Frank A. Stengel – författare

The Politics of Military Force examines the dynamics of discursive change that made participation in military operations possible against the background of German antimilitarist culture. Once considered a strict taboo, so-called out-of-area operations have now become widely considered by German policymakers to be without alternative. The book argues that an understanding of how certain policies are made possible (in this case, military operations abroad and force transformation), one needs to focus on processes of discursive change that result in different policy options appearing rational, appropriate, feasible, or even self-evident. Drawing on Essex School discourse theory, the book develops a theoretical framework to understand how discursive change works, and elaborates on how discursive change makes once unthinkable policy options not only acceptable but even without alternative. Based on a detailed discourse analysis of more than 25 years of German parliamentary debates, The Politics of Military Force provides an explanation for: (1) the emergence of a new hegemonic discourse in German security policy after the end of the Cold War (discursive change), (2) the rearticulation of German antimilitarism in the process (ideational change/norm erosion) and (3) the resulting making-possible of military operations and force transformation (policy change). In doing so, the book also demonstrates the added value of a poststructuralist approach compared to the naive realism and linear conceptions of norm change so prominent in the study of German foreign policy and International Relations more generally.

The Politics of Military Force examines the dynamics of discursive change that made participation in military operations possible against the background of German antimilitarist culture. Once considered a strict taboo, so-called out-of-area operations have now become widely considered by German policymakers to be without alternative. The book argues that an understanding of how certain policies are made possible (in this case, military operations abroad and force transformation), one needs to focus on processes of discursive change that result in different policy options appearing rational, appropriate, feasible, or even self-evident. Drawing on Essex School discourse theory, the book develops a theoretical framework to understand how discursive change works, and elaborates on how discursive change makes once unthinkable policy options not only acceptable but even without alternative. Based on a detailed discourse analysis of more than 25 years of German parliamentary debates, The Politics of Military Force provides an explanation for: (1) the emergence of a new hegemonic discourse in German security policy after the end of the Cold War (discursive change), (2) the rearticulation of German antimilitarism in the process (ideational change/norm erosion) and (3) the resulting making-possible of military operations and force transformation (policy change). In doing so, the book also demonstrates the added value of a poststructuralist approach compared to the naive realism and linear conceptions of norm change so prominent in the study of German foreign policy and International Relations more generally.

This volume is the first to analyze populism’s international dimension: its impact on, and interaction with, foreign policy and international politics.

This volume is the first to analyze populism’s international dimension: its impact on, and interaction with, foreign policy and international politics. The contributions to this volume engage conceptual theoretical issues and overarching questions such as the still under-specified concept of populism or the importance of leadership and the mass media for populism’s global rise. They zoom in on populism’s effect on both different countries’ foreign policies and core international concerns, including the future of the liberal world order and the chances for international conflict and cooperation more generally.

Populism has fundamentally altered many aspects of world politics. As President Donald J. Trump’s recent threats to U.S. allies and his imposition of wide-ranging tariffs have made all too clear, “populist” leaders can have a major impact not just on domestic but also foreign policy.The first edition of Populism and Word Politics was the first book-length treatment of populism from an International Relations (IR) perspective. The second edition reflects the continuation and evolution of populism in world politics, and includes a new introduction, updated chapters and an additional contribution on populist security narratives.Written by leading experts in the field, the chapters in this volume explore the many ways populism and world politics intersect, including the importance of populist leadership and global media as well as populism’s impact on trade and the liberal international order.Presented in an accessible and clear style, this book is an essential resource for students and IR scholars, as well as practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the phenomenon.

Populism has fundamentally altered many aspects of world politics. As President Donald J. Trump’s recent threats to U.S. allies and his imposition of wide-ranging tariffs have made all too clear, “populist” leaders can have a major impact not just on domestic but also foreign policy.The first edition of Populism and Word Politics was the first book-length treatment of populism from an International Relations (IR) perspective. The second edition reflects the continuation and evolution of populism in world politics, and includes a new introduction, updated chapters and an additional contribution on populist security narratives.Written by leading experts in the field, the chapters in this volume explore the many ways populism and world politics intersect, including the importance of populist leadership and global media as well as populism’s impact on trade and the liberal international order.Presented in an accessible and clear style, this book is an essential resource for students and IR scholars, as well as practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the phenomenon.