New Medievalism as Metaphorical Conceptualization of International Order and Heuristic Device Based on Historical Analogy

There are plenty of metaphorical images in international political thought and IR theories that improve our understanding of contemporary as well as past events and processes. Especially today, in a world of paradoxes and turbulences, we have various interpretations of ongoing transformations and their source (e.g. discourses on globalization or postmodernity). Given that the sources of contemporary issues are regarded to be rooted in the second half of the 20th century, reference to the international political thought from that time is certainly needed and justified. And, indeed, we can find there a perfect example of metaphorical thinking on world politics and transformations of power which is the concept of new medievalism, created by Hedley Bull in 1977 to describe the trends which he observed in world politics in context of globalization. According to Bull, it is possible that such processes would transform the modern international system in a complex medieval-like construction of power and authority that was based on multiplicity of actors, differentiated and complex relations and competition for ‘universal’ authority between the papacy and empire. In his words, new medievalism is an order of ‘overlapping authority and multiple loyalty’ that would emerge as a consequence of globalization as well as internationalization of power (Bull, 1977). Regarding reference to Middle Ages, the conception is based on ‘historical analogy’ that is a metaphorical image and future scenario of the international system at the same time. Moreover, new medievalism has started to be considered as useful heuristic device or analytical framework (Friedrichs, 2001; Friedrichs, 2004) for researching and conceptualizing contemporary international system and/or order, especially in context of growing role of non-state actors and non-elective regulatory bodies. Also, there appeared some interests in using new medievalism for more deepen and fresh conceptualization of European integration (Zielonka, 2006; Zielonka, 2014) as, regarding the changes that integration processes have caused, we can recognize the political system of the European Union as the truly neo-medieval laboratory (Ibidem). Moreover, new medievalism found itself in more general considerations on the ‘period of transition’ that we all experience now (Hassner, 2002). The paper supports a thesis that the new medievalism belongs to crucial metaphors that were created in the 20th century to describe still ongoing changes. It is because, as the paper argues, the potential of this conception is revealing not only in intellectual richness of its content and puzzles that it creates for popular understandings of politics and power, but also in its utility as heuristic device, employed for analyzing and understanding politics and power in the turn of 20 and 21st century (Spalińska, 2019). As mentioned, that especially concerns the outcomes of globalization, digital revolution, neoliberal reforms in economies, growing role of non-state actors, etc. The aim of the paper is to outline the main features of new medievalism as a way of conceptualizing international politics (just like in Bull’s thought) as well as examples of its applications for political research as a certain heuristic strategy.