11. Honor in International Relations
- Author:
- Shashank Joshi
- Publication Date:
- 12-2008
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
- Abstract:
- The concept of honor has an extensive and distinguished lineage in the study of international relations, although contemporary theory has lost sight of its importance. This study begins to remedy that situation. It does so by first setting out the place of honor in relation to a number of other related concepts, like prestige and status. It then outlines a theory of "negative honor," and situates this in relation to existing theoretical and empirical accounts of honor-related variables. This theory draws on extant work in social psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, and other fields, to set out hypotheses on why, how, and when political leaders of states might respond to certain kinds of challenges in a way that constitutes honor-seeking behavior. The second part of the paper tentatively sets out one way to empirically evaluate these hypotheses. While unsuccessful, this provides a blueprint for further research and a number of soon-to-be-implemented refinements.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Economics, and Political Theory
- Political Geography:
- China