Conceptualizing in the Minefield: Role Theory and Foreign Policy Learning

The literature on norm socialization and Europeanization has largely focused on successful norm diffusion, but thus far it has hardly addressed the norm backlash from the respective societies. To more fully grasp the interaction between member states' roles and their institutional preferences we provide a conceptual model for the de-composition of national role conceptions. This model is applied in case studies on German and Czech European policies in the constitutionalization process of the European Union. The paper illustrates how the composition of Czech and German roles has changed over time and how these national role conceptions shape the countries' respective institutional preferences. We conclude that historical role experience is considered as a powerful explanatory tool for the policies of today's European Union member states.Role theory has recently attracted attention as an interdisciplinary approach for understanding foreign policy decisions. Sociology, psychology and political science scholars have identified common characteristics of roles in diverse social domestic and international settings (Thies, 2010;Turner, 2006). Despite considerable interest in role theory,

show abstract

“…A robust shift along two or more of these dimensions is identified as 'role learning' (see Harnisch, 2012).…”

Section: Role Theory and European Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role theory in symbolic interactionism: Czech Republic, Germany and the EU

Beneš

Harnisch

2014

Cooperation and Conflict

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Yet role behavior is not always consistent with the expectations given by the setting. This incongruity opens up space for the creativity and agency that is inherent in role theory when using a symbolic interactionist approach as opposed to more exclusively structural approaches; that is, by focusing on role‐making as process of learning in which the agent initiates action shaped and constrained not only by Others’ expectations, but also by its own judgment of the situation (Harnisch :49; McCourt :379). A symbolic interactionist approach to role theory therefore brings both a focus on the agency capacity of the actor and on the reification of structures in other versions of the theory.…”

Section: The Interplay Of Roles and Narratives: Theory And Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Roles refer both to social positions in an organized group and to any socially recognized category of actors (Stryker and Statham :323). This theoretical approach has recently regained prominence in IR and foreign‐policy analysis scholarship (Harnisch, Frank, and Maull ; Cantir and Kaarbo ; Harnisch ; McCourt ; Thies ) after a previous resurgence in the 1980s–1990s (Walker ; Le Prestre ). These waves of role theory scholarship had their origins in the seminal contribution of Holsti () on national role conceptions (NRCs) and foreign‐policy analysis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Role Theory, Narratives, and Interpretation: The Domestic Contestation of Roles

Wehner

Thies

2014

Int Stud Rev

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article assesses the possibilities for the development of foreign-policy role theory using the concepts of traditions and dilemmas from the interpretive approach to foreign policy, as well as narratives as an interpretive method for analysis. While role theory is rich in conceptualization, it still suffers from overt structuralism, inattention to domestic processes of divergence/convergence affecting national roles, and from methodological underdevelopment. This article goes beyond studies of national role conceptions that present foreign-policy behavior as determined by the national role, thus making it possible to understand the interplay of competing voices in determining a national role, the processes of role change, and the resulting reorientation of foreign policy. This article illustrates the possibilities and limitations of merging role theory and the interpretive approach through the study of Chile's and Mexico's attempts to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), their accession to APEC, and their performance once accepted into APEC.

show abstract

“…An actor’s foreign policy, while being to a large extent driven by internal ideas and processes, is also partly shaped in response to others’ expectations and reactions in an adaptive fashion and thus represents a socialization game (Thies 2010), displaying characteristics of a learning process (Harnisch 2010). Thus, others’ role prescriptions, related to actor characteristics and to the social context at hand, contribute to the development of specific international roles.…”

Section: Role Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflicting Role Conceptions? The European Union in Global Politics1

Bengtsson

Elgström

2011

Foreign Policy Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article utilizes role theory for analysing the role(s) of the European Union (EU) in global politics. Specifically addressing the interplay of the EU's own role perception and the role expectations held by other actors, the article contributes two case studies of the role(s) of the EU in relation to two important but different actor groupings-Eastern Europe including Russia and the ACP countries in the developing world, respectively. The analysis points to the tensions that exist between selfperceptions and the perceptions of the EU's counterparts in Eastern Europe and the developing world, and how these tensions influences the interaction between the actors.The European Union increasingly aspires to play a leading role in global politics. It engages itself in negotiations, cooperation schemes, and conflict resolution processes with a vast number of actors utilizing an expanding set of tools. Due to its unique nature, the EU is often said to be different great power. The degree to which it succeeds in its great power ambitions is a complex matter, however, related to both the character of the issue-area in focus (for instance in terms of EU competence and resources and the relative strength of other actors) and how it is perceived by others on the international scene.The aim of this article is to investigate the EU's role(s) as an international actor. Utilizing role theory, we analyse both the EU's own role perception and the role expectations held by outsiders. We are interested in three interrelated aspects-the constitutive elements of a common EU role conception, possible role competition, and the degree of coherence between role conceptions and perceived role performance. Special attention is paid to the alleged normative power role of the EU and how, if at all, this role is reflected in outsiders' perceptions. We include case studies of the Union's roles in its relations with two important actor constellations: its eastern neighbors, notably Russia, and its ''partners'' in the developing world, specifically the ACP countries (the African, Caribbean, and Pacific states). We posit that the complex and dynamic interplay between an actor's own role conception, on the one hand, and the structurally guided role expectations of others, on the other hand, constitutes a main advantage of role theory and speaks directly to the issue of integrating foreign policy analysis and international relations theory.

show abstract

Conceptualizing in the Minefield: Role Theory and Foreign Policy Learning

Cited by 84 publications

References 59 publications

Role theory in symbolic interactionism: Czech Republic, Germany and the EU

Role theory in symbolic interactionism: Czech Republic, Germany and the EU

Role Theory, Narratives, and Interpretation: The Domestic Contestation of Roles

Conflicting Role Conceptions? The European Union in Global Politics1

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About