Danny and Derek welcome back to the show Aziz Rana, Richard and Lois Cole Professor of Law at Cornell University, for a discussion on his recent article in Dissent, “Left Internationalism in the Heart of Empire”. They discuss left foreign policy as it relates to postcolonial movements, transnational programs like the NIEO, the post-Bernie moment, institutional impediments past and present, the post-Cold War era, and more.
It’s quite convenient to always cite the intervention in Bosnia as the one intervention that’s an outlier and was “legitimate”. I’ve been personally ethnically cleansed, my wife has been ethnically cleansed. My brothers in-laws have been in concentration camps. My uncle and his whole family has been ethnically cleansed. What is inconvenient is that We are Serbian. The Territory that we were ethnically cleansed from, our families have lived on for generations. We didn’t invade.
Nevertheless I’m not advocating for Serbian nationalism or expansion. Also I am not trying to minimize others suffering and death. But a level of balance and historical accuracy could be useful.
Arms shipments prolong wars. In long wars, crimes happen, more ethnic cleansing and more Missery. There are no winners. Only losers, the dead, and profiteers. In the end, the Balkans are empty of Croats, Bosnians and Serbs. They all live in Chicago and are quite friendly to each other.
I came here to finish listening to the episode and saw there were comments, so decided to check them out. Based on what you have said, I will not finish up this particular episode.
I still remember watching TV and hearing someone interview Holbrooke and basically ask him "What is wrong with the Serbs?" Although that is not the exact wording, I was shocked when I heard the question because it was almost alluding to something within Serbs. I also remember Holbrooke's ugly response. I have also been shocked by this "free pass" to smear an entire nation of people. If it was done to a Serb it was not a war crime. Things were said about the Serbian people that would be simply unacceptable to say any other ethnic or racial group.
We can see the demonization of the Russian people moving in the same direction, but this time those who control the narrative may have bitten off more than they can chew.
There are still Croats, Bosnians, and Serbs in the Balkans. There are even Jugoslavs...
Loved this episode I'd love to hear a continuation
I would also love to have a continuation of this discussion.
It’s quite convenient to always cite the intervention in Bosnia as the one intervention that’s an outlier and was “legitimate”. I’ve been personally ethnically cleansed, my wife has been ethnically cleansed. My brothers in-laws have been in concentration camps. My uncle and his whole family has been ethnically cleansed. What is inconvenient is that We are Serbian. The Territory that we were ethnically cleansed from, our families have lived on for generations. We didn’t invade.
Nevertheless I’m not advocating for Serbian nationalism or expansion. Also I am not trying to minimize others suffering and death. But a level of balance and historical accuracy could be useful.
Arms shipments prolong wars. In long wars, crimes happen, more ethnic cleansing and more Missery. There are no winners. Only losers, the dead, and profiteers. In the end, the Balkans are empty of Croats, Bosnians and Serbs. They all live in Chicago and are quite friendly to each other.
I came here to finish listening to the episode and saw there were comments, so decided to check them out. Based on what you have said, I will not finish up this particular episode.
I still remember watching TV and hearing someone interview Holbrooke and basically ask him "What is wrong with the Serbs?" Although that is not the exact wording, I was shocked when I heard the question because it was almost alluding to something within Serbs. I also remember Holbrooke's ugly response. I have also been shocked by this "free pass" to smear an entire nation of people. If it was done to a Serb it was not a war crime. Things were said about the Serbian people that would be simply unacceptable to say any other ethnic or racial group.
We can see the demonization of the Russian people moving in the same direction, but this time those who control the narrative may have bitten off more than they can chew.
There are still Croats, Bosnians, and Serbs in the Balkans. There are even Jugoslavs...
Surprisingly incoherent position from Rana here.
Appreciate the disagreement. Hope you guys have him back on for a discussion about what the left position should be on an invasion of Taiwan.