Should we be writing at a time like this? Reflections on abolition, political science, and international relations

Abstract

Should we be writing at a time like this? In this short reflection for the 25th anniversary of the British Journal of Politics and International Relations, I argue that for the journal to remain relevant in an age of perma-crisis, those of us who read and publish in it need to adopt an abolitionist approach to our research, teaching, and praxis. I outline the contours of an abolitionist approach to political science and international relations, and argue that if we are a community who aims to understand, explain, and address the issues and crises that face Britain and the globe today, then our disciplines of political science and international relations may themselves not be up to the scale and seriousness of the challenges we face. Instead, abolition can provide a pathway to overcoming harms and injustices, and offers us a future of care, community, and public safety.