War 'lesson in humiliation’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33873, 19 June 1975, Page 18

War 'lesson in humiliation’

The Vietnam war has been a lesson in humiliation to the United States — it has taught her to be subtle, sophisticated, and wise, according to an American political scientist, Dr Ned Lebow, who is visiting Christchurch.

"The United States thought ■ that she could do everything, but the war has had a posiItive effect on her and she has learned a lesson of humiliation,” said Dr Lebow. The United States had entered into a damaging com’imitment to a corrupt regime, 'lit was a commitment it ' should never have been involved in, he said. “The United States will Lmake a real distinction be'itween commitments now.” 1 Dr Lebow said. ‘‘Countries like Israel are popular and ■ stable. If they were threatI'ened by outside countries, it i (would be a legitimate ex- ■ temal commitment.” Now that the South Viet‘lnamese Government had collapsed — and most people i'knew that it would happen :— the average Vietnamese could go about their idaily work in peace. Competition and conflict in “the world were likely to conI Itinue, but both sides realised areas where it would be (beneficial to co-operate, such as in trade. Dr Lebow said that there ■would be very little change jin conflict, but competition (for influence was still very real. ‘‘The United States and Russia have been at each other verbally for a number of years,” he said. “There have been at least 35 wars since World War 11. over division of peoples in a country or the wish to form a j country.”

t The division of people > within a country was the ' major form of conflict. f The introduction of nuclear weapons by super Powers J made violence a far greater . threat. “However, countries , will exercise a remarkable t degree of restraint in this . area. If they don’t, it will be a very sorry situation,” said ]IDr Lebow. New Zealand was lucky in ■ that it was a great distance s from any other country, and there were very few rich and .'few poor people. “There is a t jcomfortable middle class, liv- . ling in a rich, under-populated country.” he said. However, there were prob- - i lems and drawbacks. People 2 i were a little parochial: the 11 population was very uniform; ;land there was no racial, culr'tural. and ethnic diversity. I “This is a serious draw--11 back,” said Dr Lebow. “Di- - versity is essential — parI ticularly ethnic, cultural, and ! I racial diversity — as there II are different styles of living, i different cuisines, and differ- : I ent ways of approaching things.” i In the United States, all Ugroups co-existed, offering I different wavs of approaching i 1 situations, benefiting everv- ■ ■ one. ' Dr Lebow has been a memÜber of the political science “department at the City University of New York since 111968. He is at present on •leave as a research fellow for

a r s r s B s 5 i i i a 1 1 i 1 ■ the Council of Foreign Reia- ' I tions. He is the co-author of the ‘ book. “Divided Nations in a i Divided World,” and the ' author of a book, “Between

Peace and War: the Anatomy of International Crisis,” which he will promote during his New Zealand tour, as well as giving lectures at several i.New Zealand universities.