Kiersey: EU of city-states is all Greek to me (Irish Independent)
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/eu-of-citystates-is-all-greek-to-me-1415947.html
By Nicholas Kiersey, USA
Friday June 20 2008
[printable version]
FOR Kevin Myers, the ideal model for the EU would be a commonwealth based on the city-state system from ancient Greece. Thucydides must be turning in his grave!
Does Mr Myers need reminding of the cut-throat logic of realpolitik that defined the relations between the Greek city-states? Commonwealth indeed.
If nothing else, the Europe of Schuman and Monnet represents a meaningful effort to break with that legacy, to put aside the egoism that has haunted our mutual past, and to reconstitute the European polity in such a way as to make a reversal practically unthinkable.
The EU is far, far from perfect. But its imperfection should be absolutely desired to the extent that it throws a spanner in the bloody logic of inter-state rivalry. In this light, the flaws in the Lisbon Treaty are sufferable. And, indeed, we should note that these can mitigated within the processes it would allow.
Let us recall, the history of the EU to date has been one of progress towards ever deeper union interrupted by episodic assertions of state egoism (sometimes known as isolationism, Gaulism or Thatcherism). These periodic assertions are possible because of the lingering power of the discourse of sovereign supremacy. These assertions will continue to haunt Europe until we realise that a way to bridge our Irish ethnicity is with a European national identity.
So long as this task is unfulfilled, Europe will run the risk of reversal, which would be an injustice of imponderable scale.
The task today remains one of completing the European project.
Hopefully the process of ratification can continue across the EU, and the Irish will be given a chance to reconsider their decision at an appropriate time.
Nicholas Kiersey
Assistant Professor, Political Science
Ohio University
Options for Irish Progressives on Future Lisbon Treaty Settlement
Simply put, I think the NO vote was misguided. There were obvious problems with the Lisbon Treaty. And we all know what they were (the militarism and the fact that it was incomprehensible to most people, to name just two issues). But I contend that these problems can only be truly solved thru ever-deeper integration. Brussels is a disgrace, its true. But we must remember that to a limited extent, the dysfunctionality of Brussels is *purposive* and a good thing.
Am I crazy? Absolutely not. Because while commentators like Kevin Myers can casually toss out their Timothy Garton Ash-esque aphorisms on why the EU ought to be a "commonwealth" of states (for Myers, akin to the commonwealth of Ancient Greek City States - a laughable idea, Thucydides must be turning in his grave!), the rest of us must surely accept that the Europe of Monnet and Schuman has not only kept us at peace with each other for decades now, but has fundamentally reconstituted the European polity in such a way as to make a reversal practically unthinkable.
The EU is far, far from perfect. But its imperfection should be absolutely desired to the extent that it throws a spanner in the logic of inter-state rivalry which led to continuous bloodshed known by our forebears. Moreover, its imperfection can and should be tolerated to the extent that the status quo is insufferable and we must not go backwards. To stay still is to risk a reversal to the inter-state Europe, which would be an injustice of imponderable scale.
Why do I believe this risk to be so present? Because the history of the EU is one of continuous reassertions of nationalism (sometimes known as isolationism, Gaulism, or Thatcherism - whatever name you like). These periodic assertions are possible because of the lingering power of the discourse of sovereign supremacy (which is a beast neither of the left nor right). These assertions haunt Europe today because we have yet to "de-ethnicize our nationality, and denationalize our ethnicity," as a professor of mine once wrote. And so long as this task is unfulfilled, Europe will run the risk of reversal.
If I could nominate a secular saint, it would be Altiero Spinelli, the visionary intellectual who while in a fascist prison drafted what became known as the Ventotene Manifesto, which was the ultimate blueprint upon which the ECSC was later founded. This document should be read in our high schools, folks. Therein is stated in clear and precise terms the nature of the threat of the logic of sovereignty.
Its simply a question of identifying the worse evil. The flaws in the Lisbon Treaty are sufferable. And they can be addressed within the process. But to halt in the face of such a challenge is, in this instance, to sup with some very dodgy angels indeed.
