THE DANGERS OF UNETHICAL POWER AND THE POTENTIAL OF CO- 1

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The Dangers of Unethical Power and the Potential of Co-operation

Natalie Boyco 301234590

SA 203, Parin Dossa

February 24th 2017

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Throughout history people have battled for power yet a constantly overlooked
consequence

of this pursuit, and one that needs to stop, is the long-term damage done to
conquered peoples.

This damage can be seen in several forms. The pursuit of power during the
colonization of

Aboriginals in Canada and the negative long-term effects on their culture. In post-
apartheid South

Africa, although technically past colonial influence, still faces highly unequal
situations between the

dominantly White upper class and Black middle, lower class. Lastly, in Iraq, the
pursuit of power by

the Bush administration left the Iraqi nation highly unstable. Through these long-
term issues the

many deep rooted problems that come with pursuing power unethically is brought
to light. Going

forward, these issues demonstrate the importance of co-operation and sharing

power between

various nations and the communities within them because it creates sustainable,
ethical societies.

Like in the proverb, in the first article Reimagining Aboriginality by Naomi

Adelson from
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the book Remaking a World the author focuses on Aboriginal peoples lost identity
and suffering

resulting from getting caught in the crossfire during the European fight for territory
during the

colonialism era. Aboriginals are re-defining their identity by fighting proposed dams
and holding

community events called the Gatherings. A strength of the Adelson article is that it
identifies the

initial problem, the traditional pursuit of power through colonization and its
lingering effects. The

article also shows how the colonized community is re-imagining their culture in an
effort to

recapture their lost identities. They do this through protesting proposed dams in the
form of

fighting for traditional culture beliefs; protecting the environment. Another strength
of the article is

the analysis of the psychological importance of the Gathering event and how it
assists in reviving

the diminishing aboriginal language while also fostering a sense of Aboriginal

community.

However, a critique of the article is that it does not discuss how the funds the
Aboriginal community

receives from the dams built are being utilized to further heal and develop their
communities.

Despite this, the co-operation between the Aboriginal community and the
government for dam

projects and the healing effect of the Gathering events demonstrates the mutual
benefits that can be

achieved when fair deals and co-operative methods are used to pursue power.

In the second article, Women and risk: Aboriginal women, colonialism, and

correctional practice by Patricia Monture- Angus the long term flaws in the
Canadian law and
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correctional institutions are explored. The author argues that because the system
of governing

Aboriginals is based on a national level and not on the traditional community level
the power is

removed from the people. Because the power is removed, administration of justice
in the

communities is much harder resulting in a disconnect in determining incarceration

risk predictors

for Aboriginal women. A strength of the article is that it demonstrates how the
pursuit of power, in

the traditional style of colonialism, can have long term negative effects on a
community. It also

effectively demonstrates how by continuing hierarchical power, in this case the

power of Canadian

laws over the Aboriginal community, can add hurdles a community may face when
trying to re-

build and heal. Yet another strength of the article is that Monture-Angus pinpoints
why the law has

to be at a community level to understand the uniquely dangerous social situations

many Aboriginal

women find themselves in. An example of this is portrayed through a personal story
from an

Aboriginal girl named Angel. I dont know what happened. I just know she [Angels
cousin] was

murdered in her house. It kind of makes me sad and scared. Whoever did it could
still be out there

killing more people. (National Post: Silent no more, 2015) However, a critique of
this article is that

Monture-Angus does not offer concrete ways to change Canadian laws which include
the needs of

the Aboriginal communities. Overall, the article successfully identifies why open,
constructive

conversation is needed when attempting co-operation and through the power of the
rule of law
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over citizens.

