Poststructuralism Flashcards
Discourse of identity politics
Relationship between knowledge and power as reflected in mapping…
Mercator projection vs Peters projection.
Mercator shows Europe in centre and 2/3 of landmass in northern hemisphere vs equal area projection emphasizing the south
What is a discourse
A discourse is a
cohesive ensemble of ideas, concepts, and categorizations about a specific
object that frame that object in a certain way and, therefore, delimit the
possibilities for action in relation to it. It is a structured yet open and dynamic entity. Discourses are inherently social phenomena.
Power in realist terms
conceptions of the state’s ability to control and
coerce—in short a statist, top-down understanding of power
Power in poststructuralist terms
Rather, modern power is immersed in the
social body; Modern power circulates through
the social order, and what it produces (and reproduces) is the capitalist
social order itself, both discursively, through disciplinary norms, and
through the subjectivities it creates.
What is Foucauldian discourse?
Foucauldian discourse analysis is a form of discourse analysis, focusing on power relationships in society as expressed through language and practices, and based on the theories of Michel Foucault.
Foucalt-Habermas debate - critique of the nature of power in society
The Foucault–Habermas debate is a dispute concerning whether Michel Foucault’s ideas of “power analytics” and “genealogy” or Jürgen Habermas’ ideas of “communicative rationality” and “discourse ethics” provide a better critique of the nature of power in society. The debate compares and evaluates the central ideas of Habermas and Foucault as they pertain to questions of power, reason, ethics, modernity, democracy, civil society, and social action.
What is Habermassian discourse
The validity of a norm is justified only intersubjectively in processes of argumentation between individuals; in a dialectic. The validity of a claim to normative rightness depends upon the mutual understanding achieved by individuals in argument.
What is the reflectivist approach (3rd debate)?
Coined by Keohane 1988 - acknowledge the critical. Turn upon oneself inclusive of feminist approaches (first), constructivism (Wendt 1990 - the international system was a social construct not a natural given), postcolonialism (draw attention post colonial locations);
Within the approaches of a socially constructed international system
Constructivism a middle-ground (Adler) ie criticised IR’s exclusive focus on material factors (guns or money) and looked at ideational factors - critique of ontology ie the object is not given, but socially constructed. But, questions about its epistemology and whether this had been challenged….causalist epistemology (deeply positive), was not challenged by constructivist thinkers ie constructivism not far enough.
Looking at constructivism not looking “all the way down” to power? Epstein critique of Wendt.
Identity and power as the concerns of reflectivists
Identity vs interest. Identity concerns all reflectivist approaches. But under this umbrella are issues related to power: gender, race and self/other
Denaturalise the taken for granted
Key concern is to look at what is constructed as natural, necessary or true and to look at the power effect eg disconnect between science of endangerment of whales and policy.. pay attention to these frames…work with the “jarring effect” be unsettled
How to / Discourse analysis
Discourses - the way you see an object and talk about it - === what you do/action. Discourses are practices.
How to / Frames and grids
How is a particular issue area framed (meta level) - including or excluding what - this determines policy options and then the grids or categorisations
Power as a theme: Foucault
productive power In discourse, power enables certain courses of action - - productive power eg discourse around Africa and famine allowed for Western policy action
knowledge - knowlegde is often tied to power..