What we need is a Europe that satisfies our dreams, not a sovereigntist cottage off in the backwoods living with pro-life zealots and Trotskyists. These people are seriously crazy. They aspire to produce crisis in the world, and thereby to render it more pliable to their agendas.
Please don't get me wrong, I am deeply sympathetic to the more intelligent critics of the Lisbon Treaty who wanted to vote no because it was such a flawed document. In a way, they were right to do so. But if we adopt a more historical perspective, as I have tried to do here, and understand that at the core of the EU's bureaucratic mess is a kernel of humanistic vision which we must desperately keep alive, then the choice over Lisbon is really no choice at all. We simply should have voted yes. And whatever options may come our way now, we must remember the peace that is at stake.
-- Nicholas Kiersey
Labour’s Rendezvous with Lisbon
http://www.irishleftreview.org/2008/06/16/labours-rendezvous-lisbon/
June 16th, 2008
Key Quote::
So how do progressives proceed? The Labour Party passed up the opportunity to create a new credibility with the electorate in its haste to take up the catastrophist language that dominated both sides of the campaign. This is not about whether it should have supported the Treaty or not. But even campaigning for Yes it could have distanced itself from the negative ‘we have to be grateful’ and ‘we’ll become pariahs’ tone taken by the right-wing parties.For instance, Labour could have acknowledged that, while the Treaty would not have a qualitative effect on our ‘neutrality’ (such as it is), the issue of the militarisation of Europe is a wholly valid concern, a process unaffected by whether the referendum succeeded or not. Or, again, that while the Charter of Fundamental Rights is a great advance, the extent and limitations on the right to collective bargaining will still be determined by the European Court and that more safeguards are needed. Instead of adopting an ‘all concerns are allayed’ language, it could have risen above the desultory debate, and accepted that the more thoughtful contributions from the No camp raised legitimate points - points which Labour would take on board.
Studying Nietzsche from the toilet and other cold, hard truths.
How My Father Taught Me to Talk Jive
BY SAMSON KAMBALU | TheRoot.com
Studying Nietzsche from the toilet and other cold, hard truths.
But my father did not mind looking like a scarecrow. He said he was a philosopher and walked with his head held high in the sky like a giraffe. His favorite study was the bathroom. Apart from the fact that it was the only private space in the house, he believed that it was from the bathroom, and specifically the toilet, that all great ideas came. It was not a coincidence, he said, that Martin Luther conceived the Reformation while on the toilet. Our bathroom was therefore usually stuffed with an eclectic mix of books from his huge two-part bookshelf in the living room, which he called the diptych.Many of the books were by his favorite writer, the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. My father said that Nietzsche was the perfect philosopher for the toilet because of his searing aphoristic style and cold truths. Among the piles of paperbacks by the side of the toilet, he had every book that Nietzsche had ever written: The Birth of Tragedy, Untimely Meditations, Human, All Too Human, Daybreak, The Gay Science, Thus Spake Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, On the Genealogy of Morals, The Case of Wagner, Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Nietzsche vs. Wagner, The Will to Power, Ecce Homo and even My Sister and I, the book he is supposed to have written when he went mad toward the end of his life.
Have to wonder what Walter Benjamin would have made of this!
~Nicholas Kiersey
MondoGlobo!
All political change starts with defiance of some authority, some established power structure that does not want to be weakened or eliminated. We are reminding concerned citizens of this simple fact, and bringing non-authoritarians together.
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Gather.com
Gather.com: it's entertaining, engaging, and informative. It's the only social networking site connecting people and ideas. And it's the place to join countless quality conversations. Before you know it, you'll find yourself connecting more deeply with those you care about and the world at large - and having plenty of fun along the way.
