Communications & Public Affairs

2001-11-08 00:00:00

UW philosopher comments on war

WATERLOO, Ont. -- Armed conflict (war) and social justice are strong research interests of a University of Waterloo philosopher, Prof. Brian Orend, and recent events are adding impetus to his work.

He is the author of two recent books dealing with these issues, War and International Justice, and Michael Walzer on War and Justice. He is also completing a third book on human rights.

The writing of these books has lead Orend to give a good deal of thought to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States (as well as the subsequent anthrax scare).

Many of the world's political leaders assume these events are linked to Osama bin Laden, to his al- Qaida organization, and to those who have provided bin Laden with sanctuary, the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan.

Orend is much concerned with questions such as: What is the motivation of the United States of America and those supporting that country's efforts to deal with the problem? Is there justification for the attacks on various areas in Afghanistan? When the fighting stops (presumably with the death or capture of bin Laden and his key al-Qaida associates) what then will be the best, most just, way to deal with peace questions?

Orend believes the latter issue will be of tremendous importance and points to the treatment of Germany and Japan in the late 1940s and early 1950s, which involved the reconstruction of their economies.

Such work was to a large extent due to the efforts of the U.S., for example, through the Marshall Plan in Europe and General Douglas MacArthur's pro-reconstruction policies in Japan.

These major initiatives enabled the two countries to become highly successful industrial nations during the last half of the last century and as well, peaceful democracies.

He admits the U. S. aid programs for Germany and Japan after the Second World War evolved gradually. The Americans have had an isolationist tradition extending back to the formation of the League of Nations after the First World War, or beyond. This tradition continued for a short time immediately after the Second World War.

Some U. S. administrators, such as Henry Morgenthau, wanted to "pastoralize" (de-industrialize) Germany. Ultimately, the Americans decided on reconstruction, perhaps partly as a consequence of Winston Churchill's keen concern over the Soviet Union.

By way of contrast, Orend notes, the more recent bitter conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Ruanda, and Somalia have seen the "peacemakers" (American troops, for the most part) evacuate as quickly as possible and great difficulties followed.

While the responses to those situations were initially "just" -- that is, they were conducted in the interests of bringing immoral wars to an end -- there was little concern with helping the struggling nations arrive at a "just" peace.

Possibly, Orend suggests this was, at least in part, because of fatigue -- the troops on the scene simply wanted to get home.

He warns this ought not be allowed to happen in connection with the current activities in Afghanistan.

To walk away before a long-term settlement and rehabilitation plans have been initiated, and moved well along the way, will surely risk further social deterioration and sow the seeds for future terrorist movements.

"Perhaps the Americans should revisit the programs put in place in both Germany and Japan after World War II," he suggests. "These fostered the growth of democracy during the past half century. Thus we have to be concerned not only about victory in a just war, but about achieving a just peace as well."

Orend feels that this will require a considerable amount of thought and patience, possibly including some loss of life among the peace keepers early on. "A whole series of steps will need to be taken to transform the political institutions of Afghanistan and implement democracy there," he argues.

"Fortunately, post-World War II Japan and West Germany provide us with a rich source of information as to how this can be accomplished. A key requirement will surely be that the Americans continue to stay involved in Afghanistan, and not walk away and leave the country in ruins."

Political institutions need to be developed that will reflect the concerns of the various groups in the country.

Quite possibly the Taliban-run school system will need to be redesigned; it appears to be badly in need of reform, and particularly a reform that will reflect a view of Islam with which Muslims who are less extreme than the Taliban could feel more comfortable.

The law enforcement people (police) of the country also appear in need of retraining, with particular stress in the area of human rights. As well, the framework of laws and the court system also appear to need reforming and so on.

Fortunately, Orend feels, there is already considerable talk among U.S. political leaders that indicates substantial agreement that a reconstruction program will be a "must," and also that this may have to extend well beyond the borders of Afghanistan.

Orend says that in some way, possibly through his writings, he hopes to be able to contribute to such a restructuring.

Clearly the future of Afghanistan has become a major concern and political leaders and others are wondering:

Will the Taliban regime in Afghanistan fall? If so, can it be replaced by a representative government formed through monitored elections, and what is the best way to do this? Can educational reform (secularization of the education system while continuing to respect the religious tradition) be brought into effect? Can a reconstruction program come into effect to offer the people of Afghanistan some hope for the future?

Orend feels that if U. S. President George W. Bush chooses to support the reconstruction of Afghanistan he will find his country strongly backs him. He will not have to worry about the question: "Why should we write them a bunch of cheques?"

"This would represent a dramatic change in American public opinion," Orend says.

"It could pay dividends in terms of the future security of the United States, and the rest of the world, though it never ceases to amaze me how strongly people feel about issues of international conflict and international justice. One can so easily stir up such a very heated debate on them."

He sees bin Laden's al-Qaida network as a broadly based international movement that involves nationals from many countries including Afghanistan, and possibly involving the governments in Iraq and the Sudan as well.

Its members seem willing to undertake suicide missions on behalf of their cause, so almost certainly "they will keep doing the kinds of things we saw them do on Sept. 11," he says.

"You can't buy them off you can't get them to change, and they are dedicated to destroying our interests. They are also elusive -- they're hard to track down. So we face some fearsome prospects.

Orend adds: "They seem able to get recruits from the hopeless people of the world. If some way could be found to give these people a larger, more attractive stake in life -- make their lives seem less hopeless – that might cut down the effectiveness of al-Qaida's recruiting activities.

"That of course may not be a solution that could be put into effect instantaneously; it will take time. But it is something the United States and its allies ought to consider seriously as part of an effective long-term solution to the problem."

Orend says his thinking about post-war measures to minimize the appeal of terrorism in the future, has led him to think a good deal about what is meant by the term "human rights."

Essentially, he feels, human rights involve around a deep respect for the value of life. His activities of late have also involved giving a good deal of thought to human rights issues as these presented themselves to the peacemakers in post-war Bosnia and Kosovo.

Orend's new book is a textbook on human rights. Entitled Human Rights: Concept and Context, it could surely be helpful to American (and other) foreign policy makers faced with challenge of reconstructing Afghanistan in a post-Taliban era, or to other troublesome situations. It will be published by the Broadview Press (a U.S.-Canada publisher) in April 2002.

Resources

Contacts:
Prof. Brian Orend, (519) 888-4567, ext. 2776; bdorend@uwaterloo.ca
Written by Bob Whitton for the UW News Bureau
From John Morris, UW News Bureau, (519) 888-4435; jmorris@uwaterloo.ca
Release no. 193 -– November 8, 2001

2001-11-08 00:00:00