National Identities and International Relations [Hardcover]

A comparative study of how and why people identify with their countries and the implications for foreign policy.This book examines national identity, the functions it serves, and its implications for foreign policy and international politics. Richard Ned Lebow explores how problematic identity is for certain perspectives on foreign policy analysis, questioning the link between principles of justice, identity, and behaviour and policy.This book examines national identity, the functions it serves, and its implications for foreign policy and international politics. Richard Ned Lebow explores how problematic identity is for certain perspectives on foreign policy analysis, questioning the link between principles of justice, identity, and behaviour and policy.Identity is the master variable for many constructivist scholars of international politics. In this comparative study, Richard Ned Lebow shows that states do not have identities any more than people do. Leaders, peoples, and foreign actors seek to impose national identifications consistent with their political projects and psychological needs. These identifications are multiple, fluid and rise in importance as a function of priming and context. Leaders are at least as likely to invoke national identifications as rationalizations for policies pursued for other reasons as they are to be influenced by them. National identifications are nevertheless important because they invariably stress the alleged uniqueness of a people and its country, and are a principal means of seeking status and building self-esteem. Lebow tracks the relative appeal of these principles, the ways in which they are constructed, how they influence national identifications, and how they in turn affect regional and international practices.1. Introduction; 2. Ontological insecurity; 3. National vs individual identifications; 4. Roles; 5. Affiliations, bodies, biographies; 6. Agency; 7. Challenges for constructivism; Bibliography; Index.'With characterl3$