Inhuman Practices Research Articles

War on the Posthuman: Narrative as Resistance and the Reinvention of the Self in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

Within a world of grand narratives, testimonies from the margins carry the potential to rewrite history. Through an examination of Kazuo Ishiguro’s renowned novel Never Let Me Go, which places an emphasis on the posthuman subject, this paper approaches the documentation of one’s experiences as a revolutionary act. The memoir kept by the cloned protagonist Kathy H. not only sheds light on the inhuman practices exercised by the state, but it also provides a fictional space for the self to be perpetuated. When one’s fate is decided beforehand, when the potential of identity development is confined, the documentation of one’s experiences constitutes a subversive act that allows the subject to regain control over their self-realization. This is portrayed through the interplay between the narrating, the experiencing, and the narrated self, whose interdependence can be translated into the fluidity of identity. The physical body is complemented and sometimes even replaced by the textual body, while the self is liberated within the ongoing process of becoming offered by the imaginative and reconstructing act of autobiographical narration. Ultimately, the preservation of one’s memories constitutes an act of agency that illuminates the dark, silenced side of history.

VISUALIZATION OF CONCEPTUAL AND PERCEPTUAL EXPERIENCES OF CASTE: A LITERARY REFLECTION ON THE ANNIHILATION OF CASTE OF DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR

A good number of writings in different forms are available on Ambedkar and his writings. Particularly, his Annihilation of Caste (AoC) is being overwhelmingly explored with varied objectives and purposes. Despite having aims and objectives for fulfill their agenda, with their own methodologies and theoretical frameworks, they had explored and highlighted the different dimensions and importance of the AoC, which, indeed, was considered controversial in its speech form for the Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal (JPTM), organizer of the conference that was supposed to be held in 1936. Some of the text were “unbearable” for the organizers for having content objectionable, but “would not change a comma” was the response from Ambedkar, and this speech became a book on May 15, 1936, at his own expense. Though there are narratives and anecdotes around the text and its production, the aim of this paper is neither about the making of the book nor what happened to the book. With the self-explanatory title, which has both the name of the text and the social agenda of the author, this paper employs the descriptive tool in deciphering the interplay between the text and the society mediated and manipulated through signifiers that are not only social and cultural but also historical. If, for example, “unbearable” becomes a signifier to connote the mindset of the dominants, then “would not change a comma” seems to transform into a signifier within the same system to connote equally a larger thing in contrast to the former. Interestingly, the text that is filled with and the result of mental agony that is due to the socio-cultural and symbolic “happenings”, has evolved as a sign to become a social agenda not only for the author of the text but also for humanity. Therefore, this reading is not a way to consolidate what is said or written; rather it problematizes the “signs” through their inherent properties of interconnectedness and intertextuality to explore the unexplored on the basis of the frozen text in the fluid social situations. As this study explains, the metaphorical nature of the text is an interesting aspect because of how the overall text is the result of a simple process that is the basic principle of any metaphorical conceptualization of abstract entities in terms of concrete instances that are atrocities, inhuman practices on the voice-less people. By offering a complete summary of the text, which the readers of the present generation may find useful to know the historical perspective on the presence of democratic voices against the caste system, this study presents a simple discussion that conveniently argues in favour of the social agenda, and in the process, many of the points are reproduced with the intension of not hurting anyone, rather, to present what has happened to the speech text. Further, the readers are expected to have an open-minded reading of this article as well as the text of Ambedkar, and the summary will be useful for the young scholars who do not so far have any access to the text.