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ifimpresident.com
what: ifimpresident.com is a social utility designed to network people through ideas rather than personal relationships. it's goal is to foster a comfortable atmosphere, where political dialogue can be achieved respectably. Users will be linked to their peers based on their political views so that when you discuss politics through out site, it will be read by a targetted audience based on what views you yourself have. Sound a little complicated? To put it simpler, the more content you produce, whether discussions or policies, the more people will find and read your views.
http://www.ifimpresident.com/NervousFish1/
thepoint: make something happen
What makes The Point special? With any activity that involves a group of people, we want to know that enough others are participating for our contribution to make a difference. Once participation crosses that "tipping point," people are more than happy to take action. So, on The Point, each user-generated campaign is only "activated" when the tipping point is reached. The possible uses of The Point are limitless. Form an ultimatum against an unsatisfactory company. Raise money for a group purchase or charity. Broker an agreement between a group of people. Plan an event with your friends. Those are a few we've thought of, and you will think of many more. The Point facilitates any situation where people want to know that enough others are committed before they are willing to commit. Now you can know if your contribution will make a difference before you lift a finger or spend a dime.
https://www.thepoint.com/users/nicholas-kiersey/public
A Donkey and an Elephant Walk into a Bar
A Donkey and an Elephant is a social tool and political aggregator for folks into politics and activism from all political spectrums. Connect with other activists in your area and find like-minded groups and events! A great way to keep on top of what's going on in your area.
http://www.adonkeyandanelephantwalkintoabar.com/nervousfishdown/
REDBLUEAMERICA: Best Thinking, Both Sides
RedBlueAmerica.com is a place where people can find out how people with differing views from their own think. It is a place where they can test their thinking against the best thinking on the other side. It is a place where they can stay current – where they can find fodder for today’s equivalent of water cooler conversations – knowing that they’re getting the whole story. It is a place where they can talk with people who think differently, people who want to engage in a civil conversation about the issues. It is a place where they can share their thoughts, a place for thoughtful dialog.
http://redblueamerica.com/users/nervousfishdown
20DC
20DC is the first step in the future of politics. The way we elect candidates, organize action, disperse information and even fundraise is changing as fast as Internet technology develops. 20DC has a vast array of features that allow for political discussion and organization - all in one place and all online. The content of the site is created and controlled by users. After all, it wouldn't much of a site about popular democracy otherwise, would it?
http://www.20DC.com/profile.php?user=NervousFish1
Find me on ElectionTV2008
Here is my site:
http://www.election2008tv.com/share/NervousFishdown
Biopolitics, War & Political Economy
With this in mind, here is a link to a very early draft of my own work in this regards. While I had not yet read Birth of Biopolitics when I wrote this, it may be worth posting regardless because it serves as a kind of case study in the difficulties of specifying the concept of biopolitical security without the clarifications on the market as a "site of veridiction" which appear in the book.
Both Scalable and Historical; In Defense of the Biopolitical Contribution to the “Debate About Empire”
You may also be interested to read Jan Selby's provocative piece which I think, while not itself shaped by Birth of Biopolitics, presents an important series of questions to which the new text may provide some important clarifications.
My MySpace!
Its my MySpace page!
http://www.myspace.com/nervousfishdown
Ohio University: Full Press Release on My New Assignment
OU-C names Nicholas Kiersey assistant professor of political science
Nicholas Kiersey has been named assistant professor of political science at Ohio University-Chillicothe. He will begin his new duties when fall quarter 2008-09 starts Sept. 8. This is a tenure-track position.
Kiersey is currently a teaching fellow at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Va., a position he has held since 2006. He was previously an instructor and teaching assistant at Virginia Tech University. Kiersey was also a teacher of English as a foreign language at a school in South Korea.
Kiersey’s expertise is in comparative theories of empire, international relations and foreign policy. He holds a Ph.D. in planning, governance and globalization from Virginia Tech.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in European public affairs from the National University of Ireland, Limerick, a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Ireland and a second master’s degree in international politics and social science research methodology from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Kiersey’s writing on his research and his book reviews have been published in several academic journals, and he has presented papers at numerous conferences in both the
United States and internationally. He is currently revising his dissertation for publication by an academic press. Also, he has received grants and awards to support his teaching and research activities.
“Nicholas Kiersey has proven himself to be an outstanding teacher whose research activities support his classroom instruction,” OU-C Dean Richard Bebee said. “He brings a breadth of knowledge and insights to this position and will further strengthen our faculty.”
Lisa Wallace chaired the search committee. Other members included fellow OU-C faculty members Tom Brown, Nirmal Niroula and John Reiger, and OU-Athens Political Science Department Chair John Gilliom.
