This article develops a critical perspective toward ontological security and its mobilization by ir scholars, arguing that substantive ethical and political resources are produced by resisting the terms of ontological security insecurity. The central premise of ontological security theory is that states are ready to compromise their physical security and other important material gains in order to protect their ontological. Using ontological security to interpret three cases british neutrality during the american civil war 18611865, belgiums decision to fight germany in 1914, and natos 1999 kosovo intervention the book concludes by discussing the importance for selfinterrogation in both the study and practice of international relations. Myria georgiou seeking ontological security beyond the. Ontological security has been increasingly applied to state politics in the last decade. Ontological security, which focuses on the security of oneself, ones identity, and group affiliations, best informs the nature of sectarian conflict and conflict resolutions in contemporary northern ireland. While welcoming the insights already provided by its application, this article argues that the concepts use to date has been too much geared to. Ontological, epistemological and methodological assumptions. Ontological security was imported into ir by two generations of scholarship. Argues that serbias seemingly irrational foreign policy behaviour is a form of ontological selfhelp in the face of kosovos secession. This article seeks to move the debates over the role of ontological security concepts in international relations by applying a mainly theoretical discussion to.
Abstract brunei has historically relied on britain for protection from internal and external threats. Brexit, existential anxiety and ontological insecurity. Ontological security is achieved by routinizing relationships with significant others, and actors therefore become attached to those relationships. Mitzen believes that states that pursue ontological security have rigid or flexible attachment to conventions. Geostrategies, geopolitics and ontological security in the. Geostrategies, geopolitics and ontological security in the eastern neighbourhood. Examines the relevance of materiality for ontological security of. The radical consequence of this is that reality itself is multiple. Bahar rumelilis conflict resolution and ontological security 2015 further develops this body through bridging it with conflict resolution studies. As to the other sponsoring institution, i am no stranger to it. While the existing studies have primarily focused on how states defend or maintain their ontological security, little attention has been paid to critical situations that make states ontologically. Mar 10, 2020 stvn20 ontological security studies 15 credits the course covers questions about ontological security and uncertainty in relation to the emergence of radical and populist parties and organisations, and illiberal or authoritarian regimes, brexit and increased nationalism, mainly in a westeuropean context. Ontological security, the sense of stability of a coherent selfidentity and the recognition of that identity in the world, has grown into a large body of literature in international relations.
State identity and the security dilemma article pdf available in european journal of international relations 123. Because even dangerous routines provide ontological security, rational securityseekers could become attached to conflict. Jelena cupac ontological security of international organizations 1944 23 endogenous to it third image is the core question upon which mitzen and steeles approaches part ways. Critical situations and ontological security in world. While the existing studies have primarily focused on how states defend or maintain their ontological security, little attention has been paid to. Jul 12, 2012 see john herz, the nationstate and the crisis of world politics new york. Stvn20 ontological security studies 15 credits the course covers questions about ontological security and uncertainty in relation to the emergence of radical and populist parties and organisations, and illiberal or authoritarian regimes, brexit and increased nationalism, mainly in a westeuropean context. Developing an interesting angle on a recognized issue of concern in the politics of south asia, and much more broadly in the context of the contemporary world and developing global politics, this is a valuable addition to normative critical social theory and the debate on identity and culture in political science and international relations. State identity and the security dilemma, authorjennifer mitzen, year2006. Ontological insecurity after the 1962 rebellion wafi abdul manan, b.
This is a chapter that asks questions about where we are with politics now that actor network theory and its semiotic relatives have reshaped ontology. Objective identification, identity stability and ontological. The central premise of ontological security theory is that states are ready to compromise their physical security and other important material gains in ord while the existing studies have primarily focused on how states defend or maintain their ontological security, little attention has been paid to critical situations that make states ontologically insecure in the first place. Complexity, global politics, and national security. I am glad to be paying my first visit to the national defense university. Sociopsychological reactions in the eu to immigration.
