Re: [NetBehaviour] Military Using Post-Structuralism as “Operational Theory”

[marc]

Hi Rob & all,

Yes - one of the pitfalls of being involved, engaged with and exploring 
contemporary cultures and related dynamics, especially social theory and 
practise etc is that, at the same time there are also legions of 
individuals/groups who use such data and its ideas for less humanistic 
endeavours.

It is of course is, no surprise that our governments and own cultures 
have not taken it upon themselves to seriously explore further, ways of 
'not killing'.

Perhaps our over-controlling, patriarchal systems should be re-examined 
and broken down, so that societies/humanity can see what else we can use 
beyond such basic grunt-like behaviours. Without the 'ilk' of rabid 
military and power hungry apes breathing down our necks. Of course, this 
is a catch 22 situation.

"I asked Naveh why Deleuze and Guattari were so popular with the Israeli 
military. He replied that ‘several of the concepts in A Thousand 
Plateaux became instrumental for us […] allowing us to explain 
contemporary situations in a way that we could not have otherwise. It 
problematized our own paradigms. Most important was the distinction they 
have pointed out between the concepts of “smooth” and “striated” space 
[which accordingly reflect] the organizational concepts of the “war 
machine” and the “state apparatus”. In the IDF we now often use the term 
“to smooth out space” when we want to refer to operation in a space as 
if it had no borders. […] Palestinian areas could indeed be thought of 
as “striated” in the sense that they are enclosed by fences, walls, 
ditches, roads blocks and so on.’5 When I asked him if moving through 
walls was part of it, he explained that, ‘In Nablus the IDF understood 
urban fighting as a spatial problem. […] Travelling through walls is a 
simple mechanical solution that connects theory and practice." Eyal Weizman.

There are so many factors that seem to grip onto humanity like an ever 
repeating neurosis- pulling us down, drowning us all, in the 
suffocating, primordial swamp:-

Fundamentalism - as in the male top-down eugenic and socially 
constructed remits, that are dominating and exploiting religion, with 
astounding ignorance and childish bigotry. Imposing evoltuion for their 
own ends, thus holding back real human developments and progress.

masculinity - as in the male, always over-eager to fight, armed with 
ignorance, guns and bigotry via systems put in place, usually ready to 
support such hegemonies.

Patriarchism - as in mechanistic systems of hierarchies as default, 
serving to support such imperialist powers on civilians and communities, 
above all else - at whatever cost.

Corporate Mediation - The patriarchal dominated press and news 
corporations, such as Rupert Murdoch's empire etc, regurtitating basic 
hegemonies and nationalistic attitides to fuel more uncertainty amongst 
those who should know better.

it goes on and on...

marc 


"In no uncertain terms, education in the humanities – often believed to 
be the
most powerful weapon against imperialism – is being appropriated as a 
powerful
vehicle for imperialism. The military’s use of theory is, of course, nothing
new – a long line extends all the way from Marcus Aurelius to General 
Patton."

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060801170800738

- Rob.

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