A NEW SCIENCE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
For Amelia and Leticia Monteiro Popolo, Os Meus Olhos Enormes
A New Science of International Relations
Modernity, Complexity and the Kosovo Conflict
DAMIAN POPOLO
Lancaster University, UK
First published 2011 by Ashgate Publishing
Published 2016 by Routledge
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Copyright 2011 Damian Popolo
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Popolo, Damian.
A new science of international relations : modernity, complexity and the Kosovo conflict.
1. International relations--Philosophy. 2. Complexity (Philosophy) 3. Epistemics. 4. Kosovo War, 1998-1999. 5. Intervention (International law) 6. Operation Allied Force, 1999. 7. Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984.
I. Title
327.1'01-dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Popolo, Damian.
A new science of international relations : modernity, complexity and the Kosovo conflict / Damian Popolo.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4094-1226-7 (hardback)
1. International relations--Decision making 2. Complexity (Philosophy) 3. Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984--Political and social views. 4. Kosovo War, 1998-1999--Diplomatic history. 5. Kosovo (Republic)--Politics and government--1980-2008. I. Title.
JZ1253.P67 2010
327.101--dc22
2010043187
ISBN 9781409412267 (hbk)
ISBN 9781315565026 (ebk)
Contents
List of Figures and Tables
Figures
Table
PART 1
Complexity, Modernity and International Relations Theory
Introduction
Here one is reminded of a somewhat modified expression of Proudhons: whoever invokes humanity is trying to cheat. To confiscate the word humanity, to invoke and monopolize such a term probably has certain incalculable effects, such as denying the enemy the quality of being human and declaring him to be an outlaw of humanity.
Once, after the father of metaphysics had expounded his theory of forms using neologisms such as tablehood and cuphood, Diogenes responded: Plato, table and cup I see, but your tablehood and cuphood no way. This story resembles the occasion when Plato deployed his vaunted method of collection and division to define man as a featherless biped, and Diogenes produced a plucked chicken as a counterexample saying, Here is Platos man!
This book is primarily about substantiating a number of interrelated claims, which, taken together, can provide the basis for the establishment of new approaches in the study of International Relations (IR). The main claims, or hypotheses, are summarised below.
First, IR as a discipline was constituted according to the rules of what Foucault described as the modern episteme. In this intellectual framework, metaphysics and transcendentalism characterise ways in which knowledge on any particular issue is generated and deployed. Second, IR, as with many other disciplines in the social sciences, based its claims to scientific knowledge on methods and epistemologies derived from the natural sciences. These epistemologies have been rendered obsolete following the emergence of Complexity science. Third, the metaphysics inherent within IR theory can be detected in the practice of IR, and these broadly underpin the ways in which conflict in this case the Kosovo conflict is understood and acted upon. The metaphysics in the theory and practice of IR are mutually constituted. Fourth, the importance of Complexity as an approach to knowledge that supersedes the rules of the modern episteme needs to be fully outlined before new approaches to knowledge based on Complexity-inspired ideas can be established.
Complexity can indeed provide alternative paths to the understanding of IR theory, practice and of conflict, but it needs to be given a solid theoretical basis first, and this is what Foucaults description of epistemes provides. Foucaults analysis is particularly relevant, as it is in itself the extension of a long French tradition in the philosophy of science, which focuses largely on the construction of European scientific thought. Foucaults background in the philosophy of science and the relevance of French, and more broadly Continental, philosophical traditions for an understanding of Complexitys origins will be outlined throughout the book. In particular, will demonstrate that key Complexity theorists were inspired by the likes of Bergson and Goethe: this has serious implications for how we understand Complexity in the context of Western philosophy, and for contemporary debates on the nature of Complexity.
A very relevant example of transcendental thinking relates to the idea of humankind as an abstract essence, which is, in turn, essential for the formulation of concepts such as Humanitarian Intervention. Events surrounding the Kosovo conflict have often been characterised as a (welcome) example of just such type of intervention. Yet, as the introductory quotes above suggest, notions such as humanity and humankind are not uncontroversial. Whilst Carl Schmitt worried about the political consequences of deploying these terms, Diogenes of Sinope the founder of Greek Cynicism denied that notions such as tablehood, cuphood and, by extension, humankind, make any sense at all. In reality, the crux of any argument regarding the possibility of analysing the political can be discerned in this very early opposition between the father of (transcendental) political philosophy and the father of cynicism: can we think beyond the immanent reality of the human condition, into the realm of the transcendental, and if we can, what are the consequences of doing so?
In this context this study is also an attempt at exploring what makes such transcendental understandings of humankind possible, how these understandings come about, what role they play in the generation and deployment of knowledge, what the consequences of adopting such terms in political reasoning are and, finally, how these notions can be challenged through a critical understanding of Complexity science. The research is based on three pillars that allow the issues above to be addressed. The first pillar is provided by Michel Foucaults analysis of epistemic fluctuations, which reveal amongst other things the conceptual and historical roots of a very modern approach to metaphysical knowledge, that is, the sort of knowledge that allows for notions such as humankind and, by extension, of humanitarian intervention to make sense. The second pillar is an epistemic understanding of how modern IR theory (and practice) was constructed. The third pillar is constituted by a Foucauldian analysis of Complexity science as an approach to knowledge that fundamentally undermines any modern, metaphysical analysis of human relations: this will allow the crucial differences between Complexity and current metaphysical approaches in IR (the second pillar) to be fully visible. Finally, the Kosovo conflict will be presented as a case study which will outline the practical implications and consequences of, for example, classifying humans through the metaphysical notions of humanity, ethnicity, or, as it happens, featherless bipedalism. Such a case study will also present the ways in which IR theory and practice approached the conflict from an essentially metaphysical perspective.
