Abstract
Constructing Global Enemies explores the highly relevant issue of identity construction based on hegemonic practices generating the images of the Other in international politics. As the fight against terrorism and drug abuse scores high on the political agenda of many countries, Eva Herschinger's book follows the international dimension of these two discourses. By using a post-structural form of discourse analysis the author offers an approach that highlights how terrorism and drug abuse surfaced as problems for the international community and how they are linked to the production of collective identity.
The author's central argument is that the establishment of hegemonic orders at the international level is subject to a dual process of discursive homogenisation of the Other and a simultaneous creation of a cohesive vision of the Self. Herschinger points out, however, that the identity-making process does not necessarily occur as a simple Self–Other duality. Instead, it is situated in a web of identities, in which we can differentiate varying degrees of Otherness. In the context of this identity complexity, ‘hegemonic orders rely essentially on the construction of an unequivocal, radically different, and menacing Other’ (p. 8). Thus, the book explores the relationship between hegemony and identity by showing not only how hegemonic discourses emerge in the field of security, but also how counter-hegemonic projects are suppressed. Inspired, among others, by the writings of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, the book highlights the notion of discursive hegemonic and counter-hegemonic strategies.
Herschinger's comparative approach to the international discourse on terrorism and drug abuse shows insightful results. Both discourses use war-like language in their attempts to forge hegemonic projects creating an antagonistic Other and promoting the construction of the ‘good’ Self. In addition, both discourses articulate ultimate and common goals to overcome the collective problems at hand. However, there are striking differences between them. While in the drugs case a constitution of a hegemonic order at the international level was successful, the discourse on terrorism could not establish a cohesive collective Self, mainly due to a heterogeneity of the antagonistic Other.
Herschinger's book is a very timely and stimulating analysis of the hegemony-identity nexus in international politics. It offers a successful mixture of post-structural concepts and theory with clear-cut empirical findings. Still, the book leaves the problem of intentionality in the hegemonic projects open. Certainly, it is not easy to bring post-structual theory and rational actorness together. Nonetheless, this could be the next step towards further cross-fertilisation between reflexive and rational approaches in the discipline of International Politics.