Nuclear rites by hugh gusterson paperback university. In book, published comments from informants and others in appendix, one of them took great exception to idea that ritual, said was straightforward way to test bomb hugh gusterson, nuclear rites, 1996 q. Nuclear rites a weapons laboratory at the end of the cold. Exploring the scientists world of dark humor, ritualized secrecy, and disciplined emotions, anthropologist hugh gusterson uncovers the. Book reading and discussion guide for students university of. In this unique and generous insti tution, it was my good fortune not only to have benefitted agreeably. Gusterson also introduces us to the thinktank myopia of security studies experts.
I would later read accounts of others who had researched nuclear facilities and discovered that my first impression was not out of the ordinary. Based on saids 1978 theory of orientalism, which argues that the west thinks of its position superior over the orient said 1978, 78, gusterson asserts that there is a. Based on saids 1978 theory of orientalism, which argues that the west thinks of its position superior over the orient said 1978, 78, gusterson asserts that there is a common perception. As for the history she assembles with forensic skill in this book, she tells it with analytic rigor and a lean matteroffactness without ever losing sight of the terrible destructiveness of nuclear weapons.
Ive spent my career as an anthropologist studying american nuclear weapons. These ethnographieshave produced, first,studies ofwhat kuletz 1998 focused on the web of local relationships calls the geography of sacrifice largely within which. The dominant discourse that stabilizes this system of nuclear apartheid in western ideology was labeled orientalism albeit in a different context by edward said. They are retreating to gated communities in record numbers, fearing for their jobs and their 401ks, nervous about their health insurance and their debt levels, worrying about terrorist attacks and immigrants. Hugh gusterson, massachusetts institute of technology professor gusterson received his b.
Book reading and discussion guide for students university. Nuclear rites a weapons laboratory at the end of the cold war. Viewing nuclear weapons through a humanitarian lens unidir. A selective bibliography on nuclear weapons and related issues. I have been reading about orientalism for a number of years, but most of this book was written during 19751976, which i spent as a fellow at the center for advanced study in the behavioral sciences, stanford. Reading this fascinating and fairly written book is the best way to understand the. Cultures of militarism the university of chicago press. In this book, gusterson argues that in order to understand powerful political forms, it is necessary not only to understand what the ideology tell us about the nature the. However, i shall argue that there is no principled reason as to why. Aug 03, 2020 anthropologist hugh gusterson calls this asymmetry in u. Pdf anthropology and militarism hugh gusterson academia.
Nuclear rites by hugh gusterson paperback university of. This chapter shows how, in media representations, the insurgent never leaves the chaos of the battlefield to appear in full view and never amounts to more than an ideologically. Hugh gusterson, nuclear weapons and the other in the western. More bang for your buck 239 on all source or fissile material. Portraits of americas nuclear complex uc press, 1996.
It demonstrates the power that ethnographic analysis can have when directed at an examination of our own societys central nervous system. Educational activities anthropology classes continued to be popular among undergraduates. In this book, hugh gusterson explores the significance of drone warfare from multiple perspectives, drawing on accounts by drone operators, victims of drone attacks, antidrone activists, human rights activists, international lawyers, journalists, military thinkers, and academic experts. His work draws on the anthropology of science, interpretive. Oct 19, 2016 coming from mit in april next year, a new book by the evercreative anthropologist hugh gusterson, drone. The insecure american by hugh gusterson, catherine besteman. Hugh gusterson is associate professor of anthropology and science studies at. Gusterson points to the pervasiveness of these characterizations. Anthropologist hugh gusterson, a longtime observer of nuclear. Norris published hugh gusterson, people of the bomb. Militarization place, and territory, introduction 167 roberto j. The insurgent is an essential, but perhaps underrecognized, part of the american war project. Drone warfare described from the perspectives of drone operators, victims of drone attacks, antidrone activists, international law, military thinkers, and others.
A feminist ethical perspective on weapons of mass destruction. We have another example in readings of unrecognized ritual, from hugh gusterson, in our program studied nuclear physicists at livermore labs, bomb scientists this article on atomic testing not overtly recognized as ritual. A typical woman is very much in touch with her feelings. Deployed at presidential discretion, they can be used in regular war zones or to kill people in such. Iran and its sovereign right to nuclear capabilities al. Wmd chronology aip conference proceedings 1898, 060001 2017. Published in hugh gusterson, people of the bomb u of minnesota press, 2004.
Hugh gusterson is professor in the department of anthropology of. The war on terror gave rise to stark visions of a christian west battling a mad mullah from the east over nothing less than the fate of civilization. Nuclear weapons and the other in the western imagination. The insecure american by hugh gusterson, catherine. Hugh gusterson the george washington university academia. Nuclear weapons, nuclear nonproliferation policy, orientalism, and nuclear disarmament. Gonzalez is professor of anthropology at san jose state university and author of militarizing culture. Anthropologist hugh gusterson labels this nuclear orientalism a racialized discourse. Nuclear rites written by hugh gusterson, published by univ of california press which was released on 15 march 1996. The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on hiroshima, a. In book, published comments from informants and others in appendix, one of them took great exception to idea that ritual. Book reading and discussion guide for students gusterson, hugh 1996 nuclear rites.
