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War, liberalism, and modernity: the biopolitical provocations of ‘Empire’
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 10:52 authored by Julian ReidThe relationships between war, liberalism and modernity remain heavily under-theorised within international relations. Existing critiques emphasise the ways in which the developments of liberal societies have been facilitated by the deployment of instrumental forms of force and violence in the extension and control of spaces beyond the boundaries of the zone of ‘liberal peace’. Yet, the ordinary functioning of liberal societies themselves can also be understood in terms of the roles of war. This article utilises ideas derived from Michel Foucault and Antonio Negri to advance our understanding of the ways in which liberal powers pursue security through the creation of what this author terms a logistical order of relations between the subjects that they govern. Simultaneously, the strategisation of social relations within liberal societies fosters the development of new forms of antagonistic subjectivities that contest the logistical foundations of liberal societies. This dual set of developments poses problematic questions as to how we should understand the relationships between the organisation of liberal societies and the forms of resistance that emerge in their midst. As the author details, these questions are made all the more pressing by the current context of the War on Terror.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Cambridge Review of International AffairsISSN
0955-7571Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
1Volume
17Page range
63-79Department affiliated with
- Politics Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-21Usage metrics
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