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Introduction

• The paper explores the relationship between international crises and identity construction through foreign policy, specifically after September 11, 2001.

• Key Concepts: Crisis, identity construction, articulation of foreign policy.

• The study focuses on how political processes are linked to meaning, which is conveyed through discourse.

Theoretical Framework

• Discourse Analysis: The paper integrates Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) with the theory of hegemony from Laclau and Mouffe.

• Hegemonic Discourse: Links discursive construction of crises to changing identities in politics.

• The discussion acknowledges inherent problems in linking CDA and Laclauian theory due to differing views on discourse.

The War on Terror

• Case Study: The construction of the "war on terror" by the Bush administration from September 2001 to May 2003.

• Characterized by a transformation in U.S. foreign policy, termed by some theorists as the most abrupt change in history (e.g., Walt 2001).

• The analysis will investigate the discourse's evolution from the onset of the crisis through to the declaration of the end of the Iraq war.

Identity and Crisis in Politics

• The study argues that political identity is constantly being recreated in crisis situations which create disorientation among citizens and institutions.

• Important questions include: What constitutes politics? How are social and political structures related? How do these transitions influence identity?

• Identity Construction: Suggests that identities are not fixed but rather in a state of constant becoming and reconstruction.

Discourse as a Social Construct

• Discourse is understood as the aggregation of meaningful articulations in social and political contexts.

• The social gains definition and form through political articulation.

• Crisis as Constant Phenomenon: Crisis is presented as foundational to political activity because without it, political debates lack substance and direction.

Poststructuralism and Identity

• The paper draws from poststructuralist thought, emphasizing that both truth and power are co-constructed by discourse.

• Signifiers in Discourse: The concept of empty (non-specific) and floating (variable meaning) signifiers is discussed in constructing identity within political rhetoric.

Methodological Approach

• The analysis uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods:

  • Corpus Linguistics to examine frequency and context of specific signifiers used in presidential speeches (WordSmith software).

  • Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA): Evaluates how discourses influence social change.

Identifying Empty Signifiers

• Quantitative Analysis: Involves calculating how frequently terms related to terrorism appear in Bush’s speeches.

• The term "terror" was heavily emphasized, indicating its role as a focal point in identity and national security narratives.

• The term "freedom" emerges as a core empty signifier, enabling collective identification amidst various demands and identities.

The Role of Threat Creation

• The discourse constructs a dichotomy between “good” (the U.S.) and “evil” (terrorists), fueling a binary understanding of international politics.

• The paper analyzes how terms like “evil” and “freedom” are positioned to unite diverse groups against a common adversary.

• It examines how threats and antagonism shape political narratives of identity.

Implications for Policy and Identity

• Identity formation through crisis necessitates the establishment of a consensus on what constitutes legitimate responses and policies, often leading to institutionalized actions.

• The response to the September 11 crisis, particularly through military action and domestic policies like the USA PATRIOT Act, illustrates how identity politics operates.

Conclusion

• The paper concludes that identity construction continues through discourses that respond to crises by employing empty signifiers that resonate with deeply entrenched social norms.

• The effectiveness of hegemonic discourses in shaping political identities post-9/11 illustrates the complexity of power and representation in international relations.

Main Research Questions and Argument

• Research Questions: How are international crises linked to identity construction in foreign policy?

• Argument: Political identity is constantly recreated in crises, influencing how foreign policy discourse develops and impacts social structures.

Foreign Policy Analysis Methods

• The paper employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and methods from discourse theory, mainly integrating insights from Laclau and Mouffe's theory of hegemony.

• It uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, specifically Corpus Linguistics to analyze speeches and Critical Discourse Analysis to evaluate social change.

Conceptual Discussion

• The study discusses how crisis functions as a foundational element in political activity, emphasizing the role of discourse in shaping political identities.

• It also engages with poststructuralist thought, articulating how truth and power are co-constructed through discourse.

Method Application

• The analysis utilizes quantitative methods to measure the frequency of specific terms in Bush’s speeches related to terrorism and identity.

• It also includes qualitative evaluation through CDA to analyze the impact of these discourses on political narratives.

Data Presented

• Data focuses on the frequency of terms like "terror" and "freedom" in presidential speeches, illustrating their significance in identity and national security narratives.

• It identifies how these terms serve as empty signifiers that facilitate collective identification amidst diverse demands.

Main Conclusions

• Identity construction through crises requires consensus on legitimate policy responses, which can lead to institutionalized actions.

• The discourse surrounding crises, especially post-9/11, shows that hegemonic discourses effectively shape political identities, highlighting the complex interplay of power and representation in international relations.