0000000000433166
AUTHOR
Babu George
The Colonial Voyages
In the preceding chapter, we introduced readers to the complex and dense interplay between scientific expeditions, which were moved by scientific interests, and colonialism. In this chapter, we focus on the ways and morphologies of colonial voyages to draw new borders of colonial geographies. Of course, some might speculate both chapters overlap, but one continues the discussion the other leaves. In the introductory chapter, we discussed the imperial machine (and the cultural matrix) that invented, fabricated, and packaged the non-Western “Other” to legitimate the would-be European supremacy. Now it is time to review how Western reasoning develops the gaze to explain and expropriate the new…
HEALTH COVER, THE CASE OF MARTIN AND CAROLINA IN AUSTRALIA
This research examines, from a qualitative perspective, some public opinion related to issues associated with the management of a tensed situation. In that process, it identifies some of the subtle differences in the Anglo-Latino cultural expectations. Martin, an Argentine tourist, contracted the Gullien-Barre syndrome in Australia, while enjoying his honeymoon vacation on a Tasmanian island with his partner Carolina. With the passing of days, Martin lost his mobility and was finally hospitalized in emergency. Doctors induced Martin into a coma temporarily because his muscles were paralyzed by the action of the virus. Health costs were more expensive than the family could absorb in Australi…
Let Me in! The Affirmation of a Radical “Other”
In the preceding chapters, we carefully revised the history of colonial expeditions, the intersection of the native “Other” with science, and the evolution of leisure travels and the consolidation of the tourism industry. We make the point that after the terrorist attacks in 2001 in the US, Western civilization entered a state of crisis which gradually tended to demonize the non-Western “Other”. These chapters acted as conceptual platforms that guided readers to understand the role played by hospitality in the configuration of the modern nation-state. Although illustrative to some extent, these chapters lacked an empirical approach. This chapter, complementarily, keeps an empirically based …
Terrorism and the Allegory of the Lone Wolf: From 9/11 to COVID-19
The lone wolf is a personality type that symbolizes individualism and a deep yet sometimes dangerous quest for self-search. At its very extreme, this search turns out to become hatred for anything that these wolves cannot identify themselves with. In this regard, even some societies are lone wolves. We have lone wolf groups, communities, societies, and even nation-states. By analysis, terrorists carry certain traits of lone wolves, although not every lone wolf would be(come) a terrorist. Some rather grow into hermits and saints. Globalization, a central theme of this book, has a lot to do with the development of the lone wolf trait the way we see it now. Instead of flattening the world’s cu…
Mobilities and Globalization in the Aftermath of COVID-19
Will COVID-19 kill tourism? This was a big question that came to trouble everyone dependent upon tourism, especially in the early days of it being declared a pandemic. Before it became a pandemic, experts opined that Chinese tourists and tourism businesses would be cut off from it; certain political groups in the US considered this to be a blessing in disguise. Covertly and overtly, many even celebrated how COVID-19 would dent the Chinese economy. Then, it was declared as a global pandemic, and panic ensued. The US and Europe found they no longer had the upper hand over China in containing it; rather, to the surprise of many, the Chinese government proved it could weather a pandemic much be…
COVID-19 and the End of Hospitality
The turn of the century has brought many mega threats for the West, such as terrorism, natural disasters, and virus outbreaks including SARS, H1N1, Ebola, and now COVID-19. An invisible micro-organism suddenly paused our progress towards a globally interconnected flat world. We now realize that super-structures driving economic development cannot grow in specific directions without destroying themselves in certain other directions. The precautionary logic suggests the rational planning aided by our technological progress ought to alleviate most of these problems. The manner in which we deal with disasters like COVID-19, however, does not inspire confidence. Application of the precautionary …
Tourist Gaze Reconsidered
The term tourist gaze was coined initially to represent those superficial expectations that tourists have on destination communities; tourists impute their ideas of authentic experience upon destination residents and their social structure and see what they have predetermined to see. This is made more real when local communities consciously act out the desired roles for financial reasons. Thus, gaze leads to surreally authentic experiences. However, does this always happen? Say, in community-centered tourism where empowered destination communities choose tourists, tourists do not have the privilege to gaze. These communities might even be able to apply their own versions of gaze upon the to…
Mobility in and of the Empire: A Colonialist History of Mobility
Mobility is freedom. Freedom is power. Those who wield control over the mobility of others control their freedom. The global reach of this control was first evident in the history of colonialism. The empire both incentivized and restricted travel, depending upon who aligned with the colonial vision of the world. Unfreedom is a situation when there is no evident bondage but there is still no exercise of freedom. Fast forward from the times of the European empires, the contemporary forms of colonialism institutionalized this. Television shows, social media, and the internet made people unfree to aspirations that would truly liberate them but rather glued them to shallow pursuits. In this intr…
COVID-19, Terrorism, and Conspiracy Plot: Everyone Is Guilty Until Proven Innocent
COVID-19 is reaffirming the tendency of nation-states to find imaginary enemies when hit with a crisis—enemies to whom its origins and perpetuation could be attributed. This is needed for their unity and survival. However, a strong and serious global pandemic like COVID-19 would need the identification of strong and serious enemies. This is a dangerous proposition if taken to anywhere beyond rhetoric. China is identified as the antagonist; yet, a real confrontation with China would cause more harm than what COVID-19 might cause. It is essential that we lead the world toward a new war, “against a virus”. This chapter reflects the problem of hospitality, as strongly associated with conspiracy…
Pay Now, Consume Later: The Power of Delayed Gratification
This chapter analyzes the birth and development of modern tourism. The bubble model, an economic instrument that originated in Fordism, provides the direction to this analysis. Mass-scale production generated much frustration and discontent in society. Economists who historically suggested consumption as a great malady for the economy emphasize consumers’ self-control as the only way to reach a zero-poverty society. Tourism not only revitalized the social frustration of capitalism but also allowed rapid globalization of the world. For this project to be successful, all-paid packages and tours were widely offered to travelers. Prepaid tours or all-inclusive tours emerged as an excellent reas…