Inside the giant's mind: A discourse analytical perspective for discerning characteristics of an agent of power
(2008)Department of Political Science
- Abstract
- The essay deals with how one can predict a state's behaviour through discourse analysis. It argues that while actors must have a real capacity for action, their re-spective discourse must also house a conceptualization of that capacity in order for an actor to be expected to make decisions to employ said action. Instruments of power must also be perceived as effective in order to be employed. The essay combines theories to analyze discourse from an instrumental power perspective, in order to make a characterization of an agent's likely employment of instruments of power. The author then proceeds to test the practical application of this perspective by making a discourse analysis on statements concerning peace and security made by the... (More)
- The essay deals with how one can predict a state's behaviour through discourse analysis. It argues that while actors must have a real capacity for action, their re-spective discourse must also house a conceptualization of that capacity in order for an actor to be expected to make decisions to employ said action. Instruments of power must also be perceived as effective in order to be employed. The essay combines theories to analyze discourse from an instrumental power perspective, in order to make a characterization of an agent's likely employment of instruments of power. The author then proceeds to test the practical application of this perspective by making a discourse analysis on statements concerning peace and security made by the Chinese delegation to the Security Council. The conclusion is that while this perspective has its limitations it is an effective way to make quick assessments on a states instrumental power discourse and thus is a useful tool in predicting a state's, or other actor's, behaviour. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/1317034
- author
- Karreskog, Johannes
- supervisor
- organization
- year
- 2008
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- china, discourse theory, instrumental power discourse, foreign policy, power analysis, state character, Peace and conflict research, polemology, Freds- och konfliktforskning
- language
- English
- id
- 1317034
- date added to LUP
- 2008-06-16 00:00:00
- date last changed
- 2015-12-14 13:34:37
@misc{1317034,
abstract = {{The essay deals with how one can predict a state's behaviour through discourse analysis. It argues that while actors must have a real capacity for action, their re-spective discourse must also house a conceptualization of that capacity in order for an actor to be expected to make decisions to employ said action. Instruments of power must also be perceived as effective in order to be employed. The essay combines theories to analyze discourse from an instrumental power perspective, in order to make a characterization of an agent's likely employment of instruments of power. The author then proceeds to test the practical application of this perspective by making a discourse analysis on statements concerning peace and security made by the Chinese delegation to the Security Council. The conclusion is that while this perspective has its limitations it is an effective way to make quick assessments on a states instrumental power discourse and thus is a useful tool in predicting a state's, or other actor's, behaviour.}},
author = {{Karreskog, Johannes}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Inside the giant's mind: A discourse analytical perspective for discerning characteristics of an agent of power}},
year = {{2008}},
}