In the third article, Repertoires for talking white: Resistant whiteness in post-
apartheid

South Africa by Melissa Steyn and Don Foster the authors bring to light how the
White population

in South Africa maintain their unequal powers through carefully chosen liberal
language called

White Talk. A strength of the article is that it demonstrates the negative effects
that come with

trying to maintain an unequal proportion of power. An example of this power

manipulation is

through White Talk. Using liberal ideas to portray non-racialism or non-

discrimination and

switching meanings to publicly empower non-liberal ideas such as color blindness

and apartheid

resulting in ongoing inequality and discrimination. An example of this is found in the

article with

Mr. Mbeki being quoted Perhaps those Koreans colonized, exploited and brutalized
by the

Japanese might dispute this claim Mans inhumanity knows no bounds, Slavery,
a despicable

practice, was not invented by the colonial West. (p. 32) Another strength of the
article is it

identifies how White Talk is also used to shame the emerging black middle class
therefore adding

to the difficulties the Black population faces in gaining equality in post apartheid
South Africa.

A critique of the article is that a lack of concrete socio-economic solutions for the
black middle and

lower class. Overall the article effectively brings to light how without honest
language regarding co-

operation and power sharing, societies are worse off as in this case of highly
unequal socio-
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economic statuses between races.

In the fourth article, a review of the book Globalization and Empire: The U.S.
Invasion of

Iraq, Free Markets, and the Twilight of Democracy by John M. Murphy the author
summarizes the

books argument concerning the dishonest power seeking behind the Bush
administrations

decision to invade Iraq. A strength of the review is that it discusses the dishonest
justification for

the war, preemptive war, and the deconstruction claimed as reconstruction of Iraq
effectively

pinpointing the problems that arise with pursuing power unethically. A critique of
the review is

when Murphy describes how the book could have more precisely located its
arguments against the

Bush administration. Murphy could have used more information depth on the
consequences of

unethical power pursuits in Iraq and how that information could be used to warn
against the

consequences. Despite this the article encompasses the need for co-operation
between nations

when pursuing power otherwise mass suffering takes place due to the long-term
Iraqi instability.

Despite some of the criticisms of the articles analyzed they all support the
need for co-

operation between nations and the communities within them or suffer long-term
consequences. A

recent example of this is a story reported on by the BBC about a small town in Italy
and their

method to help integrate migrants into their society. Riace, the name of the town
gives migrants

vacant homes, teaches them trades allowing them to focus on learning the Italian
language and
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becoming productive, active members of the community. Through this solution,

instead of Riace

battling the migrants for co-operations, such as creating refugee camps with guards
to force

compliance, the town has instead empowered them. Thus allowing for more power
via economic

growth for the town as a whole. This example provides a recommendation of power
sharing for

moving forwards. Through the examples of all the articles discussed and in
conclusion, co-operative

solutions between nations and their communities results in long term mutual
benefits and

sustainability when pursuing power because it creates sustainable, ethical

societies.

References

BBC News. 2016. Riace: The Italian village abandoned by locals, adopted by
migrants. Retrieved

from: http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-37289713

Das, V., Kleinman, A., Lock, M., Ramphele, M., Reynolds, P. 2001. Remaking A
World: Violence,

Social Suffering, and Recovery P. 76.

Foster, D., Steyn, M. 2008. Repertoires for talking white: Resistant whiteness in
post apartheid

South Africa. Ethic and Racial Studies, 31 (1): 25-51

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http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/doi/abs/10.1080/0141987070153
8851#aHR

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wLjE

wODAvMDE0MTk4NzA3MDE1Mzg4NTE/bmVIZEFjY2Vzcz10cnV1QEBAMA

Monture-Angus, Patricia. 1999. Women and Risk: Aboriginal women, colonialism,

and correctional

practice. Canadian Women Studies , 19 (1-2): 24-29

http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/docview/1416369905?pq-
origsite=summon

Murphy, John M. 2007. Globalization and empire: The U.S. invasion of Iraq, free
markets, and the

twilight of democracy . Rhetoric & Public Affairs. 10 (3): 521-3.

http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/article/231718/pdf

Ahmed-Ullah, N., Boesveld, S. Lee, J., Mohyeddin, S. 2015. National Post: Silent no
More.

http://news.nationalpost.com/silent-no-more

Vignette: Kikuyu Proverb Retrieved February 22nd 2017 from Pinterest.com:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/374572893983119879/