Ontological security in international relations inspires a number of ideas, and as such, there are a number of potential future applications for steeles ontological security approach. See jennifer mitzen, ontological security in world politics. A few years ago, as we began a conversation about ontological security, we were struck by the number of scholars we could think of in international relations ir who were finding the concept to be a productive lens for thinking about the relationship between security and identity, and between identity and important outcomes in world politics. Review ontological security in international relations. Mapping the political geographies of europeanization. A study of order in world politics new york, new york. Develops a novel perspective on crisis, identity and attachment to territory in world politics. Pdf this article proposes that in addition to physical security, states also seek ontological security, or security of the self.
State identity and the security dilemma jennifer mitzen ohio state university, usa this article proposes that in addition to physical security, states also seek ontological security, or security of the self. Mitzen jennifer 2006 ontological security in world politics state identity and from pol 208 at university of toronto. Pdf critical situations and ontological security in. Read mitzens ontological security in world politics european journal of ir, 2006 here pdf read mitzens reading habermas in anarchy. Ontological security seeking sheds new light on seemingly irrational conflict, and suggests lines of research into the stability of other outcomes in world politics. Nov 25, 2014 mitzen, jennifer, ontological security in world politics. Waltz, theory of international politics new york, new york. European journal of international relations, 123, p. Even today, there is a battalion of gurkhas and british officers resident in brunei.
To make the argument concrete, i refer especially to two cases, the cold war and israelpalestine. Realism, reassurance, and the problem of uncertainty. May 24, 2017 ontological security, the sense of stability of a coherent selfidentity and the recognition of that identity in the world, has grown into a large body of literature in international relations. National security and the reproduction of racial capitalism.
What sjoberg has illustrated with regards to feminism may be equally applicable to other ir theories. It signifies a sense of continuity and order in events and the ability to answer fundamental existential questions. Ontological security in world politics can be defined as the possession, on the level of the unconscious and practical consciousness, of answers to fundamental questions that all polities in some way need to address such as existence, finitude, relations with others and their autobiography. Realists argue that states want to escape security dilemmas but uncertainty prevents them. As part of a study of the relationships between housing tenure and health, we explored through in depth interviews with 43 adults the extent to which home owners and social renters in the west of scotland obtained psychosocial benefits from. Mar 09, 2017 a few years ago, as we began a conversation about ontological security, we were struck by the number of scholars we could think of in international relations ir who were finding the concept to be a productive lens for thinking about the relationship between security and identity, and between identity and important outcomes in world politics. Critical situations, fundamental questions and ontological. In this respect, this thesis engages on the possibility of spatial context as an additional anchor to the ontological security needs of the state. Critical situations, fundamental questions and ontological insecurity in world politics. It is concerned with what kind of world we are investigating, with the nature of existence, with the structure of reality as such. Ontological securityseeking suggests that states may not want to escape dilemmatic conflict. Keywords attachment, intractable conflict, ontological security, routines, security dilemma, uncertainty. Ontological security and psychosocial benefits from the home.
The concept of ontological security has received increased attention in the security studies literature over the past ten years. Ontological security and public misrecognition of international. Ontological security, identity, and routinized relationships ontological security has been increasingly applied to state politics in the last decade with a particular focus on continuity and routine. National discourses, external perceptions and the question of popular culture. I then scale up this argument, justifying the assumption that not just individuals but also states seek ontological security. Ontological security, as an historically global phenomenon of diasporic identities, helps us to understand resistance and integration for particular places in broad terms but a specialised focus on the exigencies of the local political situation can also help understand the ebb and flow of ontological security, the intertwining of it with the. Catarina kinnvall globalization and religious nationalism in india the search for ontological security. Political memory, ontological security, and holocaust remembrance in postcommunist europe. Ontological security of international organizations. First, there is the notion of the eu as safe and homely in contrast to the. Critical situations and ontological security in world politics. Ontological security whats behind this new theory trending. Like its physical counterpart, the ontological security motive is a constant. Get pdf 747 kb abstract the concept of ontological security has made increasing headway within international relations, in particular through its ability to offer alternative explanations of the forces underpinning security dilemmas and conflict in world politics.