Culture Entrenched Gender Inequality in Othello by William Shakespeare and Night of No Moon by Syed Waliullah: A Comparative Study


 
 
 Culture of a society directly influences the pattern of behavior of the people. It is such a strong force that, people are hardly able to go and think beyond the boundary of their cultural practices. The problem begins when cultural indoctrination controls human thought process and appears to justify inhuman practices in the name of culture and tradition. This study has been done with a view to exposing the gender-based inequality prevailing in the society which is nurtured by culture. In doing so Othello by William Shakespeare and Night of No Moon by Syed Waliullah, two great pieces of literary works have been picked. Both of the literary pieces depict unequal treatment of the women in the society. Although, two of them are composed in different contexts, yet there are similarities in terms of treatment of females in the society. In both Othello and Night of No Moon the fate of women is decided by the men and the whole societal system fuels the unjust action. The authors draw real life characters to show how the females become victims in the hand of social organizations formed and dominated by men. This study explores through the characters and plots of the two texts and intends to see the facts from a feminist point of view to analyze behavior of people. Therefore, we observe the condition of women of the society, who are considered as ‘the weaker sex', and continuously dominated, suppressed and victimized by culturally motivated men. Thus, we have put our logical argument drawing evidences from the literary texts to establish that, Culture of a society substantially contributes to constitute patriarchal mindset among the people of the society which results in treating women as so called ‘Second sex'.
 
 

Representation of Dalit life in Imaiyam's Koveru Kazhuthaigal

Indian society and its collective consciousness are polluted with casteism. After thousands of years of suppression and exploitation, the margin came to the centre and the other side of the history was revealed. Dalit literature gave insights about the dalit life which otherwise is never written in a dalit’s view. “Writing about Dalits by Dalit writers with a Dalit Consciousness” says Sharan Kumar Limbale about Dalit literature in his book Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature. Having this as base, this paper proposes to study Imaiyam's Koveru Kazhuthaigal from dalit literary perspective and appreciate the life represented in it. The novel is set in an Indian village and the protagonists belong to the washerman community which is considered as the lowest of the lower in caste hierarchy practiced in Tamilnadu. The hypothesis is to question the collective consciousness regarding the inhuman casteist practices and demand change in the life of the oppressed and in the conscience of the oppressor. Famous Tamil Dalit writer Bama proposes eduation as a solution for casteism in her semi autobiographial text Karukku; Imaiyam shows change of place from rural to urban setup as a solution for better treatment. The real solution demands change from the oppressor too. Limitations of this research is the huge volume of the possible solution to the problem represented and the concrete presence of casteism in Indian psyche.

Aesthetics of Protest in Black American Literature: A Study of June Jordan’s Directed by Desires and Richard Wright's Native Son

The introduction of jazz and blues in the United States of America influenced the works of Afro American writers both in content and form. These jazz and blues musical songs were used as mediums to protest against racism, class, gender and other inhuman practices meted on the blacks in the United States. Although these songs were not formally written, they became a source of inspiration for writers afterwards in terms of themes and style. The later writers who changed to formal literature borrowed from the themes and styles of these jazz and blues musicians. This paper is signicant because it has examined the thematic preoccupation of June Jordan’ Directed by Desires and Richard Wright's novel, Native Son. Findings show that both writers were thematically and stylistically influenced by the jazz and blues era of art in Af ro American Literature. Data for this essay was collected via qualitative research methodology, while the postcolonial theory was adopted for analysis. The paper submits that themes of racism, class, gender and protest were features of the jazz and blues era which later writers modelled their works after.

Tagore's Gora: A Reformist's Protest Against Religious And Social Fundamentalism

In the 19th century, Bengal Hindu orthodoxy and fundamentalism were at their height as seen in the strict observances of the caste distinctions. Women were subjected to inhuman practices like Sati, Purdah, Child marriage, etc. A reform movement was initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy through his institution of BrahmoSamaj. Rabindranath Tagore along with his father and grandfather was also an adherent of BrahmoSamaj. His keen desire for an end to bigotry and awakening of reason finds expression in his novel Gora. In fact, Tagore seems to be using the novel to make a fervent appeal against discrimination, orthodoxy and intolerance. He wishes for a country which would be free from injustice and cruelty towards the poor and weak.

Avoiding 'selection'?-References to history in current German policy debates about non-invasive prenatal testing.

