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As @ProfPaulPoast lays out well, the US discipline of IR emerged from racist worldviews that dominated thinking before+after World War I.
Of course, it would be difficult to expect anything else given the context of USFP up to that point. h/t @ThePickyEagle
[THREAD 1/9] https://twitter.com/ProfPaulPoast/status/1274678767978524672
Of course, it would be difficult to expect anything else given the context of USFP up to that point. h/t @ThePickyEagle
[THREAD 1/9] https://twitter.com/ProfPaulPoast/status/1274678767978524672
So what was going on in US foreign policy shortly before the birth of academic international relations?
Well, the US had recently declared war on Spain in 1898 and, as a result of that war, acquired a transoceanic empire.
[2/9]
![So what was going on in US foreign policy shortly before the birth of academic international relations?Well, the US had recently declared war on Spain in 1898 and, as a result of that war, acquired a transoceanic empire.[2/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDn3QqWkAAy-FY.jpg "So what was going on in US foreign policy shortly before the birth of academic international relations?Well, the US had recently declared war on Spain in 1898 and, as a result of that war, acquired a transoceanic empire.[2/9]")
Well, the US had recently declared war on Spain in 1898 and, as a result of that war, acquired a transoceanic empire.
[2/9]
US leaders didn't intend to gain territory heading into the war, which began as a relatively straightforward humanitarian intervention to stop a Spanish genocide in Cuba.
On the contrary, Congress explicitly rejected any potential annexation of Cuba.
Why?
Racism.
[3/9]
![US leaders didn't intend to gain territory heading into the war, which began as a relatively straightforward humanitarian intervention to stop a Spanish genocide in Cuba.On the contrary, Congress explicitly rejected any potential annexation of Cuba.Why?Racism. [3/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDojoQXsAAKqEf.png "US leaders didn't intend to gain territory heading into the war, which began as a relatively straightforward humanitarian intervention to stop a Spanish genocide in Cuba.On the contrary, Congress explicitly rejected any potential annexation of Cuba.Why?Racism. [3/9]")
On the contrary, Congress explicitly rejected any potential annexation of Cuba.
Why?
Racism.
[3/9]
During the war, the US did annex Hawaii after a long debate that focused on the character of its (relatively few) inhabitants. In the end, a Congressional majority was satisfied that the islands were sufficiently controlled by white men
[4/9]
![During the war, the US did annex Hawaii after a long debate that focused on the character of its (relatively few) inhabitants. In the end, a Congressional majority was satisfied that the islands were sufficiently controlled by white men [4/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDpc3EWAAI4h_u.png "During the war, the US did annex Hawaii after a long debate that focused on the character of its (relatively few) inhabitants. In the end, a Congressional majority was satisfied that the islands were sufficiently controlled by white men [4/9]")
[4/9]
But the majority of Hawaii's inhabitants in 1898 were actually Chinese or Japanese migrants.
Never fear, Congressional advocates reassured! All of them would of course be expelled once the US applied racial exclusion laws like those already in place on the mainland.
[5/9]
![But the majority of Hawaii's inhabitants in 1898 were actually Chinese or Japanese migrants.Never fear, Congressional advocates reassured! All of them would of course be expelled once the US applied racial exclusion laws like those already in place on the mainland. [5/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDqOb4X0AElMyl.png "But the majority of Hawaii's inhabitants in 1898 were actually Chinese or Japanese migrants.Never fear, Congressional advocates reassured! All of them would of course be expelled once the US applied racial exclusion laws like those already in place on the mainland. [5/9]")
Never fear, Congressional advocates reassured! All of them would of course be expelled once the US applied racial exclusion laws like those already in place on the mainland.
[5/9]
The big dilemma came with the Philippines, which the US assumed imperial control of after the war but which its leaders refused to consider for annexation and eventual statehood.
Why?
You guessed it: racism.
[6/9]
![The big dilemma came with the Philippines, which the US assumed imperial control of after the war but which its leaders refused to consider for annexation and eventual statehood.Why?You guessed it: racism. [6/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDq8xnXYAgZIXF.png "The big dilemma came with the Philippines, which the US assumed imperial control of after the war but which its leaders refused to consider for annexation and eventual statehood.Why?You guessed it: racism. [6/9]")
Why?
You guessed it: racism.
[6/9]
US leaders felt they had to hold the Philippines, but all previous territorial acquisitions had been put on a path to statehood. How to do one without the other?
They realized the path to statehood was a norm (not written in the Constitution), so they broke that norm.
[7/9]
![US leaders felt they had to hold the Philippines, but all previous territorial acquisitions had been put on a path to statehood. How to do one without the other?They realized the path to statehood was a norm (not written in the Constitution), so they broke that norm. [7/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDrq2FXsAEtfqH.png "US leaders felt they had to hold the Philippines, but all previous territorial acquisitions had been put on a path to statehood. How to do one without the other?They realized the path to statehood was a norm (not written in the Constitution), so they broke that norm. [7/9]")
They realized the path to statehood was a norm (not written in the Constitution), so they broke that norm.
[7/9]
They created a new category of "unincorporated territories" to apply to the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam... a category that still exists TODAY and continues to shape US policy.
So the next time you wonder why PR isn't a state: yes, the answer is racism.
[8/9]
![They created a new category of "unincorporated territories" to apply to the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam... a category that still exists TODAY and continues to shape US policy. So the next time you wonder why PR isn't a state: yes, the answer is racism.[8/9]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbDsWFTXsAA3sY_.png "They created a new category of \"unincorporated territories\" to apply to the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam... a category that still exists TODAY and continues to shape US policy. So the next time you wonder why PR isn't a state: yes, the answer is racism.[8/9]")
So the next time you wonder why PR isn't a state: yes, the answer is racism.
[8/9]
In historical context, of course racism shaped WWI-era US views of IR.
When Wilson helped create the League, the US was 20 years into imperialism in the Philippines, enforced by the US military in a 3-year war that killed 100,000s of civilians.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War
When Wilson helped create the League, the US was 20 years into imperialism in the Philippines, enforced by the US military in a 3-year war that killed 100,000s of civilians.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War
Not only did race shape the origins of academic IR, it has profoundly shaped US foreign policy and indeed what/who the US is today.
(All excerpts above taken from @ThePickyEagle, which provides 100+ years of additional context across 23 case studies.)
[8.5/9]
(All excerpts above taken from @ThePickyEagle, which provides 100+ years of additional context across 23 case studies.)
[8.5/9]
So in conclusion, one more call for everyone to read @kelly_zvobgo + @meredithloken's piece, and to consider how race may be overtly or covertly affecting USFP + IR in your own areas of specialty.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/19/why-race-matters-international-relations-ir/
[9/9]
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/19/why-race-matters-international-relations-ir/
[9/9]
If this thread piqued your interest in how racism has affected US foreign policy, you can pick up @ThePickyEagle for just $12.34 (normally $39.95) using promo code 091234 TODAY ONLY!
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https://twitter.com/CornellPress/status/1275032119568478215?s=19