Anya loukianova fink, the evolving russian concept of strategic. This book is the outcome of an initiative by the network of concerned anthropologists, which has worked since 2007 to oppose the militarization of. Hugh gusterson served as treasurer of the american ethnological society and on the editorial board of anthropological quarterly. An embodiment of war and its aftermath in postandinista nicaraguas 296. A thoughtful examination of the dilemmas this new weapon poses. His work focuses on nuclear culture, international security and the anthropology of science. Chuck tryon is an accomplished media studies scholar whose recent book, ondemand culture, is one of the first major texts on digital distribution of hollywood films. Indias nuclear limbo and the fatalism of the nuclear non.
Orientalism is a concept long associated with war, stemming back to the greek and persian wars. According to gusterson, the most important essay in the book is nuclear weapons and the other in the western imagination. This divide in rhetoric reveals the presence of what hugh gusterson 1999 calls nuclear orientalism. Eight students in the class of 2005 completed hass concentrations in. Hugh gusterson is professor of anthropology at george mason university. Feeling at home with counterinsurgency in the united states catherine lutz 157 5.
A weapons laboratory at the end of the cold war, ch 14 w 28 gusterson, nuclear rites cont. Cultural anthropology, 1982 from the university of pennsylvania, and his ph. Hugh gusterson, nuclear weapons and the other in the western imagination. Aug 05, 2020 anthropologist hugh gusterson calls this asymmetry in u. Hugh gusterson, who wrote a study on the lawrence livermore national laboratory, experienced a similar initial reaction.
Nuclearism heba taha is a lecturer of international relations at leiden university. This book is the outcome of an initiative by the network of concerned an. The juxtaposition of injured bodies and unanchored issues 283 elaine scarry 10. Catherine besteman is professor of anthropology at colby college and the author of transforming capetown uc press. Hugh gusterson search for other works by this author. The chapters in this book provide information and analysis from diverse perspectives. These baldly orientalist constructions are only the latest incarnation of an older, deeper relationship between orientalism and war, one that can be traced as far back as the greek and persian wars of antiquity. Minneapolis find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. When studies by gusterson 1996, 2004, 2005, war almost anthropologists masco 1999, 2002, 2004a,b, 2006, and did finally write about nuclear weapons, they mcnamara 2001. Containing the threat of loose russian nuclear weapons and. When you think of anthropologists, you think of people who study cannibals in new guinea, people in grass skirts in samoa. Nuclear orientalism is the term that hugh gusterson uses to describe the widely shared perception of third world or nonwestern nuclear. This essentialized figure is vital to affirming the united states selfimage bringing order to afghanistan. A selective bibliography on nuclear weapons and related.
Hugh gusterson is professor of anthropology and international affairs at george washington university. In this innovative volume, editors hugh gusterson and catherine besteman gather essays from nineteen leading ethnographers to create a unique portrait of. Military metaphors in real and imagined indian country stephen w. Here gusterson uses edward saids construct of orientalism as the wests ten. He is the author of nuclear rites and coeditor with besteman of why americas top pundits are wrong, both from uc press. Orientalism and war edited by tarak barkawi and ketih stanski. Based on fieldwork at the lawrence livermore national laboratorythe facility that designed the neutron bomb and the warhead for the mx missile nuclear rites takes the reader deep inside the topsecret culture of a nuclear weapons lab. Hugh gusterson, massachusetts institute of technology. Gusterson, hugh, nuclear weapons and the other in the western imagination, cultural anthopology, 141, 1999, p111143.
First of all, it would change the balance of power. A reader offers a range of critical perspectives on the dynamics of militarization as a social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental phenomenon. Edward said, orientalism, vintage books, new york, 1978. Exploring the scientists world of dark humor, ritualized secrecy, and disciplined. Ideology, culture, and the cold war naoko shidusawa 154 5. He is the author of nuclear rites and people of the bomb.
The test happened to be unsuccessful, but the fact that they were testing caused great concern that they were cheating on the 1994 agreed framework, by which they agreed to shut down their nuclear program at yongbyon. Foreign affairs drones are changing the conduct of war. The pro nuclear opinions of these sheltered wonks almost perfectly coincided with those of the reagan administration. This book seeks to shed light on the concept of other and the nature of identity in relation to warfare. Militarization, place, and territory introduction roberto j. Download nuclear rites book pdf epub mobi tuebl and read.
He is a regular contributor to the bulletin of the. Nuclear rites by hugh gusterson, nuclear rites books available in pdf, epub, mobi format. Hugh gusterson is an anthropologist at the university of british columbia. April 2006 mit center for international studies of the. From this, i will draw on edward saids argument about orientalism. Hugh gusterson, the george washington university, elliott school of international affairs, faculty member. Rite of passage, makes them fully adult bombmakers. Nuclear orientalism is the term that hugh gusterson uses to describe the widely shared perception of third world or nonwestern nuclear irrationality visavis presumptions of the safe and reliable possession of nuclear weapons by western nuclear democracies gusterson, 1999. Book chapter nuclear orientalism by hugh gusterson. The marshall islands and its radioactive legacy barbara rose.
Virtual roundtable on presidential first use of nuclear. This divide in rhetoric reveals the presence of what hugh gusterson 1999 calls. An analysis of the neocolonial discourse on nuclear nonproliferation working papers and proceedings of the center for psychosocial studies gusterson, hugh on. The enhanced warfighter 291 kenneth ford and clark glymour 10. Studies ethics, political anthropology, and sociology. Nuclear war, the gulf war, and the disappearing body 276 hugh gusterson 10. Deployed at presidential discretion, they can be used in regular war zones or to kill people in such countries as yemen and somalia, where the united states is not officially at w. See his vividly illustrated lecture, democracy, hypocrisy, first use, at the nov.
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