Friendship, Space, and Norms in Politics

Abstract

The past quarter of a century has seen a revival of the concept of ‘friendship’ as a means of understanding human relations. In Political Studies and International Relations in particular, the concept has been given increasing focus as means of giving analytical, interpretative and normative evaluation of the political world. This panel seeks to explore new innovative ways in which the concept of friendship can be developed, and how it can be utilised to better understand the political world. The panel invites historical inquiries as to how classical ideas of friendship should be interpreted and how such understanding can enrich our perception of the present. It also invites papers which challenge the classical articulations of friendship and seek to develop new innovative approaches into how the concept can be articulated and applied. It in particular invites inquiry into the development of friendship beyond the classical model of a ‘close-dyadic bond’ into the consideration of friendships between multiple, more loosely connected human beings; human beings and institutions; human beings and non-human beings (such as animals); and human beings and ‘the earth’. It will also invite reflection on whether these innovative approaches can and should be made, and how this sits with the tradition. With an increasing focus on non-western though and endeavours to ‘decolonize’ the cannons of thought, the panel also invites the exploration of non-western perspectives on friendship. How is the western rhetoric of ‘friendship’ perceived by smaller nations and Indigenous Peoples? Do non-western perspectives compliment and enrich the western understanding of Political Friendship, or pose a challenge to it? How can alternative non-western theories, such as Sino relational ontology, enrich our understanding of friendships and help us address contemporary political problems? The panel also takes focus on the international dimensions of politics and friendship. It does so in two ways: it firstly concerns itself with how the concept of friendship informs inter-State relationships; how friendship helps us understand the formation and legacy of treaties, informs international diplomacy and contributes to the building of alliances. Secondly it considers how thinking about friendship can enrich our understanding and approach to pressing international issues, most notably the global threat of climate change. In reflecting on how the relationship between politics and friendship can evolve through both innovation and serious consideration of perspectives from outside the western canon, this panel seeks to explore new ways in which the idea of friendship can be brought to bear on our understanding of international politics.

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