Ontological Security in International Relations

The central assertion of this book is that states pursue social actions to serve self-identity needs, even when these actions compromise their physical existence. Three forms of social action, sometimes referred to as motives' of state behavior (moral, humanitarian, and honor-driven) are analyzed here through an ontological security approach. Ontological Security in International Relations develops an account of social action which interprets these behaviors as fulfilling a nation-state's drive to secure self-identity through time. The anxiety which consumes all social agents motivates them to secure their sense of being, and thus the book posits that transformational possibilities exist in the Self' of a nation-state. The book consequently both challenges and complements realist, liberal, constructivist and post-structural accounts to international politics. Using ontological security to interpret three cases - British neutrality during the American Civil War (1861-1865), Belgium's decision to fight German in 1914, and NATO's (1999) Kosovo intervention - the book concludes by discussing the importance for self-interrogation in both the study and practice of international relations. This book will be of particular interest to students and researchers of International Politics, International Ethics, International Relations and Security Studies.Steele, Brent J. is the author of 'Ontological Security in International Relations', published 2008 under ISBN 9780415772761 and ISBN 0415772761.