The States of the Earth: An Ecological and Racial History of Secularization w/ Mohamed Amer Meziane
Sep 29, 2024
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In this discussion, Mohamed Amer Meziane, an expert in ecological and racial history, dives deep into the connections between secularization and colonialism. He explores how secularization often serves colonial interests instead of being a separate phenomenon. The conversation highlights the historical intertwining of religious authority and imperial power. Meziane also examines the implications of racial purity and identity within colonial contexts, linking past events to modern political theology, and critiques the capitalist frameworks that drive environmental degradation today.
Secularization, as discussed by Mohamed Amer Meziane, historically facilitated European imperial ambitions while masking their ties to Christianity and religion.
Meziane's concept of 'imperiality' illustrates the complex relationship between capitalist sovereignty and religious ideologies within modern European expansion.
The podcast underlines how capitalism's exploitative practices are rooted in historical secularization processes, contributing to contemporary environmental crises.
Deep dives
Introduction to Asephelous Tarot
Asephelous is an erotic tarot deck inspired by the work of George Bataille and represents a culmination of years of research and discussions surrounding his themes of eroticism, death, and liberation. The project is a collaboration between Asset Horizon and Noah Trappolino, a prominent figure in erotic art. This unique tarot deck will be coupled with a companion book of essays and artwork, aiming to explore Bataille's influential ideas more thoroughly. It is worth noting that this publication will be a one-time print run, making it a unique addition to the field of erotic art and theory.
The Concept of Secularocene
The podcast features a discussion with Mohammed Amer Mezian about his book, which delves into the concept of secularization as a significant historical process affecting political change in Europe from the 1500s to present. Mezian introduces the term 'secularocene' to highlight how European states historically divorced themselves from religion in order to expand their colonial empires. This secularization process facilitated imperial ambitions, allowing states to exert worldly power while disguising their ties to Christian doctrines. Thus, the book emphasizes that the colonial project was not separate from Christianity but rather intertwined with it, using secularization as a means to justify imperial expansion.
Understanding Imperiality
Mezian articulates the need for a nuanced understanding of 'imperiality,' distinguishing it from terms like empire and colonialism. He argues that modern European imperiality should be recognized as an expansion of authority that simultaneously draws from secular and religious ideologies. This reflects a transition away from a singular Christian authority towards a capitalist-based sovereignty that still draws upon spiritual and theological legitimization. These historical dynamics illustrate how the quest for absolute power by European states led to the reconfiguration of religious narratives that facilitated colonial pursuits.
Napoleon and the Inversion of Religious Politics
The narrative takes an interesting turn as it investigates the Napoleonic Empire's engagement with Muslim lands in North Africa. Notably, Napoleon's proclamation during the French invasion of Egypt that French forces were 'true Muslims' serves as a pivotal moment of political and religious inversion. This declaration showcases how secularizing forces within colonial powers were co-opted to shape a new narrative where imperialism was framed in opposition to Christian authority. By analyzing this scenario, it becomes clear that the secularization process alters existing religious frameworks, allowing for a reimagining of imperial relationships and identities.
The Relationship Between Secularization and Fossil Capitalism
The podcast also explores the connections between secularization and the emergence of fossil capitalism, posing that secularization allowed capitalist powers to exploit both land and labor without the constraints of religious taboos. The critique highlights how transformation in the understanding of the state facilitated resource extraction, aligning with the capitalist model's requirements for expansion. This intersection of imperiality and fossil fuel dependency suggests that modern environmental crises are rooted in historical processes of secularization linked to colonial and capitalist dynamics. As a result, secularization is not only a discourse of detaching religion from state power but also a reflection of the underlying tensions between capitalism, imperialism, and environmental degradation.
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Get the 'States of the Earth': https://www.versobooks.com/products/3050-the-states-of-the-earth?srsltid=AfmBOooYB-aoAogSb-5uavV0CbUJ0_u9m4b1eA-IB8lU2TW6uITY7XX3
HOW THE DISENCHANTMENT OF EMPIRE LED TO CLIMATE CHANGE
While industrial states competed to colonize Asia and Africa in the nineteenth century, conversion to Christianity was replaced by a civilizing mission. This new secular impetus strode hand in hand with racial capitalism in the age of empires: a terrestrial paradise was to be achieved through accumulation and the ravaging of nature.
Far from a defence of religion, The States of the Earth argues that phenomena such as evangelism and political Islam are best understood as products of empire and secularization. In a world where material technology was considered divine, religious and secular forces both tried to achieve Heaven on Earth by destroying Earth itself.
