Writing Security: United States Foreign Policy and the Politics of Identity

interesting use of discourse analysis in constructing a theory of the legitimization of sovereignty. theory of identity being a performance where identity is mutually constituted through self/other distinctions is not new, but the application to US State identity is. Overall, the arguments are debatable, but the methods are interesting and thought provoking. The most interesting aspect of the book is idea that the US State uses an "evangelism of fear" to identify a danger/enemy and presents the State as the only legitimate protection against that danger/enemy. In this way the "war on terror" justifies obedience to the State, and constitutes identity by differing the self from the other, or the "us" from "them." The terrorists are the bad guys, and US foreign protects the good guys ("us")from "them." Therefore, US foreign policy serves to contruct identity.

This is a good book because it goes against the current of academic IR talk-talk, it is not attempting to become an IR pet-paradigm that is divorced from reality. Not that I am a 'post positivist' of sorts, i simply enjoyed reading Prof. Campbells book because I could learn something new. The book is accesible, it is not written in an esoteric and obsucrantist prose, contrary to some of his peers who are in fashion in mainstream IR. It is original and allows one to look through different glasses at a reality that is a reality, meaning a reality that is not pulled out of the head of some 'theorist' that needs, you guessed, his 'theory' to be made somehow comprehensible. Highly recommended for those IR students that want to learn in an original way something new about International Politcs.

Campbell does a great job in meta-theory, and his critiques of the realist epistemic are very convincing. However, his reading of US foreign policy is very allegorical and his interpretation, much like other deconstructivist works, has an authority that is difficult to contest. Nevertheless, as a critical viewpoint in how danger is constructed in our society, it definitely gets you thinking.

Drawing heavily on Foucault and the philosophy of identity, this book provides a new and logically sound alternative to viewing international relations through the currently dominant neo-realist paradigm. It is well documented and provides a solid explanation of our foreign policy that takes into account such complex social factors as the quest for identity, as opposed to observing foreign policy as simply a political or economic power-play. It is an excellent book with a unique perspective, and should be read by anyone who desires a complete view of how nations relate with each other.