Crimes of a “benevolent” hegemony: Configurations of UK power in Northern Ireland and Iraq

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Journal of Global Faultlines

Volume 8, Issue 2

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Crimes of a “benevolent” hegemony: Configurations of UK power in Northern Ireland and Iraq

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Author(s): Lily Hamourtziadou , Aidan O'Sullivan

Publication date (Print): 1 October 2021

Journal: Journal of Global Faultlines

Publisher: Pluto Journals

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Abstract

Themes of hegemony and neoliberalism are explored in this paper that looks at UK role in crimes against humanity in Ireland and in Iraq, either alone or as part of a hegemonic coalition that claims to be fighting a brutal, unjust, and uncivilized insurgency. The common thread that ties crimes spanning 100 years is the narrative of the “benevolent” hegemon that kills, tortures, enslaves, and occupies for the good of the victims. Power is exercised by the hegemon through military and political domination under the guise of a civilized protector, liberator, and the bearer of progress and order.

Content

Author and article information

Contributors

Lily Hamourtziadou

Aidan O'Sullivan

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.2307/j50018794

Journal ID (jcode): jglobfaul

Title: Journal of Global Faultlines

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN: 2397-7825

ISSN: 2054-2089

Publication date (Print): 1 October 2021

Volume: 8

Issue: 2 ( doiID: 10.13169/jglobfaul.8.issue-2 )

Pages: 153-171

Affiliations

Lily Hamourtziadou is a Senior Lecturer in Security Studies at Birmingham City University and Principal Research of Iraq Body Count. Lily.hamourtziadou@ 123456bcu.ac.uk

Aidan O'Sullivan is a Lecturer in Criminology at Birmingham City University. Aidan.osullivan@ 123456bcu.ac.uk

Article

Publisher ID: jglobfaul.8.2.0153

DOI: 10.13169/jglobfaul.8.2.0153

SO-VID: 37e60707-07c5-44a8-b034-3f7352a56dbb

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ScienceOpen disciplines: Social & Behavioral Sciences

References

Allen, K. (2021) 32 Counties: The Failure of Partition and the Case for a United Ireland, London: Pluto Press.
BBC News (2021) “Joe McCann: Trial of Two Soldiers Collapses.” 4 May. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056.
Bin Laden, O. (2002) “Bin Laden's ‘Letter to America’,” The Guardian, 24 November. Available from: www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver
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Bush, G. W. (2001b) “Text of George Bush's Speech, State of the Union Address,” The Guardian, 21 September. Available from: www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/21/september11.usa13.
Bush, G. W. (2001c) “Bush Gives Update on War Against Terrorism,” CNN, 11 October. Available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/10/11/gen.bush.transcript/.
Bush, G. W. (2003) “President Bush Announces ‘Volunteers for Prosperity’,” The White House, 21 May. Available from: http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2013673.html.
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Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Allen, K. (2021) 32 Counties: The Failure of Partition and the Case for a United Ireland, London: Pluto Press.

[2] BBC News (2021) “Joe McCann: Trial of Two Soldiers Collapses.” 4 May. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056.

[3] Bin Laden, O. (2002) “Bin Laden's ‘Letter to America’,” The Guardian, 24 November. Available from: www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver

[4] Bush, G. W. (2001a) “Statement by the President in his Address to the Nation,” The White House, 11 September. Available from: https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010911-16.html.

[5] Bush, G. W. (2001b) “Text of George Bush's Speech, State of the Union Address,” The Guardian, 21 September. Available from: www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/21/september11.usa13.

[6] Bush, G. W. (2001c) “Bush Gives Update on War Against Terrorism,” CNN, 11 October. Available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/10/11/gen.bush.transcript/.

[7] Bush, G. W. (2003) “President Bush Announces ‘Volunteers for Prosperity’,” The White House, 21 May. Available from: http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2013673.html.

[8] Cobain, I. (2012) Cruel Britannia: A Secret History of Torture. London: Portobello Books.

[9] Cox, R. W. (1981) “Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International Relations Theory,” Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 10(2): 126–155.

[10] Doyle, M. (1986) Empires. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

[11] Ellison, G. & Brogden, M. (2012) Policing in an Age of Austerity: A Postcolonial Perspective. London: Routledge.

