1. See, for example, Steve Bruce, Politics and Religion (Cambridge: Polity Press 2003); and Fabio... more 1. See, for example, Steve Bruce, Politics and Religion (Cambridge: Polity Press 2003); and Fabio Petito and Pavlos Hatzopoulos (eds), Religion in International Relations: The Return from Exile (New York: Palgrave Macmillan 2003). View all notes
Research on the diffusion of innovation has been dominated for many years by an approach to scien... more Research on the diffusion of innovation has been dominated for many years by an approach to scientific reasoning developed most thoroughly and influentially by Hägerstrand. Recently there has been a shift away from this approach. However, this shift has not been ...
The problem of “foundations” is a crucial one for any field, particularly perhaps one with as var... more The problem of “foundations” is a crucial one for any field, particularly perhaps one with as varied a possible repertoire of elementary sources as the study of world politics. In this paper, I draw attention to how some different ways of thinking about where knowledge is produced and how it circulates can be used to inform understanding about geographies of knowledge of world politics. Such geographies, however, are not ends in themselves. The point is to understand the ontological bases of knowing from perspectives that do not privilege a singular history of knowledge associated with a specific world region or of conceptions of knowledge that implicitly or explicitly presume their self-evident universality. In other words, we need to move beyond the all-too-conventional repertoires of relativism and positivism in understanding the bases to knowing about world politics/international relations. The paper suggests some ways forward, which should now be the subject of vigorous debate.
This paper argues for the re-conceptualization of geopolitics using the concept of discourse. Geo... more This paper argues for the re-conceptualization of geopolitics using the concept of discourse. Geopolitics is defined as a discursive practice by which intellectuals of statecraft ‘spatialize’ international politics and represent it as a ‘world’ characterized by particular types of places, peoples and dramas. Four theses explicating this re-conceptualization are outlined including the distinction between ‘formal’ and ‘practical’ geopolitics. These arguments are illustrated by a general discussion of practical geopolitical reasoning in US foreign policy which includes an analysis of George Kennan's ‘Long Telegram’ and ‘Mr X’ article representations of the USSR. The irony of such practical geopolitical representations of place is that they necessitate the abrogation of genuine geographical knowledge about the diversity and complexity of places as social entities. Geopolitical reasoning, it is concluded, ironically works by being anti-geographical.
... of new regional diff e rences. Rather than disappearing, regional economic andpolitical diffe... more ... of new regional diff e rences. Rather than disappearing, regional economic andpolitical differences seem, if anything, to be strengthening under contemporary circumstances. This time around, however, the political economy ...
1. See, for example, Steve Bruce, Politics and Religion (Cambridge: Polity Press 2003); and Fabio... more 1. See, for example, Steve Bruce, Politics and Religion (Cambridge: Polity Press 2003); and Fabio Petito and Pavlos Hatzopoulos (eds), Religion in International Relations: The Return from Exile (New York: Palgrave Macmillan 2003). View all notes
Research on the diffusion of innovation has been dominated for many years by an approach to scien... more Research on the diffusion of innovation has been dominated for many years by an approach to scientific reasoning developed most thoroughly and influentially by Hägerstrand. Recently there has been a shift away from this approach. However, this shift has not been ...
The problem of “foundations” is a crucial one for any field, particularly perhaps one with as var... more The problem of “foundations” is a crucial one for any field, particularly perhaps one with as varied a possible repertoire of elementary sources as the study of world politics. In this paper, I draw attention to how some different ways of thinking about where knowledge is produced and how it circulates can be used to inform understanding about geographies of knowledge of world politics. Such geographies, however, are not ends in themselves. The point is to understand the ontological bases of knowing from perspectives that do not privilege a singular history of knowledge associated with a specific world region or of conceptions of knowledge that implicitly or explicitly presume their self-evident universality. In other words, we need to move beyond the all-too-conventional repertoires of relativism and positivism in understanding the bases to knowing about world politics/international relations. The paper suggests some ways forward, which should now be the subject of vigorous debate.
This paper argues for the re-conceptualization of geopolitics using the concept of discourse. Geo... more This paper argues for the re-conceptualization of geopolitics using the concept of discourse. Geopolitics is defined as a discursive practice by which intellectuals of statecraft ‘spatialize’ international politics and represent it as a ‘world’ characterized by particular types of places, peoples and dramas. Four theses explicating this re-conceptualization are outlined including the distinction between ‘formal’ and ‘practical’ geopolitics. These arguments are illustrated by a general discussion of practical geopolitical reasoning in US foreign policy which includes an analysis of George Kennan's ‘Long Telegram’ and ‘Mr X’ article representations of the USSR. The irony of such practical geopolitical representations of place is that they necessitate the abrogation of genuine geographical knowledge about the diversity and complexity of places as social entities. Geopolitical reasoning, it is concluded, ironically works by being anti-geographical.
... of new regional diff e rences. Rather than disappearing, regional economic andpolitical diffe... more ... of new regional diff e rences. Rather than disappearing, regional economic andpolitical differences seem, if anything, to be strengthening under contemporary circumstances. This time around, however, the political economy ...
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