This article investigates the role of historical references and arguments in the current policy debate on non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in Germany. It analyses major documents and opinion statements, including the recent parliamentary debate (2019). The implementation of NIPT is accompanied by concerns and strong criticism, particularly in Germany. Many perceive the new test to be a problematic step that facilitates selective practices and is reminiscent of eugenics. Analysis of the German policy discourse shows that 'eugenics', and even more strongly, 'selection', are pivotal terms for rejecting NIPT and its coverage by public health insurance. They touch on a historical dimension in public deliberation, namely the fundamental distancing from the inhuman practices of the National Socialist period and anything that resembles them. However, using these terms to criticize prenatal genetic testing is controversial, and recent discourse demonstrates their avoidance as well, with many supporters of a limited coverage by public health insurance contrasting their approach with more widespread screening. Here, 'screening' has a negative connotation, and functions to demarcate the debate in a way that may reflect distance from certain modes of historical reasoning, but still expresses a special need to reconcile prenatal testing with the principles of dignity, inclusion and diversity. This article aims to elucidate the concerns involved in the national debates on prenatal testing and to increase awareness of the historical dimensions of the language and reasoning with which such methods are negotiated today and in future.

SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN CALABAR

This paper on Socio-Cultural Values and Children’s Rights in Calabar analyses the history and value system associated with child upbringing in the city of Calabar. Communalism, which ensured child socialisation from birth, was a common practice in Calabar like in other areas of Africa and Nigeria until European incursion and eventual introduction of capitalism during colonial times. This change resulted in the diminishing of communal lifestyle and reduction of family sizes to nuclear forms. It also necessitated the population increase and related social problems. Although historical in content and analysis, the paper adopted the multidisciplinary approach of reconstruction with data gleaned from primary and secondary sources. Findings showed that right from pre-colonial times, inhuman practices that abused children’s rights like child pawning and killing of twins characterised this study area. Population increase and the rise of urban poor and slums resulted in the breeding of abused children, with most homeless on the streets of Calabar. Witchcraft labelling and child trafficking were also highlighted as other significant and recurring causes of child abuse in Calabar. This paper concluded by reiterating that as Calabar flouts its status as a ‘restful city’, children must not be denied of this ‘restful’ lifestyle. Child rights must be implementable and child right violators prosecuted.

Mental illness in some Sub Saharan African communities: the perspective of Bioethics and transcultural nursing

In this paper, transcultural nursing is reviewed in light of bioethical issues arising from the interpretation of mental illness in some Western Sub-Saharan African communities. Four field studies were carried out by the authors of this paper in Sub-Saharan Africa (from 2016 to 2019), during which the traditional “treatment” of enchaining people considered “crazy” by local cultures was explored. These inhuman practices raise the attention of bioethics, which investigate ways to overcome this traditional practice not violating the cultural identity of the peoples who practice it. The model of Gregoire Ahongbonon and of his Association, “Saint Camille de Lellis”, is reported as an example of negotiation between the respect for traditions and the guarantee of human rights. The care practice in force in the Saint Camille is related to transcultural nursing as an adequate form of treatment and strategy for restoring patients’ dignity and rights.

Testing the effect of historical representations on collective identity and action.

Historical representation of collective identity offer means of influencing the extent to which group members engage in activities in line with the collective interests of their group vs. their own individual interests. This research tested the effect of different historical representations of the African people on Africans' perceptions of African social identity and engagement in identity management strategies across two studies. In Study 1 (N = 162), we tested the effect of two historical representations: positive (prestigious precolonial African history and resistance to the colonial power) and negative (inhumane practices of precolonial Africans). In Study 2 (N = 431), we tested the effect of two historical representations: positive (prestigious precolonial African history) and negative factual (inhuman practices of precolonial Africans) while also making salient the ubiquitous historical representation of the African people (negative colonial-perspective) across all history conditions. We predicted that positive (vs. negative) historical representation would lead to more positive perceptions of African identity, which in turn would predict more collectively-oriented identity management strategies. Altogether, results provided no support for these predictions. We highlight methodological (and by extension theoretical) features-such as, psychological reactance and outgroup audience effect-which may have limited the effect of the manipulations to help inform the interpretation of the null findings obtained. We conclude by discussing other limitations and the theoretical implications of our work, before pointing out various avenues for future research to help us better test, and understand, the role of historical representation in the African context.

