Kato

Nuclear Globalism Overview

• Author: Masahide Kato

• Source: Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Summer 1993), pp. 339-360

• Central Thesis: The disqualification of nuclear warfare against the Fourth World and Indigenous Nations reveals the domination of late capitalism.

Theoretical Framework

• Theorem by Antonio Negri:

  • Describes the conflict created by nuclear capital as one that cannot be reproduced peacefully.

  • This type of capital must be destroyed for legitimate progress.

Enclosed Regimes of Discourse

• Two regimes shape the discourse around nuclear issues:

  • Nation-state Strategic Discourse: Deals with nuclear deterrence, disarmament, and non-proliferation.

  • Extra-nation-state Discourse: Advocates for antinuclearism and criticism around nuclear ethics.

Historical Context and Perception

• Explosions post-World War II in territories of Fourth World and Indigenous Nations are often excluded from mainstream nuclear discourse.

• Historical obliteration of undeclared nuclear warfare reveals the continuous extermination process driven by late capitalism.

The Role of Technological Perception

• The strategic gaze is central to forming a homogeneous social totality:

  • Involves objectification and surveillance through advanced technology, such as satellites and rockets.

• The emergence of the absolute strategic gaze signifies total control over spatial and temporal dimensions, redefining the relationship between the First World and the periphery.

Aerial Photography and the Strategic Gaze

• Development of perceptive technology has intertwined warfare with observation:

  • Early uses of rockets to capture images of Earth establish dominance through visual control.

• The photographic image of the globe from missions, like Apollo 8, symbolizes the triumph of this strategic observation.

Time and Space Reconstruction

• Late Capitalism and Time/Space: The idea of 'real time' emerges from the absolute strategic gaze:

  • Geographical distance is converted into temporal distance, managing perception of non-western spaces.

• Transnational corporations dominate the temporal landscape, aiding in the suppression of Third World movements.

Objectification of the Periphery

• The strategic gaze commodifies the Third World:

  • Expands capitalist accumulation and reterritorialization of socio-political realities.

• Example: The Green Revolution was a counterrevolutionary movement to maintain control over the peripheral spaces.

Nuclear Warfare and Environmental Impact

• The ties between technology and nuclear warfare complicate any straightforward narrative about warfare and violence:

  • Continuous nuclear tests highlight ongoing violence against Fourth World and Indigenous populations.

• Environmental consequences are rendered secondary to the grand narrative of nuclear catastrophe dominating public discourse.

Nuclear Criticism's Complicity

• Nuclear Criticism: Dominant in the First World, often overlooks the realities faced by exploited nations:

  • Critiques rooted in fears of extinction overshadow ongoing nuclear warfare against marginalized groups.

• This discourse serves to maintain the status quo, justifying capitalist imperialism while masking the real consequences of nuclear actions.

Technosubjectivity and Global Discourse

• Technosubjectivity merges personal and environmental concerns to address global issues:

  • The redefinition of humanity often occurs at the expense of recognizing affected Indigenous identities and histories.

Concluding Remarks

• Potential for Alliances: There is an urgent need for solidarity between First World environmental movements and marginalized groups:

  • Breaking down barriers created by technosubjectivity is vital for genuine alliances against capitalist globalization and for the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples.