Ramon Blanco

Book Review: Roger Manning, War and Peace in the Western Political ImaginationWar and Peace in the Western Political Imagination by ManningRoger. London; New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. 392pp., £80.00 (h/b), ISBN 9781474258708

critical of the rejection of the ‘left’ label because, as she argues, right-wing populists also speak in the name of the people. ‘The people’ thus needs to be articulated together with the value of ‘equality’ in a left-wing populist discourse. In this and many other ways, the book combines theory and practical politics in illuminating ways. For more in-depth treatments of Podemos and of Laclau’s and Mouffe’s theories, one needs to consult other works, but the book serves as an excellent introduction to Podemos, contemporary Spanish politics and the writings of Laclau and Mouffe.

Book Review: Anna M Agathangelou and Kyle D Killian (eds), Time, Temporality and Violence in International Relations: (De)fatalizing the Present, Forging Radical AlternativesTime, Temporality and Violence in International Relations: (De)fatalizing the Present, Forging Radical Alternatives by AgathangelouAnna MKillianKyle D (eds). Abingdon: Routledge, 2016. 366pp., £100.00 (h/b), ISBN 9780415712712

This book advances two main – and somewhat separate – claims on the process of norm transformation: first, that technological innovations provide opportunities for norm transformation, and second, that a revised constructivist understanding focusing on the agency of great-power elites is best suited to explain the process of international norm transformation. Jeffrey Lantis elaborates these two arguments through five case studies of technological innovation and subsequent norm contestation, from the atomic bomb and non-proliferation to the militarisation of outer space. Through these, he proposes a revision of Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkink’s norm life-cycle model, arguing that the end point of a norm-change cycle is not the internalisation of norms but rather norm substitution (p. 154), the three stages now being ‘recognition of techno-normative dilemmas’, ‘redefinition of domestic normative commitments’ and ‘norm substitution attempt’. Drawing a distinction between first-generation (which sees norms as constitutive) and secondgeneration constructivism (which considers norms as products of constant self-reflection and discursive contestation), Lantis sides with the latter in arguing that powerful states (namely, the United States) often react to technological innovation by seeking to transform and replace norms in order to legitimise new behaviours, rather than merely sticking to the internalised old norms. Thus, Lantis makes two theoretical contributions: first, he argues that technological innovation is endogenous to norm change, and second, he claims to offer a more satisfactory account of great-power agency in driving norm transformation than other constructivist explanations. In my view, the main interest of Lantis’ book lies in its robust constructivist theoretical framework, rather than in the specific link of technology and norm change. In much of the book, technology offers an illustration to a theoretical argument about constructivism rather than constituting a substantial part of the theory. Lantis claims that technological innovation provides great-power leaders (meaning American) with an ‘opportunity’ to recognise ‘techno-normative dilemmas’ – the disjunction of norms and new behaviours made possible through technological innovation – and thus effect norm change (p. 18). In this, technology may ‘catalyz[e] norm change’ (p. 150), but is by no means an essential starting point. Lantis’ solid constructivist theory holds very well on its own, and the starting point for norm revision could be other than technological. It is unclear whether, for Lantis, technological innovation has any role of its own in prompting norm change, or whether the focus is rather principally on the agency of great-power leaderships in choosing whether to react to technological innovation. I suspect he tends towards the latter, relegating technological innovation to the background. Nevertheless, this is a theoretically rigorous and stimulating book, which will interest scholars of constructivism, international norm regimes and American foreign policy.

Book Review: Arturo C Sotomayor, The Myth of the Democratic Peacekeeper: Civil-Military Relations and the United NationsThe Myth of the Democratic Peacekeeper: Civil-Military Relations and the United Nations by SotomayorArturo C. Baltimore, MA: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014. 255pp., £26.00 (p/b), ISBN 9781421412139

