June 17, 2018 | Anuradha Chenoy

This brief paper analyses civil society processes that strengthen the network of peace movements and their linkages with peoples’ organizations in Asia and Europe. In the first part I do a brief analysis of the situation of peace and security, and how it impacts peoples’ lives on the two continents of Asia and Europe. In the second part I look at the tasks of peace and civil society.

The aim for civil society movements is to seek peaceful, negotiated and just solutions to problems, especially for those living in zones of conflict; to build and popularise ideas for ending conflicts through just and equitable peace. To strengthen international solidarity against mindless militarism that continues to threatens human development and human security. We believe that participatory democracy strengthens the cause of peace and that peace is a holistic social process involving deliverable justice which is sustainable when people themselves are part of these processes.

Background

Neo liberal globalization has led to an extraordinary concentration of finance capital and political power with deep inequalities and exclusions. The consequences are new instabilities, insecurities, and threats as participatory democracy has declined in many countries and has been absent in others. This has deep consequence on the international system and geopolitics.

Post globalization there are three broad sets of impacts and reactions:

1. One reaction has prompted neo-nationalisms, authoritarianism, xenophobia, and the rise of identity movements, Islamophobia and fundamentalisms. This reinforces the rise of the far Right that constructs a civilizational discourse and hatred for the other. This phenomenon has encouraged the rise and election of populist and authoritarian leaders to power in many countries of Asia, Europe and world over (select examples: Hungary, Turkey, India, Philippines). In many countries the insecurities of neo liberalism have led to a substantial group of citizens turning against the other. So substantial numbers that constitute this ‘other’ live in a state of fear. In these circumstances there is insecurity for all.
2. The second broad set of impacts is the liberal fight back. Cosmopolitan institutionalism that laid the foundations of liberal institutions and liberal ideas see the dangers of the neo –right in their political practice. But the liberal idea remains divided about the neo liberal economic agenda. Many analysts (Fraser, Patnaik 2018) collapse the liberal and neo liberal positions as they see this as a combination of economic neo liberal/ hegemonic economics combined with domestic liberal discourse of rights. Other liberals and neo liberals want an expansion of globalization with a liberal domestic agenda in a ‘blended’ fashion.
3. The third broad set of ideas, is that of resistance that seeks international solidarity, seeks alternatives to hegemonic policies and endorses democratic, peaceful, non-violent and just solutions. The task of critical progressive thinkers is to examine and reject the first set of ideas, and to strengthen and build solidarity with all forces who believe in just peace and deepening democracy in both civil as well as political society. This is a challenge to CSOs and political formations.

Characteristics of the Contemporary International Geopolitical System

Briefly summed up the current international geopolitical system despite its complexity, contexts and specificities, has broad and common characteristics that we can sum up. These include:

• Relative slow growth of the US and EU and growing demand of protectionism from ruling regimes for themselves, without changing neoliberal globalization for the others. (President Trumps’ critique of the G-7 and trade disputes for ‘America first).
• Despite austerity, the USA with some allies continue to work on militarized regime change in several countries; proposes military intervention in several others; retain eight hundred military bases and client states; imposes unilateral economic sanctions; dominate international narrative with a network of interlinked media and social media control. Asserts itself as a state of exception and disregard international law.
• The stabilization, reassertion, and securitization of Russia. Russia continues to return to its roots because of insecurities fueled by threats of further territorial disintegration, encirclement and sanctions; isolated by an expanding NATO. In return for sovereignty and an elusive Eurasian ‘difference’ and exceptionalism, Russian citizens have given up many rights and freedoms. They have endorsed the reassertions for regaining bits of Soviet (Russian) territory and renewing zones of influence on its vast borders (Brenton, 2018). This has meant the breakup of Ukraine and Georgia. The re-emergence of Russia as a regional power/ player in West Asia and Central Asia. However, given its economic slowdown, and sanctions from the West, Russia is getting increasingly strategically and economically allied with China, (trade in renminbi, gold backup of currency, direct oil pipelines, communication and defense links, economic and trade ties). Russia maintains close strategic and economic relations with a number of countries in the Global South including India and Vietnam. (India, Vietnam, China and others have ignored the sanctions on Russia, and continue trade with them).
• China after an amendment (After the 19th Chinese Communist Party Congress) narrowed its power elite command and control, constitutionally endorsing a single leader for his lifetime. China has declared a clear plan for economic global domination as well as an official narrative that China ‘will play a greater international role’. The major steps include: geopolitically and geo economically linking South, South East and Central Asia with a trillion dollar infrastructure transport corridor (Belt Roadway Initiative or Silk Route); This BRI will link China’s interior provinces with a globalized world economy and support financial monopolization favorable primarily to China; a series of hub and spokes relations with ‘satellite states like Pakistan; and closer strategic relations with Russia. A key strategic goal is increasing its naval domination over the South China Sea, asserting its control over the many islands and communities, making a string of ports with logistic facilities through the Indo-Pacific. China is moving towards a G-2 position of pressure-compromise-pressure with the US. Trade wars and retributions. China puts pressure through financial debt to developing countries. (Example, the inability of Sri Lanka to repay Chinese debt has led to Sri Lanka give over their port of Humbantota to China).
• The comparative high growth in the ‘emerging countries’ like India, Brazil, Indonesia and others, are all accompanied by extraordinary levels of inequalities and exclusions of communities. All these countries project medium to great power status and influence over their region and beyond. The countries symbolized by the BRICS, believe they have gained from neoliberal policies and view globalization favorably. The creation of BRICS, as a transactional grouping, with assertions for a more equitable share in global financial institutions, and with new institutional structures like AIIB, NDB ( China, Russia, India hold 48% of shares and 62 countries are members). This is not an alternative but gives an option to countries of the global South of a choice between similar paradigms. Other groupings like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), ASEAN, BIMSTEC, are competing with traditional alliances. The ASEM does not have the same level of dynamism as these cited above.
• In a context where the United Nations system requires reforms, dominant multilateral institutions like the World Bank and IMF have a hegemonic disposition. Regional associations including ASEAN and ASEM, SAARC, have been comparatively weakened because these are not accompanied by strong institutional mechanisms. The EU has suffered a blow from BREXIT. BRICS is hedged by the unresolved issues between India and China. These organizations have focused and are dependent on free trade and financial flows, and in some cases more on economic integration. Their regional security, cultural relations and people to people linkages are mediated by more powerful countries (US and increasingly China) and ranges from weak, stagnant or dependent. Some Asian and ASEAN countries try and maintain some semblance of an independent foreign policy by balancing between the US, EU, and China; or even between US, Russia ( India and Vietnam) Further, these regionalisms remain weak because these are not sufficiently backed by people to people movements. (The People’s movements’ are also restricted because of decline in democratic spaces).
• More than eighty armed conflicts rage in different parts of the globe, but largely in the Global South. Insecurities from terrorism and unresolved frozen conflicts lead to destruction, displacement and environmental damage.

