Dynamics of humiliation in a globalizing world.(Report)

This article argues that a new concept of Realpolitik has to be developed. Old Realpolitik was defined by fear, collective fear of attack from outgroups, informed by the so-called security dilemma. In contrast, the new concept of Realpolitik should take into account the new normative system that currently gains mainstream acceptance in a globalizing world, namely human rights. Human rights replace fear with feelings of humiliation, felt by individuals in response to failing respect for equal dignity. If unattended, feelings of humiliation can hamper an otherwise benign transition towards a more comprehensive implementation of human rights. Peace advocates are called upon to take up primary responsibility to clarify and guide this transition in a constructive and transdisciplinary fashion.

INTRODUCTION

Morton Deutsch encouraged me to write this article. He is among the most renowned social psychologists and experts on conflict resolution. (1) Deutsch explains how exiting it was to work with Kurt Lewin (1890-1947), often called the father of modern social psychology, because Lewin instilled "a sense of pioneering elitism" in the new Research Center for Group Dynamics that he had established at MIT of which Deutsch was part.

Lewin introduced to social psychology the "Lewinian way of thinking" by stipulating, among others, that theory has to be useful for social practice. Lewin emphasized "the importance of theory; the value of experimentation for clarifying and testing ideas; the interrelatedness between the person and the environment; the interdependence of cognitive structures and motivation; the importance of understanding the individual in his or her social (group, cultural) context" (Deutsch, 1999, p. 10).

Also Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, argues as follows:

 
  I have always believed that good scholarship can be relevant and 
  consequential for public policy. It is possible to affect public 
  policy without being an advocate; to be passionate about peace without 
  losing analytical rigor; to be moved by what is just while conceding 
  that no one has a monopoly on justice (quoted from 
  http://www.bsos.umd.edu/sadat/people/shibley_telhami.htm). 

This article follows in Lewin's, Deutsch's, and Telhami's footsteps in attempting to make theory relevant for social practice. The argument here is that a new concept of Realpolitik has to be developed. Old Realpolitik was defined by fear, by collective fear of attack from outgroups, informed by the so-called security dilemma. In contrast, the new concept of Realpolitik should take into account the new normative system that currently gains mainstream acceptance in a globalizing world, namely human rights. Human rights replace fear with humiliation as defining negative emotion, namely feelings of humiliation felt by individuals in response to failing respect for equal dignity.