In this section we will discuss whether white westerners have used the idea that they are racially superior to gain political power or not.
We will mainly approach from two directions therefore. One is that white westerners used the idea of their superiority to justify the exploitation of labour force and resources. The other is that they used the idea to achieve political power.
We must first define the main terms of this essay, which are `race′, `racial superiority′ and later on `political power′. We go on by taking a brief look at colonialism and how the ideas about race and racial superiority were practised. We then try to link these outcomes to recent history (Germany′s 1930s, USA′s 1970s, France′s 1980s), economics (neo-colonialism) and finally end by regarding the theories (authoritarian personality theory, conflict theory of prejudice, scapegoat theory and cultural theory of prejudice) that explain some of the racial and ethnical prejudices.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. ... to exploit labour force and resources
3. ...to gain political power
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores whether white westerners have historically employed the ideology of racial superiority as a strategic tool to secure and maintain political power. It examines how racial narratives were constructed to justify colonial exploitation, institutional discrimination, and state-sanctioned hegemony across different historical and contemporary contexts.
- The conceptualization of race, ethnicity, and racial superiority in sociological discourse.
- The historical nexus between colonial expansion, the exploitation of labour, and racial ideologies.
- The manifestation of institutional prejudice and racial discrimination in modern western political structures.
- Sociological theories regarding the origins of prejudice, including authoritarian personality, scapegoat theory, and conflict theory.
- The evolution of racial ideologies from explicit colonial rule to contemporary neo-colonialism and indirect racism.
Excerpt from the Book
...to gain political power
Nowadays prejudices and discrimination towards minorities in the western societies are not vanished. Before coming up with the present situation of racism, I will give M & P’s (1998: 334) definition of institutional prejudice and discrimination. “Institutional prejudice or discrimination […] refers to bias in attitudes or action inherent in the operation of society’s institutions, including schools, hospitals, the police ant the workplace.” A good example for this is the case of Rodney King.
Rodney King, an African American, who was brutally killed on 3 March, 1991 in Los Angeles, California by the police. This action was initiated just for not stopping the car when he was signalled to do so by the police. Unfortunately the responsible police officers got away with a mild penalty imposed on them (Lepore 2001).
If we define political power as “a relationship between two individuals, groups, or states in which one party has the ability to both influence the other and to actually force outcomes that the other party may not want” (Mingst: 271) we can affirm the question, whether white westerners have used the idea that they are racially superior to gain political power, because through a nation’s ability to rule over another state - i.e. its territory and its people - it gains influence.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central research question regarding the link between white racial superiority and political power, defining key terms and presenting the structural approach of the essay.
2. ... to exploit labour force and resources: This section details how racial hierarchy was historically constructed to legitimize colonial exploitation, the slave trade, and the extraction of resources from indigenous populations.
3. ...to gain political power: This chapter analyzes how institutional prejudice and state-level policies, such as apartheid and segregation, have been utilized by ruling powers to maintain domination over marginalized groups.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, affirming the connection between racial ideology and political influence, while reflecting on the persistent nature of racism.
Keywords
Race, Racial Superiority, Political Power, Colonialism, Neo-colonialism, Institutional Prejudice, Discrimination, Authoritarian Personality Theory, Scapegoat Theory, Conflict Theory, Cultural Theory of Prejudice, Social Stratification, Ideology, Labour Exploitation, Ethnicity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the historical and contemporary relationship between the ideology of white racial superiority and the acquisition or maintenance of political power by western societies.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The study centers on the link between racial prejudices and systemic exploitation, covering colonialism, neo-colonialism, institutional discrimination, and various sociological theories on prejudice.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The goal is to determine if and how the belief in racial superiority has served as a deliberate or functional tool for white westerners to gain and exercise political control over other groups.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a qualitative sociological analysis, integrating historical evidence, definitions from sociological literature, and an evaluation of established theories on prejudice and power dynamics.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body text covers definitions of race and colonialism, the history of plantation labor, case studies on institutional racism (such as the Rodney King incident), and an analysis of authoritarian, conflict, and scapegoat theories of prejudice.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include racial superiority, political power, colonialism, neo-colonialism, institutional discrimination, and various sociological theories explaining prejudice.
How does the author define the link between colonialism and racism?
The author argues that racism provided the ideological justification for Europeans to exploit labor and resources in conquered territories, presenting indigenous people as inferior to validate colonial control.
How is neo-colonialism connected to the arguments in the essay?
Neo-colonialism is introduced as a modern power relationship where multinational corporations exercise economic exploitation in place of direct political rule, showing the evolution of older colonial power structures.
- Quote paper
- Robert Conrad (Author), 2001, Discussion about whether white westeners have used the idea that they are racially superior to gain political power or not., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/8225
