Giddens mentioned Kosova in his final Reith radio lecture on democracy a
fortnight ago. I havn't seen a printed version, but my memory is that he
gave a quotation about Kosova and its troubles, and then revealed (with a
touch of theatre) that the quotation came from the 1920s.
The message seemed to be that some places in the world will always be
trouble, even in a world which in general is resolving its problems more
frequently by democratic means than it used to. There was a Panglossian
tone in Giddens' lecture and I don't recall that he said anything about the
use of force. Giddens avoided any ethical dilemmas with a kind of dynamic
functionalism, interpreting the growth of democratic institutions as a
response to change and the growing dominance of the market.
Is there any evidence that Giddens supports the bombing?
My impression is people in the UK are reacting rather slowly to Blair's
belligerence. Mounting casualties, reports of the degrading procedurs
associated with receiving Kosovan refugees in the UK and the lack of any
indication of any positive achievement from the bombing are leading to
growing scepticism. But Blair's position is attributed to his dominance
within the cabinet and consequent suffering from megalomania rather than
applying the ideology of New Labour.
Ray Thomas, Social Sciences, Open University
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01908-679081 Fax: 01908-550401
Post: 35 Passmore, Milton Keynes MK6 3DY
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-----Original Message-----
From: t [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 18 May 1999 10:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Giddens' war guilt
The men behind the evil men should not go unpunished. Clearly, being a
sociologist is no excuse for evil. It does not absolve from
responsibility.
Anthony Giddens is a leading ideological advisor to Tony Blair. Even the
official LSE website says: "Frequently referred to as Tony Blair's guru,
Professor Giddens has made a strong impact on the evolution of New
Labour." Clearly, he must share guilt for Blair's killings in the
Balkans. It is Blair and his ministers who have claimed a right to kill
in the name of their principles, but those who helped formulate those
principles are equally responsible for their implementation. They were,
after all, political principles: they were meant to be applied.
It is reasonable that, as a leading advisor, Giddens should face trial,
for the civilian deaths caused by the implementation of New Labour
policies. A tribunal should consider whether he ever specifically
advocated military action, or supported the Atlantic Alliance. It is
important to establish the principle, that sociologists are guilty of
their theories. Giddens and Blair themeselves have no problem in this
kind of identification. They exercise political power, partly because
they are ready to kill their political opponents, and did so (by bombing
their party offices). Minister Clare Short stated, that those who are
part of the propaganda machine are legitimate targets.
--
Paul Treanor
http://www.diagonal.demon.nl/koseth.html
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