The Traumatized as Traumatizer in Yussef El Guindi's Back of the Throat

Abstract Drawing on a psychoanalytic approach, the present paper tackles Yussef El Guindi’s Back of the Throat (2006) as a study of the American attitude towards Arab/Muslim Americans after the 9/11 attacks, with a special focus on the traumatic effects arising from police interrogations throughout the play. This will be done by employing such features as fear, verbal and physical attacks, inhuman practices, cynicism, scapegoating, etc. as negotiated by psychoanalysts like Allan Young, Philip Bonifacio, Marna Young and others. In a seven-character full-length one-act piece, El Guindi illustrates how the police officers, traumatized by the acute 9/11 attacks, pass on their own trauma to innocent people on fabricated evidence that they may appear as more sinned against than sinning. The paper has reached three findings. (1) The playwright fulfilled his target of showing the American traumatization of Arab/Muslim Americans as due to the West’s old view of the latter as inferior and uncivilized. (2) Trauma survivors (the police officers) usually have to pass their trauma on to their victims (by means of cynical inhuman practices). (3) The acute trauma changes into a chronic one due to passing it on to others. Keywords: 9/11 attacks, Arab/Muslim American, cynicism, fear, physical/verbal attack, scapegoating, psychological trauma, trauma survivors, violation

‘Gott mit uns’: Reflections on some partisan theologies

The idea that God sides with particular groups as they try to achieve their political goals by way of violence has emerged and re-emerged throughout the history of the Christian Church. This article examines some of these occasions where partisan theologies led to inhuman actions justified by a self-identified divine cause. The purpose is to explain how the motto, ‘God with us’ ( Gott mit uns ), was used to justify inhuman actions and selfish goals and that Christians should be hesitant to design a theology on the foundation of this idea and to further a certain political cause with a divine purpose. The central theoretical argument of this investigation is that the dictate Gott mit uns leads to partisan theologies that can be misused to justify inhuman policies and practices. Four theologies are selected as examples: the Puritan theology in the colonial America of the 17th century, Reformed theology in the Dutch colonisation of the South Africa and the formation of apartheid, the theology in the Reichskirche in Germany in the 20th century and liberation theology in the developing world in the 20th century.

Legalised non-consensual sterilisation – eugenics put into practice before 1945, and the aftermath. Part 2: Europe

This article deals with the nine European nations which legalised non-consensual sterilisation during the interwar years, thus completing the review, the first part of which was published in an earlier issue of this Journal. Like we did for North America, Japan and Mexico, countries concerned are addressed in chronological order, as practices in one of these influenced policies in others, involved later. For each, we assess the continuum of events up to the present time. The Swiss canton of Vaud was the first political entity in Europe to introduce a law on compulsory sterilisation of people with intellectual disability, in 1928. Vaud’s sterilisation Act aimed at safeguarding against the abusive performance of these procedures. The purpose of the laws enforced later in eight other European countries (all five Nordic countries; Germany and, after its annexation by the latter, Austria; Estonia) was, on the contrary, to effect the sterilisation of large numbers of people considered a burden to society. Between 1933 and 1939, from 36,000 to 400,000 residents (two-thirds of whom were women) were compulsorily sterilised in Nazi Germany. In Sweden, some 32,000 sterilisations carried out between 1935 and 1975 were involuntary. It might have been expected that after the Second World War ended and Nazi legislation was suspended in Germany and Austria, including that regulating coerced sterilisation, these inhuman practices would have been discontinued in all nations concerned; but this happened only decades later. More time still went by before the authorities in certain countries officially acknowledged the human rights violations committed, issued apologies and developed reparation schemes for the victims’ benefit.

