Ordering International Politics : Identity, Crisis and Representational Force

ISBN-13: 9780415948975 / Angielski / Miękka / 2004 / 320 str.

Janice Bially Mattern

Opis

Statesmen commonly speak of the ned to architect a nationally advantageous international order. But how does one go about doing this? Traditionally, scholars ahve advised that order is rooted in patterned struggles over material power and interests. Recently, however, there has been a focus on the order-producing effects of international identity. This study defends the 'identity turn' by addressing how a construct as contingent as international identity can nevertheless sustain order during the upheaval of international crises. Drawing on the linguistic and political philosophy of Jean Francois Lyotard Ordering International Politics develops an innovative discourse analytic method that empirically demonstrates that, in crisis times, states can (and do) use 'representational force' - a forceful, but nonphysica, form of power exercised through language - to stabilize international identity and in turn international order. the empirical foil for this illustration, this study offers a concrete and highly readable example of how theoretical insights can make an important difference in historical interpretation and potentially in the contemporary practice of international affairs.

Recenzje

"Janice Bially Mattern's impressive first book comes with all barrels loaded... An important addition to the literature." --Perspectives on Politics

Spis treści

Introduction: Toward an identity turn? Theorizing Identity Forcing Order during The Suez Crisis Theoretical Twists, Historical Revisions, and Practical Cautions SECTION I 1. Sources of Order What is International Order? Sources and Factors Identity Order in Crisis 2. The Suez Puzzle Recognizing We-ness The Special Relationship The Suez Crisis (Not) Understanding Nonviolence 3. Forcing Order Language-Power Representational Force Bargaining and Arguing Terror and Exile Agency, Rationality, and the Uses of Tolerance SECTION II 4. Demagnetization Nasser's Unsettling Before Force Using Force After Force 5. Dissolution Narrating American Betrayal Narrating British Bellicosity Identity Dissolved 6. Re-Production The East/West and Lion/Eagle Problem The American Campaign The British Campaign The Fastened We Conclusion: Re-Turn to Identity In Theory In History In Practice Turn to Ethics

O autorze

Janice Bially Mattern