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A new stage in the revolt
Scott Burchill
In a series of lectures at the University of Waterloo in 1983, the eminent Australian international theorist Hedley Bull said the revolt against the West is the struggle of those peoples who were subject to European and North American dominance of the international system late in the last century and early in this century, to bring this domination to an end. The people of Europe and North America, or at least the positions of privilege that they have inherited, are the targets against which the revolt has been directed.
According to Bull, the revolt against the West had already passed through two phases. The first was the campaign by non-Western states for recognition of their equal rights as independent sovereign states. This period effectively concluded with the withdrawal of the British from the Persian Gulf in 1971. The second was the anti-colonial revolution based on the right to self-determination, which intensified after the Second World War and culminated with the collapse of the Portuguese empire in 1975. Despite lingering anomalies such as the Falklands/Malvinas, French Polynesia and Palestine, we now live in a post-colonial world.
Bull identified three additional components to the revolt against the West. The racial revolt, including the abolition of slavery and an end to all forms of white supremacism and state sanctioned racial discrimination, was a pre-requisite for the freedom and dignity of people in all states. The right to economic justice and the struggle against inequality and exploitation which was a consequence of Western global commerce and finance, was the fourth aspect of the revolt. Finally, a revolt against Western values and cultural imperialism centred on a rejection of the view that the rest of the world should live by Western standards such as liberal conceptions of political freedom.
The remainder of this 7-page article includes the following subheading:
The meaning of Bali
Stacey Lee, aged 30 years was killed in the Bali bombings on 12 October 2002, together with her husband Justin Lee and Justin's brother Aaron Lee. Stacey was employed at Deakin University from 1988. Her most recent position was Executive Officer for the Division of Student Life. In this role she managed the administration and welfare support staff and systems in Student Life.
Stacey is greatly missed by staff, students and graduates across the university.This article is dedicated to her.
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