Legalised non-consensual sterilisation – eugenics put into practice before 1945, and the aftermath. Part 1: USA, Japan, Canada and Mexico

In the late 19th century, eugenics, a pseudo-scientific doctrine based on an erroneous interpretation of the laws of heredity, swept across the industrialised world. Academics and other influential figures who promoted it convinced political stakeholders to enact laws authorising the sterilisation of people seen as ‘social misfits’. The earliest sterilisation Act was enforced in Indiana, in 1907; most states in the USA followed suit and so did several countries, with dissimilar political regimes. The end of the Second World War saw the suspension of Nazi legislation in Germany, including that regulating coerced sterilisation. The year 1945 should have been the endpoint of these inhuman practices but, in the early post-war period, the existing sterilisation Acts were suspended solely in Germany and Austria. Only much later did certain countries concerned – not Japan so far – officially acknowledge the human rights violations committed, issue apologies and develop reparation schemes for the victims’ benefit.

CHINA AND AFRICA: HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE

At the turn of the 21st century, China emerged as a major player in Africa’s international relations. This emergence has attracted a lot of attention in literature on what it portends for Africa. Many of the past studies have maintained that China undermines human rights in its engagements with Africa. Of important note was China’s support for the Sudanese government even in the face of human rights abuses; its unconditional aid to Angola, that have helped the government to shun accountability and transparency; its support for inhuman practices meted to the citizens of Zimbabwe by the government, among others. Against this background, this paper examined China-Africa contemporary relations from the human rights perspective. It explored, among others, China’s stance on human rights issues and the rights that China undermines in Africa. The paper argued China’s stance on human rights in Africa, and possibly internationally has a link with its domestic human rights situation. Being that human rights in China are abysmal, ordinarily China would not promote human rights in Africa more than what it does at home. The author concludes that although China may not be labelled a ‘saint’ in human rights abuses in Africa, it still cannot be labelled a ‘sinner’ in many human rights abuses by African governments.

Natural goodness and the political form of human life

Ethical Naturalism attempts to explain the objective normativity effective in human practices by reference to the relation between a living individual and the life-form it exhibits. This explanation falls short in the case of human beings (1) - not merely because of their essential rationality, but because the idea of normativity implicit in practice is dependent on the form of normativity?s being made explicit (2). I argue that this explicit form of normativity?s force and claim - the law in general - implies a tension between an explicit norm?s claim to absoluteness and the particularity of the situational case it is applied to. This tension may seem to produce an inherent violence corrupting the very idea of objective normativity inherent in the human form of life (3); in fact, it shows that the human form of life is essentially political. That the human form of life is essentially political does not contradict the idea of objective normativity - provided that this objectivity is not derived from a conception of ?natural goodness?, but rather from the actuality of human practice and its principle, justice (4).

‘Absolute Prohibition of Torture’: A Myth or Reality?

Torture has regained currency and been subject of scholarly debates after the terrorist attacks in New York. ‘Absolute prohibition of torture’ is recognised in International Law but yet it is being practised in a significant number of societies. This dissertation is an attempt to explore whether this status is being respected in reality. The starting point would be tracing brief history of torture practices (Chapter 1), most accepted definition of torture would be analysed with its definitional shortcomings (Chapter 2) and then would be highlighted the development of the consensus among the states on ‘absolute prohibition of torture’ (Chapter 3). Different justifications brought forward by different states, on one pretext or the other such as national security and in the larger public interest, for their acts of derogation from the principled stand of ‘absolute prohibition of torture’ would be viewed (Chapters 4 and 5). Social impacts of torture and inhuman practices would also be analysed to see the advantages and disadvantages gained out of these practices. Civil libertarians and human rights activists arguments in support of absolute prohibition of torture - a deontological commitment and approach - would be analysed in the light of some real life scenarios - a teleological concern (Chapter 6). Before concluding this dissertation it would be assessed that whether ‘absolute prohibition of torture’ is a myth or reality (Chapter 7). Finally, the conclusion will bring forward few suggestions to assert that ‘absolute prohibition of torture’ approach must be followed in letter and spirit.

