International Politics and Inner Worlds: Masks of Reason under Scrutiny (Critical Political Theory and Radical Practice)

This book takes radical aim at the conventional conduct of international relations analysis. It reexamines the role of ideas, the usefulness of psychoanalysis, the rage for and at rational choice, the influence of the public on foreign policy, counterinsurgency evangelism, and development orthodoxies at the national and genetic levels. Drawing a bead on conceptual blind spots prevalent both inside and outside the academy, the book urges scholars to reflect on how inner worlds shape the actions of their subjects—and their own research analyses, as well. Contents 7 Introduction: Politics All the Way Down 8 Rationality and Resistance 12 The Chapters 15 Perestroika and American Political Science 23 The Perestroikan Challenge 26 How to Look like a Science 33 Conclusion 39 Dueling Constructivisms: A Post-Mortem on the Ideas Debate in Mainstream IR 46 Rationality and Contexts 50 Psychology, Science and ‘Silences’ 51 Reconnoitering the Ideas Debate 55 Going Conventional: A Critique 58 On Theories of Contexts 61 Conclusion 66 Why Do States (Bother to) Deceive? Managing Trust at Home and Abroad 78 Defining Deceit 80 The Utility of Deceit 81 Realpolitik, and How it Plays in Peoria 83 Appeasement and Unpreparedness Reconsidered 86 Credibility and Dissent 88 Vietnam and the ‘Bounds of Reasonable Dishonesty’ 91 Iran-Contra 94 Post-911 96 Conclusion 99 COIN Flips: Counterinsurgency Theory and American IR 114 Research Parameters 115 Vietnam as ‘Ironic Victory’ 120 Military and Intellectual Pacifiers 122 Summers’ Discontent, Colby’s Complaint 125 Reasons Why 127 After Tet 131 The Home Front 133 Conclusion 135 Addendum: Counterinsurgency Chic 137 Why Freud Matters: Psychoanalysis and IR Revisited 154 Psychoanalytic Triggers 156 Freud and the Three Images 158 Self and Society 160 Psychoanalysis and the ‘Problem’ of the External 161 Stimulus and Conditional Response 163 Psychiatrists, Theologians and Constructivists 166 Psyche, Self-interest and Warfare 168 Two, Three, Many Vietnam Syndromes 170 911 and the Mismanagement of Fear 174 Conclusion 176 Addendum: Eli Zaretsky’s Freud 177 The Mystique of Genetic Correctness 192 Raw Eugenics 195 Tainted Breeds, Tainted Deeds 196 Degeneration and Its Discontents 198 Home of the Free and ‘Life Unworthy of Life’ 199 What New World? 201 Loose Ends: Considerations on the Aftermaths of the Celtic Tiger and the Northern ‘Troubles’ 211 Conclusion 216 Conclusion: Algren, Academe and Conformity 221 Index 231 Front Matter....Pages i-vii Introduction: Politics All the Way Down....Pages 1-15 Perestroika and American Political Science ....Pages 17-39 Dueling Constructivisms: A Post-Mortem on the Ideas Debate in Mainstream IR....Pages 41-72 Why Do States (Bother to) Deceive? Managing Trust at Home and Abroad....Pages 73-108 COIN Flips: Counterinsurgency Theory and American IR....Pages 109-148 Why Freud Matters: Psychoanalysis and IR Revisited....Pages 149-186 The Mystique of Genetic Correctness....Pages 187-205 Loose Ends: Considerations on the Aftermaths of the Celtic Tiger and the Northern ‘Troubles’....Pages 207-216 Conclusion: Algren, Academe and Conformity....Pages 217-226 Back Matter....Pages 227-231 Politics All The Way Down -- Perestroika And American Political Science -- Dueling Constructivisms : A Post-mortem On The Ideas Debate In Mainstream Ir -- Why Do States (bother To) Deceive? : Managing Trust At Home And Abroad -- Coin Flips : Counterinsurgency Theory And American Ir -- Why Freud Matters : Psychoanalysis And Ir Revisited -- The Mystique Of Genetic Correctness -- Loose Ends : Considerations On The Aftermaths Of The Celtic Tiger And The Northern Troubles -- Algren, Academe And Conformity. Kurt Jacobsen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.