Lecture Eight

What is militarism?

An ideology that a nation should maintain and be ready to use its strong military capabilities to advance its national interest.

What does militarization refer to?

A step-by-step process by which something becomes controlled by, dependent on, or derives its value from the military as an institution or militaristic criteria.

When did the U.S. begin its nuclear testing program in the Marshall Islands?

In 1946, with Operation Crossroads on Bikini Atoll.

What major event occurred in 1954 related to nuclear testing?

Castle Bravo, the most powerful hydrogen bomb ever tested by the U.S., was detonated on Bikini Atoll.

What were the consequences for the Marshall Islanders following nuclear testing?

They developed severe health problems, including cancer, thyroid diseases, and birth defects due to radiation exposure.

What does the term 'wastelanding' refer to?

The process by which certain locations are marked for exploitation and ultimately rendered polluted.

What is 'symbolic violence'?

An unconscious mode of domination that is subtly embedded in everyday thought and action, maintaining its power because people fail to recognize it as violence.

How were the Bikini Islanders depicted in media, such as SpongeBob SquarePants?

Their home was trivialized, and the understanding of their interconnected relationship with the environment was overshadowed by a focus on Bikini Bottom.

What was the impact of U.S. nuclear testing on Marshall Islands culture and identity?

The Marshallese lost health, land, culture, and economics, leading to a disconnection from their historical identity.

What was the outcome of the U.S. nuclear testing on Enewetak Atoll in 1980?

The islanders were permitted to return after the U.S. removed much of the topsoil, but radiation exposure remained a concern.

The process by which certain locations are marked, physically and ideologically, for exploitation, resource extractions and national sacrifice and untlimate rendered  pollulatable

Wastlanding

Barker Holly, SpongeBob SquarePants

This refers to the analysis of how the Bikini Atoll and the Marshall Islanders are represented in popular culture, particularly through the lens of the animated show SpongeBob SquarePants. The portrayal of Bikini Bottom trivializes the rich history and struggles of the Bikini Islanders, highlighting how media can overlook the impact of U.S. nuclear testing on their culture. This raises critical questions about representation, environmental issues, and the consequences of a militarized relationship with vulnerable communities.