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Second natures : Is the state identical with itself?

Bartelson, Jens LU (1998) In European Journal of International Relations 4(3). p.295-326
Abstract

This article analyses existing assumptions about state identity within contemporary International Relations theory, arguing that the quest for the identity of the state leads to either circularity or regress. Departing from commonsensical criteria of self-identity such as indivisibility, distinctness and spatiotemporal continuity, this article examines how these criteria are interpreted and applied within essentialist, institutionalist, historicist and poststructuralist theories of International Relations, depending on their different background understandings of the relationship between problems of being and problems of knowing. The article ends by suggesting a reconceptualization of the state in terms of proper identity.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Journal of International Relations
volume
4
issue
3
pages
32 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:0032164316
ISSN
1354-0661
DOI
10.1177/1354066198004003002
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
cc7b4804-d8aa-44c9-9e5a-3cbc5bcaed87
date added to LUP
2023-08-24 08:24:30
date last changed
2023-08-28 15:07:41
@article{cc7b4804-d8aa-44c9-9e5a-3cbc5bcaed87,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article analyses existing assumptions about state identity within contemporary International Relations theory, arguing that the quest for the identity of the state leads to either circularity or regress. Departing from commonsensical criteria of self-identity such as indivisibility, distinctness and spatiotemporal continuity, this article examines how these criteria are interpreted and applied within essentialist, institutionalist, historicist and poststructuralist theories of International Relations, depending on their different background understandings of the relationship between problems of being and problems of knowing. The article ends by suggesting a reconceptualization of the state in terms of proper identity.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bartelson, Jens}},
  issn         = {{1354-0661}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{295--326}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{European Journal of International Relations}},
  title        = {{Second natures : Is the state identical with itself?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1354066198004003002}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1354066198004003002}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{1998}},
}