Nina Hall Interview
- Here's a breakdown of the advice offered, and a response to the question about the reshaping of International Relations (IR), based on the provided text:
- The core advice centers around genuine partnership with Māori grounded in honoring the Treaty of Waitangi.
- * Acknowledge Māori sovereignty (Tino Rangatiratanga): Recognize legitimate Māori claims to sovereignty, not just within New Zealand, but as it impacts foreign policy.
Advice to the New Zealand government on Indigenous Portrayal in Foreign Policy & the Reshaping of IR
Here’s a breakdown of the advice offered, and a response to the question about the reshaping of International Relations (IR), based on the provided text:
Advice to the New zealand Government:
The core advice centers around genuine partnership with Māori grounded in honoring the Treaty of Waitangi. Specifically, the government should:
* Acknowledge Māori sovereignty (Tino Rangatiratanga): Recognize legitimate Māori claims to sovereignty, not just within New Zealand, but as it impacts foreign policy.
* Equal Partnership, Not Stakeholder Consultation: Move beyond simply consulting Māori as one group among many. Engage with Māori as equal partners in foreign policy decision-making. This acknowledges their inherent right to self-determination and a distinct perspective.
* Respect Divergent Interests: Accept that Māori iwi may advocate for foreign policy positions that differ from the state’s. This is a natural outcome of recognizing their sovereignty and distinct worldview.
* Co-Develop Governance Arrangements: The how of this partnership – the specific governance structures – should be determined through direct conversation between Māori leaders and the government, not imposed unilaterally.
* Reject Referendums: Avoid decisions about Māori rights and sovereignty being subjected to public referendum, as this undermines the Treaty relationship and Māori self-determination.
* Further Research: The author recommends the work of Maria Bargh (“Indigenous Peoples and Foreign Policy: the Case of New Zealand”) as a valuable resource.
To what extent will non-Western perspectives reshape the field of IR?
The author believes non-Western perspectives are already reshaping the field of International Relations, and this trend will continue. Key points:
* Student Demand: There’s a clear and growing appetite among students for a broader range of perspectives beyond the customary Western canon.
* Rich Scholarship: A “rich and vibrant range of scholarship” exists to support this shift, providing ample material for a more inclusive IR curriculum and research agenda. (The author notes they will provide examples in a subsequent section, though they are not included in this excerpt).
* Acknowledged Hunger for Diverse Perspectives: The author’s experience teaching IR for over eight years demonstrates a clear demand for a wider range of perspectives.
In essence, the text suggests that the field of IR is becoming more receptive to, and actively incorporating, non-Western thought, driven by both academic scholarship and the demands of a new generation of students.