ISA Submission

I just submitted the following to International Studies Association, whose conference will be in NYC in February.

Title: Military Applications of Social Constructivism and Contentious Politics

Participants:
Author – Stephen M Pampinella

Abstract: This article develops a theoretical explanation for intended outcomes of counterinsurgency (COIN) operations. Part One of the article reviews current literature on the nature and characteristics of contemporary warfare and discusses the similarities, differences, strengths, and weaknesses of this literature. The most important themes to draw from this literature emphasize that contemporary warfare is more political than purely military, and focuses on the mobilization of civilian populations rather than using force to defeat a military opponent. Part Two demonstrates that achieving COIN objectives such as ‘winning hearts and minds’ is a process best explained by two expanding theoretical approaches: IR Constructivism as developed by Alexander Wendt and Contentious Politics as developed by Doug McAdam, Sidney Tarrow, and Charles Tilly. Counterinsurgency is a strategy in warfare that requires the manipulation of the identity and culture of a civilian population. Both IR Constructivism and Contentious Politics provide explanations of the process of identity construction and actor constitution. Lastly, Part Three will argue that contemporary warfare is defined the use of discourse as a strategic weapon. This Foucauldian theme is one that other authors also emphasize, but have yet to fully investigate. Concluding thoughts are devoted to thinking about using a discursive approach to think about the feasibility of nation building and state building as foreign policy outcomes.

Section/Theme/Organization Designations:
International Security Studies
Peace Studies

xGW will be included as a major part (agree with burying GMW, btw) of the literature review in Part One, as insights into 5GW are what led me into this topic. Let’s hope ISA agrees that its a worthwhile paper!