POL 240 - Post Structuralism

What is post-structuralism in international relations?

Post-structuralism is a critical theory that examines how language, discourse, and power shape what we consider to be “reality” in International relations. It argues that knowledge, truth, and power are interlinked and socially produced rather than objective or fixed.

When and where did post-structuralism emerge?

It emerged in France during the 1960s and 1970s as a critique of dominant “meta narratives’ — grand universal explanations of how the world works.

What thinkers were core in the development of post-structuralism

Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, and Jean-Francois Lyotard 

What are metanarratives in post-structuralism?

Metanarratives are broad, taken-for-granted explanations (like progress, reason, or modernity) that justify power structures. Post-structuralists aim to expose these as social constructors, not objective truths. 

What does post-structuralism argue about knowledge and power?

Knowledge and power are inseparable- what counts as “truth” or “knowledge” is produced through power relations and discourses. Power doesn’t just repress; it produces knowledge, norms, and identities.

What is discourse according to post-structuralism

Discourse refers to structured systems of language, ideas, and practices that define what is thinkable, sayable, and doable. It doesn’t simply describe reality-it constructs it.

How does discourse shape International relations

Discourse determines what issues are visible or invisible, who is labeled as “threats” or “victims”, and what actions are considered legitimate. It shapes foreign policy, security agendas, and global hierarchies.

How does labeling function in discourse?

Labels are powerful tools that shape understanding and justify actions. They’re usually applied by those in power and reflect assumptions about other peoples, cultures, and ideologies

How does post-structuralism critique universal human rights?

Post-structuralists argue that “universal” human rights reflect western norms that erase local histories and impose a singular vision of justice. Institutions like ICC (International criminal court) often apply justice selectively, reinforcing western dominance.

What is the main goal of post-structuralism?

Its goal is to critique, and destabilizing established assumptions and hierarchies. It doesn’t prescribe alternative systems but exposes how existing “truths” and norms maintain power structures.

How does post-structural critique different from ordinary criticism

It doesn’t seek to replace current systems with better ones. Instead it seeks to just expose problems and reveal assumptions/exclusions that make some ideas some natural or inevitable

Which thinker is central to post-structuralism’s view of power and knowledge?

Michel Foucault. He argued that power and knowledge are intertwined and that power produces truth through discourse. This shapes social practices and institutions.

What is the power/knowledge nexus?

it is Foucault’s concept that power and knowledge exist together; power produces knowledge, and knowledge reinforces power. Together they shape subjects, identities, and social norms.

How does post-structuralism view the state and sovereignty?

It rejects the idea that the state’s dominance is natural or inevitable. Instead, the centrality of the state is the result of political and academic discourses that reproduce this power.

How does post-structuralism challenge mainstream IR theories?

It critiques realism and liberalism for treating the state, anarchy, and sovereignty as objective realities. Post-structuralists argue these are socially constructed and maintained through discourse and power. 

How do post-structuralists analyze “security”?

They see “security” as a socially constructed discourse that defines who and what is a threat. Changing discourse changes what counts as danger. For example, after 9/11, “terrorism” was discursively tied to ‘evil’ and ‘islam’ justifying extraordinary policies

What is the ‘war on terror” as a post-structuralist example?

It’s a discourse linking ‘terror’, ‘evil’, and ‘security’ that enabled surveillance, detention, and warfare outside traditional legal frameworks - this illustrates how discourse produced material effects.

How does post-structuralism differ from constructivism

Both emphasize ideas and norms, but constructivists focus on shared meanings and norm diffusion. Post-structuralists go deeper, asking how these meanings are produced, stabilized, and made to appear natural through power.

How does post-structuralism differ from Marxism?

Marxism roots power in material and economic structures; post-structuralism sees power as relational and discursive — it shapes identities, truths, and norms across social practices, not only economics. 

What are the three main questions post-structuralism asks about IR?

1. What is nature and source of power?

   1. power is productive and embedded in discourse

2. what are the relevant units of investigation

   1. discourses, narratives, subject positions, and identities

3. what are the outcomes of power configurations?

   1. the shaping of what counts as real, true, and legitimate in international politics.

What does “power as productive” mean?

Power doesn’t just suppress — it creates. it produces categories (i.e. developed or underdeveloped), legitimates norms, and defines who can speak or act in global politics.

What are the subject positions in post-structural analysis?

Subject positions are the identities and roles created within discourse (eg. state, terrorist, protector, victim). These positions shape how actors behave and are perceived internationally.

How does post-structuralism analyze foreign policy?

It investigates how language and discourse construct threats, enemies, and responsibilities. It reveals how such narratives make specific policies — like war or sanctions — seem natural or necessary

What are the outcomes of discursive power in IR?

Discourses stabilize identities (eg. the west or the third world), defines hierarchies (civilized/barbaric), and limit what can be thought or said, thereby shaping global order and policy legitimacy. 

Why do post-structuralists say meanings are contingent?

because meanings depend on context, history, and discourse — they are not fixed truths. Revealing their contingency opens the possibility for alternative, less exclusionary worldviews.

What is the post-structuralist critique of realism?

Realism assumes that states, anarchy, and survival are objective realities. Post-structuralists argue these are discursive achievements, maintained through narratives that shape what states perceive as threats.

What is the post-structuralist critique of liberalism?

Liberalism’s concepts of co-operation and rule-based order are historically contingent. Liberal universalism masks exclusion and power inequalities under the guise of neutrality and progress.

How does post-structuralism see power’s location in the international system?

Power id diffuse, operating through language, norms, institutions, and practices – not centralized in states or elites. It circulates through discourse and everyday interactions.

What is the overall contribution of of post-structuralism to IR?

It challenges taken-for-granted truths and reveals how international politics is constructed through discourse. By uncovering how meanings are made, it opens possibilities for alternative, inclusive worldviews.