Discerning the Powers in Post-Colonial Africa and Asia: A Treatise on Christian Statecraft PDF
Preview Discerning the Powers in Post-Colonial Africa and Asia: A Treatise on Christian Statecraft
Pak Nung Wong Discerning the Powers in Post- Colonial Africa and Asia A Treatise on Christian Statecraft Discerning the Powers in Post-Colonial Africa and Asia Pak Nung Wong Discerning the Powers in Post-Colonial Africa and Asia A Treatise on Christian Statecraft Pak Nung Wong Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies University of Bath Bath , UK ISBN 978-981-287-510-5 ISBN 978-981-287-511-2 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-981-287-511-2 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015937613 © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016 T his work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. T he use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. T he publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by SpringerNature The registered company is Springer Science+Business Media Singapore Pte Ltd. To Tung Lai Leung for her love, good food and wisdoms To Hermann Nijhuis for his love, jokes and wisdoms About the Book Despite the Cold War that ended in the early 1990s, the debate between Christian realism and Christian pacifi sm in the US foreign policy and global Christian circles continues. Once publicly indicated his theological undertaking was with the forefa- ther of the Cold War Christian realism – Reinhold Niebuhr – President Barrack Obama’s signature ‘pivot to Asia’ policy since 2011 has also echoed such return of Christian realist spirituality. In light of the ongoing theological debate underpinning US Christian statecraft, this book will conduct a closer examination of it by fi rst dwelling into the Dutch theologian Hendrik Berkhof’s political theology of ‘the Powers’. Then, a closer look into the Anabaptist Christian pacifi sm will inform a nuanced political theol- ogy – a ‘sociology of the Powers’ – which qualifi es the post-Westphalian sovereign statehood as a fallen power and therefore is within the province of the devil Satan’s sovereignty. To substantiate this new political theology empirically, this book employs a Foucaultian analytical framework which elaborates ‘governmentality’ in terms of structure, technique and episteme where the powers work in and through the state as a pillaring captivity instrument of the devil Satan. Empirical case studies from post-colonial Africa and Asia show that the sovereign states may have indeed been haunted by the devil in the more operation-specifi c ways of neocolonialism, violent confl icts (e.g. war and genocide), corruption and the politics of censure, warlord politics, strongman politics and power/knowledge production. T he book gives considerable thoughts on those Christian servants who have already committed themselves to selfl ess post-colonial state-building whilst being caught up by the Powers. Two options of post-colonial Christian statecraft will therefore be offered: the practice of exiled statehood and de-colonial knowledge production. The gist of these options is that the devil has long been defeated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the sovereign of the ‘already but not yet’ Heavenly vii viii About the Book Kingdom where the source of hope is, God is also the supranational sovereign of human history and all individual/collective destinies. Christian strategists and statesmen as well as practitioners, though have a part in God’s grand strategy, instead of attempting or self-commissioning to uproot evilness by themselves, are in a better position to just participate in God’s larger plan of salvation. Whilst the weights and intended outcomes of their roles and participations may be illusory and transient, they are still under God’s abundant grace in the midst of the earthly yet temporal reigns of the fallen powers. Pref ace W ithout the fellowships, prayers and support of a number of individuals, I would not have decided to write on the relatively ‘supernatural’ subject of this book: King Chan, George Kieh Jr., Reverend Dr. Vincent C. P. Lau, Reverend Dr. David Lee, Tak-shing Lee, Archbishop Sergio Utleg and Reverend Yin-mei Wong as well as the ‘study group’ members. In my church – ELCHK Truth Lutheran Church – I am grateful to such pastors as Reverend Yin-mei Wong, Reverend Sai-ming Pau and Reverend Suet-fung Yip for their blessings and prayers. At the Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, I want to thank the fellowship and theological inputs of Professor Andre S. K. Tang and Dr. Freeman C. W. Huen. I am grateful to Dr. Chun Yang of the Hong Kong Baptist University for organizing a seminar for me to explore the theological under- pinnings of the current geopolitical shift. At Breakthrough, I am grateful for an internal seminar for me to share, clarify and consolidate thoughts. This book has also an epistemic anchorage. When I was an undergraduate student at the City University of Hong Kong, two Christian professors suggested two positions in regard to knowledge. The fi rst is by Dr. Tak-yan Lee. He suggested that ‘knowledge is power’ in the sense that knowledge is essential for self-develop- ment such as career advancement and that one should not cease learning. In other words, knowledge acquisition is the basis for the Christian witnesses to serve as salt and light in the world. The second is Dr. Ka-ho Mok. He suggested that ‘knowledge leads to pride’ in the sense that it could keep us away from God. Over the years, whilst I have been taking these two positions seriously, I have also observed that knowledge, as one of the Powers, has constituted the illusory self because of the embedded presence and workings of the state in modern knowledge production. In Chulalongkorn University, since 2009, I thank Arjahn Suchitra Chongstitvatana for introducing and enabling me to learn and experience Buddhism which I man- aged to recognize the impermanent and transient nature of knowledge production. Against such interfaith dialogue background, several members of my privy council have patiently and gently engaged me to encounter, name and disarm the inner ix
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