Applied to states, ontological securityseeking reveals another, second, dilemma in international politics. State identity and the security dilemma, european journal of international relations, 12. Ontological security and anxiety in world politics, coeditor with catarina kinnvall lund university, a. As part of a study of the relationships between housing tenure and health, we explored through indepth interviews with 43 adults the extent to which home owners and social renters in the west of scotland obtained psychosocial benefits from. The concept of ontological security has made increasing headway within international relations, in particular through its ability to offer alternative explanations of the forces underpinning security dilemmas and conflict in world politics. Ontological security and psychosocial benefits from the. Ontological security, initially conceptualized by psychologist r.
Ontological security, an approach to security and identity. Ontological security and peacebuilding in northern ireland. Other research includes the impact of needs for ontological security on international politics. Even a harmful or selfdefeating relationship can provide ontological security, which means states can become attached to con. European journal of international relations 12 3, 34170. This article proposes that in addition to physical security, states also seek ontological security, or security of the self. In giddens analysis, ontological security provides a dialogical system of management of the self within social systems. The central premise of ontological security theory is that states are ready to compromise their physical security and other important material gains in order to protect their ontological security. In the past decade, a stream of international relations ir scholarship has emerged that interprets states foreign policy processes, decisions, and international outcomes through the lens of a distinctive type of security, ontological as opposed to physical or material security. Review conflict resolution and ontological security.
The first generation, developed during the 1990s, imported the concept of ontological security into the field of world politics without building a brand new theory or empirically testing its explanatory potential wendt 1994. In an era defined by insecurity, uncertainty, and increasing anxieties, ontological security has proven to be a fruitful lens for analyzing world politics. Now both organizations have become interested in such concepts as chaos and. Ontological security is achieved by routinizing relationships with signi. Mitzen jennifer 2006 ontological security in world. Ontological security, an approach to security and identity in. Ontological insecurity in the european union 1st edition. Linking popular struggles in tunisia and the us o meera sabaratnam, soas the unbearable whiteness of being. Steele, ontological security in international relations. Read mitzens ontological security in world politics european journal of ir, 2006 here pdf. While the existing studies have primarily focused on how states defend or maintain their ontological security, little attention has been paid to critical situations that make.
Ontological security and anxiety in world politics, coeditor with catarina kinnvall lund university, a forum at international theory it in preparation. International relations ir scholarship tends to address uncertainty at the level of state and. Collective actors such as states become ontologically. Robert jervis, cooperation under the security dilemma, world politics, vol. In ontological security terms there are two aspects to this. Debates on ontological security and hierarchies in world politics. Aug 28, 2017 for a more realist approach within the theory, or if one was interested in explaining conflict, one should take a look at jennifer mitzens 2006 article ontological security in world politics. They have reshaped it by underlining that the reality we live with is one performed in a variety of practices. Ontological security studies department of political science. Crisis and ontological insecurity serbias anxiety over.
State identity and the security dilemma and her 2011 article knowing the unknown unkonwns. Brexit, existential anxiety and ontological in security. This special issue joins other recent compilations, contributing to the growing research agenda on ontological security and insecurity in world politics. Article information, pdf download for ontological security in world politics. Myria georgiou seeking ontological security beyond the nation. Realism and security oxford research encyclopedia of. In fact, it is just forty years since i first became a rand consultant. Ontological securityseeking sheds new light on seemingly irrational conflict, and suggests lines of research into the stability of other outcomes in world politics. The effect of territorial stigmatisation processes on. Jennifer mitzen on ontological security, multilateral. This article develops a critical perspective toward ontological security and its mobilization by ir scholars, arguing that substantive ethical and political resources are produced by resisting the terms of ontological securityinsecurity. Laing and most extensively developed by sociologist anthony giddens, refers to an internally held feeling of security that is produced by belongingby a sense of stable identity and continuity in ones place in the world giddens 1990.
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