[KS] Egypt and Gwangju 1980

[don kirk]

Which reminds me of the old advertising slogan, "Where's the beef," not to 
mention the once common phrase, "What's your beef?"
Anyway, this discussion is getting over my head as not able to conjure "conflict 
theory" though I did have to read incomprehensible stuff about "game theory" in 
international relations at U. of Chicago years ago, which, thankfully, I didn't 
understand then and don't remember now. (But I was a fan of Hans Morgenthau, who 
basically avoided that.)
Ok, by way of closing out this discussion, let me say it's been refreshing to 
have some debate going on as opposed to the usual "calls for papers" and 
openings for fellows, faculty positions etc. (Not that that's not important, 
just not to me.)
So, until next time, thanks for your comments, and look forward to more free and 
frank (uh oh, pun) expression of views.
Don





________________________________
From: Frank Hoffmann <hoffmann at koreaweb.ws>
To: Korean Studies Discussion List <koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Sent: Sat, February 19, 2011 12:45:45 PM
Subject: Re: [KS] Egypt and Gwangju 1980

Re: [KS] Egypt and Gwangju 1980 
"middle-class white Americans"


Okay now, got your point, but "middle-class white Americans" was not supposed to 
be the key term. I acknowledge that we all want to become middle-class white 
Americans anyway, no matter if we are black or red, Russians or Germans or 
Koreans, or green and from Mars. (And once we are there, we feel so excited that 
we die of boredom, sell our house, divorce our spouse, and so on.) But feel free 
to replace that with any other class in any other country.

How about the key terms "conflict theory" and maybe "deviance"? Aren't those 
possibly of some help in explaining such demonstrations (2000s in Korea and now 
in Arab countries)?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviance_%28sociology%29
QUOTE:
"Norms are rules of conduct,not neutral or universal, but ever changing; 
shifting as society shifts; mutable, emergent, loose, reflective of inherent 
biases and interests, and highly selfish and one-sided. They vary from class to 
class, and in the generational 'gap.' They are, in other words,contextual. 
(...)Social norms are different in one cultureas opposed to another. For 
example, a deviant act can be committed in one society or culture that breaks a 
social norm there, but may be considered normal for another culture and 
society."

As was already said on this list, "no beef from the U.S.!" does not necessarily 
mean "no beef from the U.S." (Either not only that, or not that at all.) If we 
were in the U.S., however, THEN it would very likely mean exactly that. When one 
explains such demonstrations to a non-Korean readership then it seems very 
essential to address such an issue, other then saying that this is a mass of 
manipulated frenzied people, or something of that sort. That is my point. And to 
do that one may look for some tools to do so, to explain what this means, why 
this is. (Hardly comparable for soccer fan violence.) 


Best,
Frank


-- 

--------------------------------------
Frank Hoffmann
http://koreaweb.ws
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