The Procrustes' Bed and Standardization in Education

Procrustes' Bed A book of Greek mythology was one of the readings I greatly enjoyed during my college years. I was fascinated by the various legends and stories of gods, heroes, and monsters featured in the book. Now almost twenty years have passed since I read the book. Many details of the stories have slipped away from my memory, and some stories are gone altogether leaving no trace. Yet, there is one story that left an everlasting impression on my mind--the story of Procrustes. Procrustes was a crook from Attica, who took the lives of many innocent people passing by his fortress gate. Most of his victims were travelers who were new to the area and unfamiliar with him. With disguised hospitality, Procrustes approached travelers passing by his residence and made a generous offer of a free night's stay. Tired from their long walk, travelers usually accepted the offer with gratitude. Unfortunately, none of those who stayed at Procrustes's house left the place alive. The shadow of death fell on each guest as the night fell. As soon as they were in bed and asleep, Procrustes would tie them tight and measure their height. The unit of the measure Procrustes used was the length of his bed. If the guest was taller than the length of the bed, Procrustes cut off the parts of his limbs that reached over the length of the bed. If the guest was shorter than the bed, he was stretched out until he fit the full length of the bed. This barbarous practice of torturing and murdering people by Procrustes continued until he was slain by Theseus, a legendary king of Athens. Procrutes' killing spree was mindboggling and the bloody images of the murderous story were quite gruesome. What was especially striking about the story, for me, was the insanity of Procrustes deforming human bodies to make them fit the length of his bed. The horrors of Procustes' bed seem synonymous with people trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Sadly, I find the phenomenon of standardization and testing in current national school policies to be strikingly similar to the inhuman practices of Procrustes, in terms of hobbling our students learning in a misguided push for uniformity and standardization. Standardization: The Procrustean Bed of Education Standardization is a unifying education process, providing the same curriculum and expecting the same learning outcomes for all students. This uniform practice of education has been a dominant phenomenon of schooling in the United States over the last two decades. The central philosophy driving standardization in public schools is standards-based accountability, using students' scores on standardized tests as an index of educational progress. These scores are used by policymakers to impose, potentially severe, consequences on school communities showing less progress or failure. Standards-based accountability, a cardinal principle of the government's efforts in education reform today, began to draw enormous public support when an educational report, A Nation at Risk, was published in 1983. Creating unparalleled repercussions within the political and media arenas, the report posited that the curriculum content offered at public schools was scant and far from substantial, that the quality of education in America was deplorable, that students in the United States were out-performed by their counterparts in other competing industrialized nations, that public education in America was in total disarray, and that public education in the United States would risk the nation being left behind and losing their long-enjoyed leadership in the global economy. The report continued to claim that in order to fix the problem of school ineffectiveness and to overcome the risk the nation faced, an extensive reform in education was needed and that standards-based learning should be the future direction. Just as the report, A Nation at Risk (1983), was sensational when it was released, the standards-based reform, offered as a panacea for the failures of performance in school education quickly attracted much attention and support. …

An Efficiency of Scarcity: Using Food to Increase the Productivity of Soviet Prisoners of War in the Mines of the Third Reich

During World War II, Heinrich Kraut, of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Labor Physiology, studied the effect of diet on work productivity in Soviet prisoners of war under heavy forced labor in the coalmines of the Ruhr. Kraut’s work illustrates an efficiency of scarcity, in which the elements of control and intervention often associated with efficiency efforts were not available. His efforts to improve productivity left unaddressed the violence and squalor amid which the prisoners lived and worked, despite his recognition that such conditions negatively affected work performance; his studies thus illustrate the primacy of National Socialist racial ideology even in labor practices crucial to war production. Kraut used technical and specialized knowledge to accommodate the brutal and inhuman labor practices of the Third Reich.

Frauenheilkunde im Dienst der Eugenik - Ärztliche Karrieren an der Universitätsfrauenklinik Heidelberg im Nationalsozialismus

Fragestellung: Zur politischen und medizinischen Charakterisierung der Ärzte, die im Nationalsozialismus an einer Frauenklinik arbeiteten, wurden die ärztlichen Mitarbeiter der Universitätsfrauenklinik in Heidelberg nach folgenden Kriterien untersucht: Karriere, Mitgliedschaft in NS-Organisationen, politische Einstellungen und Aktivitäten, Forschungsprofil und Beteiligung an inhumanen Praktiken.