Towards an International Political Ergonomics

Abstract

This article introduces International Political Ergonomics. International Political Ergonomics is a novel research programme focused on achieving political change through the ergonomic (re)design of world politics. The approach is grounded on a shift across International Relations which recognizes that its epistemic (i.e. knowledge-producing) core is often inadequate to achieve change. Insights from the practice turn and behaviouralist International Relations, as well as from philosophy, sociology and neuroscience, demonstrate that much international behaviour is driven by the ‘unconscious’ or ‘non-reflexive’ re-articulation of repertoires of actions even where the pathologies of this process are known. This implies that knowledge production and dissemination (i.e. to policymakers, global publics) is often unable to effect influence over social practices. What is thus required is a non-epistemic means of producing world political change. International Political Ergonomics is a research programme that takes up this task. It does so by describing how small material interventions into world politics can radically shift individual behaviours by encouraging greater rationality, reflexivity and deliberation. After laying out the theoretical basis for this claim, the article demonstrates it by detailing the application of International Political Ergonomics to violence-prevention efforts. The article concludes by reflecting on the radical implications that International Political Ergonomics has for the vocation of International Relations.

Science, technology, security: Towards critical collaboration

“…Some have argued that, in the light of potential co-option and reproduction of dominant narratives, there should not be any socio-technical security collaborations at all ( Neocleous, 2018 ). Others have been more optimistic, although aware of the challenges ( Austin, 2019 ; Burgess, 2018 ; Leese et al, 2019 ). Building on these works, we propose to pursue collaboration with security communities of practice, but to proceed with caution.…”

Constructivism and Peaceful Change

“…Moving away from both discourses and practices enacted by human actors, scholars have drawn our attention to the power of images and objects that in and of themselves can have agency and impact social interactions, because they structure what humans perceive as possible or permissible. Adler-Nissen and Drieschova (2019) focus on the role of internet and communication technologies as structuring diplomatic documents; Anna Leander shows the inescapable questions drones pose for legal expertise (Leander 2013); and, drawing on psychological work, Jonathan Austin argues that prison cameras restrain prison guards (Austin 2019).…”