E. San Juan’s “The Ordeal of Ethnic Studies in the Age of Globalization” criticizes ethnic and racial conflict in the United States in ethnic studies, globalization, and other topics under the guise of liberal multiculturalism. Rather than arguing for the outright abolition of the department, Juan wants ethnic studies to act as a social agent for change inside and outside the university (Juan 285). The administration holds almost all the power and say of what goes. However, how in tune is the administration with the students’ demands and needs? If you think about it, how often does the administration interact and see students on a daily basis? Not often, I would contend. Professors and TAs see more of students than Gary May, but we all know who holds all of the power to control what knowledge we are allowed to consume.
In ASA 04, Professor Min taught us about the branching relationship of power. After reading Micheal Foucault’s Panopticon, we discovered that knowledge is power and power is knowledge. Power does not always rest at the top with university officials. Power can be everywhere, especially with the students who fight for change. The curriculum that has been carefully curated for us is selected by officials at the top echelon of the university hierarchy.
Question: Juan contends that “we need to attend to the problem of power. This would include the knowledge it produces and that legitimates it, the uses of such knowledge in disciplinary regimes, and its mutations in history” (Juan 286). How do we address the problem of power on a large scale to create change?
Bibliography
E. San Juan Jr. “The Ordeal of Ethnic Studies in the Age of Globalization.” Displacements.
Youtube video on globalization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_iwrt7D5OA
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