rituals as facilitators of communication, Sasson Sofer goes on to analyse various types of diplomatic forums from spas and temples to summit and conference diplomacy. He is of the opinion that open diplomacy should be avoided and that secret negotiations are the apotheosis of diplomacy. Overall, the book intends to humanise ‘the diplomat’ and correct the ‘flagrant ingratitude’ (p.55) bestowed on her/his role in domestic and international society. In order to improve the general perception regarding a diplomat, Sofer gives various personal accounts from the lives of diplomats ranging from Harold Nicolson and Pablo Neruda to François de Callières, Ernest Satow and others. It is an attempt to salvage the image of a diplomat who has been historically seen as a spy and a liar and as playing a role that has little value in the contemporary world. Writing against the expansion of diplomatic activities to non-state actors such as non-governmental organisations, he writes that ‘the diplomat might have declined in power and prestige, but there is no substitute for his or her role as a resident envoy’ (p.73). The approach and arguments of the author towards the role of the diplomat seem increasingly anachronistic and harmfully static to the theory and practice of diplomacy itself in the modern world. However, the book tries to give an overview of all aspects regarding the evolution of diplomacy. It is an excellent foundational reading for anyone looking at the theory and practice of diplomacy for the first time.

Book Review: Lucian Ashworth, A History of International Thought: From the Origins of the Modern State to Academic International RelationsA History of International Thought: From the Origins of the Modern State to Academic International Relations by AshworthLucian. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013. 320pp., £26.99 (p/b), ISBN 9781408282922

radical: the Nozickian welfare state is crossborder (pp. 161–162), meaning that it goes further than actually existing welfare states. Perhaps, too, non-human animals could be included, but this is not mentioned. Despite this, Wündisch does not offer an idyllic vision, and does not commit to it. The Nozickian state would be obliged to deny payments to the heavily disabled, as such persons would not have fared well in a world without appropriation. This is an ‘ugly reminder’ of the role of this welfare state (p. 86). It is an open question whether Nozick’s normative commitments could ever ground a desirable welfare state. Indeed, Nozick’s own words on the subject, taken from his later work, are apt: ‘The point [of public expenditure] is not simply to accomplish the particular purpose ... but also to speak solemnly in everyone’s name, in the name of society, about what it holds dear’ (The Examined Life, p. 289). Surely, we do and should hold dear the survival of our co-citizens, regardless of how they would have fared in some counterfactual world.

Book Review: Trine Villumsen Berling, The International Political Sociology of Security: Rethinking Theory and PracticeThe International Political Sociology of Security: Rethinking Theory and Practice by BerlingTrine Villumsen. Abingdon: Routledge, 2015. 196pp., £90.00 (h/b), ISBN 9780415598248

convincing account of the dynamic interaction between political parties, news media and public opinion. Effective accountability of foreign policy decision-making in the public sphere is assured by strong political opposition parties that can act as whistle-blowers when governments commit mistakes. Independent media institutions are crucial for conveying the message of the whistle-blowers to citizens. The book specifically explores three aspects of international conflicts: the initiation of conflicts, the way states choose to respond to the actions of other states, and processes of coalition formation. Besides the innovative argument put forward, the book excels in the way it combines quantitative and qualitative methods. It also relies on an extensive number of sources and uses a wide range of data sets. This is indeed evidence of sophisticated and laborious empirical research. Nevertheless, one of the main potential criticisms which is partly acknowledged by the authors relates to the way they chose to measure the two independent variables: diverse political opposition and media robustness. It is indeed difficult to dispel all criticism of the measurements used, but the empirical analysis does provide enough validity and reliability to the analysis. All in all, this is a seminal reading recommended for all scholars interested in the way domestic factors influence foreign policy.

O Estado Moderno na Europa Ocidental: Três Narrativas da sua Formação

This paper deals with a still very pressing topic, and lively debate, within Political Science and International Relations – the formation of modern states. It delineates the main narratives that seek to explain the formation of the modern state in Western Europe, namely: an economic, a managerial, and a military narrative. Rather than seeking to observe which narrative has more explanatory power over the other, the paper understands each narrative, as well as the authors within them, as an important part of a theoretical mosaic that seeks to understand and explain a dubious, non-linear, diverse and full of setbacks and false starts process that is the formation of the modern state. Therefore, the paper delineates each one of the aforementioned narratives while shedding light on their fundamental arguments, authors and rationale. Finally, the paper provides a middle ground framework in regards to the state formation in Western Europe where the distinct narratives can meet and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the process in which the modern state was formed.