Two recent press releases...
http://www.isanet.org/isa_2009_blog/2008/05/foucault-panel.html
Contributions are invited for a proposed panel on Foucault and World Politics: Re-thinking Security, Governmentality, & Political Economy to be convened during the International Studies Association Annual Convention in New York, February 15-18, 2009
Please send 400 word abstracts along with information about your institutional affiliation should by May 28th (final ISA deadline is May 30th).
Panels on this theme will be proposed to ISA under International Political Sociology & International Political Economy.
Submissions should be addressed to either Nicholas Kiersey at njk4yATvirginia.edu or Jason Weidner at jweid001ATfiu.edu
2. My new position at OU-C
http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/NEWS01/805110318/1002/NEWS17
Nicholas Kiersey has been named an assistant professor of political science at the school and will also begin duties Sept. 8. He is presently a teaching fellow at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, Va.
Couple of oldies...
The Political Economy of the East Asian Financial Crisis
http://www.iol.ie/~kiersey/asiacrisis.html
The Political Economy of the East Asian Financial Crisis is about how and why the Asian Financial Crisis would occur. (By Nicholas Kiersey 9304517 MA Degree in International-Studies Supervisor: Camilla Noonan) July 1998
The Diplomacy of the American Civil War
Nicholas Kiersey. 9304517. BA Degree in European Studies. (Public Affairs). Supervisor: Dr. John Logan. March 1997. Submitted in part fulfilment for the ...
www.iol.ie/~kiersey/civwar.html
GNN: Urquhart: Speculate to Annihilate
http://www.gnn.tv/print/3726/Speculate_to_Annihilate
Speculate to Annihilate
The commodities crisis is being fueled by out of control capitalism
By Sam Urquhart
Published: Wednesday June 4th, 2008
Rising demand from both Chinese and Indian consumers has been flagged by many as the driving force behind the commodities surge, or “super-cycle” as economists like to call it yet there are far more powerful forces at work than Indian or Chinese demand. Those two nations together, despite numbering over 2 billion people, account for around 12 percent of global oil consumption. The U.S. alone accounts for 25 percent. Yet it is not U.S. consumers that is driving the destructive commodities super-cycle, it is its dysfunctional financial system.As Forbes online relates in a recent article on global oil prices, “Speculative investment in commodities has been fuelled by the dollar’s decline, with financial players buying into the market in a bid to hedge against the greenback’s fall and global inflation concerns.”
I'm up on ZSpace now...
I have a ZSpace now. I think it will be an interesting social networking site for activists - still a lot of work to be done on it but check it out anyway!
http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/nervousfishdown
http://www.zcommunications.org/blog/nervousfishdown
Cheers,
Nicholas
Slate: Death of a Saleswoman
XX FACTOR XXTRA: WOMEN WRITING ABOUT POLITICS, ETC.
Death of a Saleswoman
HOW HILLARY CLINTON LOST ME—AND A GENERATION OF YOUNG VOTERS.
By Meghan O'Rourke
Posted Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 11:31 AM ET
Clinton didn't trust that the message of revolution embodied in her candidacy could animate American voters, particularly male voters. And she lacked the courage of her young, ecstasy-seeking self. And so she sent the message that gender was not a factor. Presumably, she did this based on the reasonable assumption that it was politically perilous to be a woman. But the paradox is that in taking the safe tack she thought made her more electable, she actually made herself less electable. She presented herself as a hard-bitten Washington insider, running on experience when a lot of American voters, particularly young women, were looking for transformation.
Foreign Affairs: How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor
How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor
C. Ford Runge and Benjamin Senauer
From Foreign Affairs, May/June 2007
Summary: Thanks to high oil prices and hefty subsidies, corn-based ethanol is now all the rage in the United States. But it takes so much supply to keep ethanol production going that the price of corn -- and those of other food staples -- is shooting up around the world. To stop this trend, and prevent even more people from going hungry, Washington must conserve more and diversify ethanol's production inputs.
C. Ford Runge is Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Applied Economics and Law and Director of the Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy at the University of Minnesota. Benjamin Senauer is Professor of Applied Economics and Co-director of the Food Industry Center at the University of Minnesota.