
retaining power, are best achieved through actively pursuing and promotion
democratic ideals, namely American ideals.
Madeleine Albright
commencement speech at the Harvard Kennedy School in May 25, 2016
See speech https://youtu.be/fEQGwaGSryE
See also an insightful interview on the HKS Policy podcast http://hkspolicycast.org/post/145254717870/former-us-secretary-of-state-madeleine-albright
George C. Marshall
commencement speech at Harvard on June 5, 1947
Listen to George C. Marshall: https://youtu.be/dg9_GqXa770
Read it at: http://marshallfoundation.org/library/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/06/Marshall_Plan_Speech_Complete.pdf
If you are not feeling moved by this particular history and
theory of international peace, then let me offer a cerebral alternative. Take a
look at the 1960s hippie movement of peace and love through the eyes of
non-violent activist, Wavy Gravy. In a
fantastic documentary about
him, you see how the idea of state power and power projection is to a certain
extent, blunted, by the power of protest. There is actually an interesting
connection between what Albright and Marshall explain about power and what a
clown activist demonstrates about power. That is the agency paradox, which is
the agency of power and the power of agency. So, if you do not want to listen
to stodgy academic rhetoric about power and national interests, sit back and
watch a clown eschew power through human interests in Saint Misbehavin': The
Wavy Gravy Movie.
Saint Misbehavin': The Wavy Gravy Movie
More about Wavy Gravy at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavy_Gravy
