Special Relationships in World Politics: Inter-State Friendship and Diplomacy After the Second World War

ISBN-13: 9780415786393 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 212 str.

Kirstin Haugevik

Opis

While much scholarly work exists on alleged instances of special relationships, and on inter-state cooperation and alliances more generally, little systematic and theory informed research has been conducted on how special relationships evolve and unfold in practice. This book offers such a comprehensive study.

Recenzje

"Scholars of international relations have not paid much attention to what makes relations between some states ‘special’. Kristin Haugevik’s fine book helps filling this gap. Employing a social constructivist lens, she offers a neat framework linking language and diplomatic practice to shed light on the inner-workings and long term dynamics of ‘special relationships’. Very well crafted and clearly written, this is a most welcome contribution to the IR literature on interstate friendship." - Dr Felix Berenskoetter, SOAS University of London, UK.

"Haugevik’s account of ‘special relationships’ resists the temptation to reify a category of practice; as such, she is able to remain squarely focused on the plethora of activity that it takes to shore up such a relationship between two states. Her remarkable study discloses the practical effort that goes into the production and reproduction of ‘specialness,’ complementing interest-based explanations by directing our attention to dynamic performances of state identity." - Patrick Thaddeus Jackson, American University, USA.

"Kristin Haugevik’s book Special Relationships in World Politics: Inter-State Friendship and Diplomacy after the Second World War provides a novel discussion of inter-state special relationships, analysing  them  as  discursive social processes...Throughout her monograph she seeks to answer two central questions: how do special relationships emerge, and how do they subsist over time? While this piece may only provide a beginning toward answering these questions, their raising as well as her careful, thorough research will undoubtedly provide an invaluable platform for future studies." - Amy Kasper, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy.

Spis treści

1. Introduction   2. What is a special relationship?   3. Theorizing special relationships as a social process   4. Friends, partners or ‘poodle politics’?   5. Photo-ops and open doors   6. When lodestars fade   7. Conclusion: How relationships become special

O autorze

Kristin Haugevik is Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).