[12] Finn, D. (2019) One Man's Terrorist: A Political History of the IRA. London and New York: Verso.

[13] Hamourztadou, L. (2016) “Lest we Forget.” Available from: https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/lest-we-forget/.

[14] Hamourtziadou, L. (2020) Body Count: The War on Terror and Civilian Deaths in Iraq. Bristol: Bristol University Press.

[15] Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) “From Invasion to Failed State: Iraq's Democratic Disillusionment.” Available from: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/from-invasion-to-failed-state-iraqs-democratic-disillusionment/.

[16] Ikenberry, G. J. & Kupchan, C. A. (1990) “Socialization and Hegemonic Power,” International Organization, 44(3): 283–315.

[17] International Criminal Court (2020) “Situation in Iraq/UK Final Report.” Available from: https://www.icc-cpi.int/itemsDocuments/201209-otp-final-report-iraq-uk-eng.pdf.

[18] Iraq Body Count (2005) “A Dossier of Civilian asualties in Iraq.” Available from: https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/reference/press-releases/12/.

[19] Iraq Body Count (2011) “The Unexamined Iraqi Dimension of UK Involvement in Iraq.” Available from: https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/uk-involvement/.

[20] Jenkins, S. (2021) “Only by Forgiving – and Forgetting – Can Ireland Move on from its Past,” The Guardian, 17 July.

[21] Kaufman, S., Little, R. & Wohlforth, W. C. (2007) The Balance of Power in World History. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

[22] Leebody, C. (2021) “Simon Coveney: British soldiers should be Treated Same as Paramilitaries over Troubles Prosecutions,” Belfast Telegraph, 4 July.

[23] McCann, E. (2021) “The British State Still Wants to Stop Bloody Sunday Soldiers Taking the Stand.” 23 July. Available from: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/british-state-still-wants-stop-bloody-sunday-soldiers-taking-stand/.

[24] McGovern, M. (2019) Counterinsurgency and Collusion in Northern Ireland. London: Pluto Press.

[25] MacKay, N. (2019) “The Life of Spymaster Gordon Kerr,” The Herald, 21 April.

[26] McKearney, T. (2016) “Northern Ireland: From Imperial Asset to International Encumbrence,” Journal of World-Systems Research, 22: 109–132.

[27] Mallinder, L. (2021) “How a Troubles Amnesty Would Damage Peace in Northern Ireland.” Available from: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0721/1236336-northern-ireland-uk-government-troubles-amnesty-victims/.

[28] Mastanduno, M. (2005) “Hegemonic Order, September 11, and the Consequences of the Bush Revolution,” International Relations of the Asia Pacific, 5: 177–196.

[29] Mbembe, A. (2003) “Necropolitics,” Public Culture, 15: 11–40.

[30] Morris, A. (2021) “Failures that Mean a Troubles Amnesty Already Exists,” Belfast Telegraph, 5 July.

[31] O'Brien, S. (2021) “Simon Coveney: Treat British Soldiers Same as the IRA,” Sunday Times, 4 July.

[32] O'Doherty, M. (2021) “Soldier F May Rest Content he is Not Going to Jail But his Place in History is as an Embarrassment to his Country,” Belfast Telegraph, 3 July.

[33] O'Sullivan, A. (ed.) (2021) Black Lives Matters and the Global History of Irish Anti-Imperialism. Maynooth: Sociological Association of Ireland.

[34] Podhoretz, N. (2004) “World War IV: How it Started, What it Means, and Why we Have to Win,” Commentary, September. Available from: www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/world-war-iv-howit-started-what-it-means-and-why-we-have-to-win/.

[35] Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2002) Available from: https://www.icc-cpi.int/resource-library/Documents/RS-Eng.pdf.

[36] Rutherford, A. (2015) Loyalist Communities Council Launched with Backing of UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando. Belfast Telegraph, 13 October.

[37] Schabas, W. A. (2017) An Introduction to the International Criminal Court (5th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[38] Ward, J. (2021) 'We Need to Move Society Beyond an Examination of the Past, to a Kind of Reconciliation; DUP Leader on Way Ahead After Monday,” The Mirror, 5 July.