Causes of War: The Struggle for Recognition

by Thomas Lindemann

Overview

Theories on the origins of war are often based on the premise that the rational actor is in pursuit of material satisfaction, such as the quest for power or for wealth. These perspectives disregard the need for homo symbolicus - the preservation of a positive self-image for both emotional and instrumental reasons. A good reputation ensures authority and material resources. Non-recognition can be as much as an explanation of war as that of other explicative 'variables'. Two empirical studies examining the role of non-recognition in great power conflicts and in international crises will demonstrate the value of this symbolic approach.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781907301018
Publisher:	ECPR Press
Publication date:	10/04/2011
Series:	ECPR Monographs
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.38(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Thomas Lindemann is Professor of Political Science at Artois University (CERAPS Lille 2) and is visiting professor at Paris I-Sorbonne and Sciences Po Paris. He has recently published Penser la guerre. L'apport constructiviste (L'Harmattan 2008) and La guerre (Armand Colin 2010) and The International Politics of Recognition (edited with Erik Ringmar for Paradigm, 2011).

Table of Contents

CONTENTS Acknowledgements iv List of Tables vi Introduction 1 PART I ‘SYMBOLIC’ APPROACHES TO WAR Chapter One: The Struggle for Recognition in Social Relations 9 Utilitarian logics 10 ‘Psycho-logics’ in the quest for recognition 12 Chapter Two: The Struggle for Recognition in International Relations 15 The recognition problematic in international relations theory 17 Hypotheses on the link between non-recognition and war 27 PART II: CASE STUDIES Chapter Three: Losing the War, but Winning Respect? 47 The pacifi cation between great powers by respect 52 War to avoid shame? 64 Chapter Four: Saving Face and Peace; the Politics of Recognition in International Crises 87 The Politics of Recognition in International Crises 88 Crises with a Bellicose Outcome (losing face) 97 Crises with a Pacifi c Outcome (saving face) 112 Index 159