In sum the international system, now called the multipolar system has characteristics whereby:

• Economic neoliberalism has supported the rise of political authoritarianism in many countries, and in others turned significant populations against others. It has given fresh lease of life to neo-conservative neo realism. Neo realism, is the underlying strategy of neo conservatives and seeks to dominate in multiple and different ways.
• The focus of such geo strategy is based on competitive and even conflictual geostrategic goals, policies and aspirations.Continuing militarisms.
• Geostrategic maneuvering has replaced foreign policy.
• Regional assertion/hegemony is undermining regional cooperation.
• There are no real cuts in defense spending. Nuclear weapons continue to viewed as a currency of power, status and defense.
• Unresolved, frozen conflicts and liberation struggles in Asia and Europe; in addition to new dangerous conflagrations in West Asia lead to further regional wars, instability, forced migrations and insecurities.
• Neorealism as the dominant narrative has prevented us from an intersectional/ holistic explanation of viewing international system and security.
• Globalization has weakened internationalism, independent foreign policies.
• Wars are leading to ecological damage and breaking down societies.
• There is a threat of the return of great power competition as counter-hegemonic power like China is building the capacity to dominate the Asia –Pacific militarily and is being countered by new groupings.

Alternatives and Role of Peace and Social Movements

At this conjuncture peace and social movements have a critical role to play. First they have to evolve an acceptable alternative.

• There is a need for linking of movements in a rainbow alliances like AEPF with movements, progressive political formations. Civil society by its very nature is plural and fragmented. It has multiple issues and methods. These cannot be homogenized, but on key issues, they need to see how their aims and objectives intersect and thus they need to have solidarity with each other.
• Deepening intellectual engagements with progressive movements and partners. Social movements, progressive academics and others, have to develop more methods of solidarity and more convincing arguments and advocacy.

Developing independent analysis and arguments for greater synergy between academia, researchers, social movements, policy makers.

• The peace movement has seen a recent success, in that the Nobel Peace prize was awarded to the Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Further, the first sign of success in the peace talks between the US and North Korea, backed by the South Koreas and China, and Russia, (in a distant background) has moved de-nuclearization one step forward. It is important to note that peace and women’s groups are playing a role in this.
• The peace and social movements continue to reinforce support to liberation movements including Palestine, the Kurds and many others for peaceful self determinism and autonomy.
• Peaceful resolution of claims in South China Sea

Global end to Nuclear weapons

• Continue to show the link between social and defense expenditures and broaden the horizon of peace and security.
• Supporting honest and critical alternate media to build rainbow alliances like AEPF and others.

It is these steps that can add to the much needed peace and security in service of people.

References

Brenton, Tony, Russia and the West on the Brink, Lob Log, at: https://lobelog.com/russia-and-the-west-on-the-brink/

Frazer, Nancy, (2017) Interview available at: http://politicalcritique.org/opinion/2017/emancipatory-movements-must-have-a-populist-dimension-an-interview-with-nancy-fraser/

Rufanges, Calvo Jordi (2018) Stop Military Expenditure to Stop War, AEPF, at: https://www.aepf.info/single-post/2018/04/29/Stop-military-expenditure-to-stop-war

Patnaik, Prabhat, Is Imperialism still relevant Concept? See for example discussion on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRvcGP1ALvI