An alternative vision of politics and violence: Introducing mimetic theory in international studies

Brighi, E. and Cerella, A. 2015. An alternative vision of politics and violence: Introducing mimetic theory in international studies. Journal of International Political Theory. 11 (1), pp. 3-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1755088214555455

TitleAn alternative vision of politics and violence: Introducing mimetic theory in international studies
AuthorsBrighi, E.
Cerella, A.
Abstract

This article aims at introducing René Girard’s mimetic theory in the field of International Studies, identifying some of the areas of research that it might usefully open up. First, the article explores mimetic theory and some of its basic concepts—mimetic desire, mimetic rivalry, the scapegoat mechanism, and the sacrificial crisis—in order to highlight the strong heuristic and analytical potential of Girard’s work. Second, the article considers Girard’s contribution in light of contemporary theories of International Relations to demonstrate its added value. Third, the article serves as a critical introduction to the various sections and contributions of the Special Issue.

JournalJournal of International Political Theory
Journal citation11 (1), pp. 3-25
ISSN1755-0882
Year2015
PublisherSage
Accepted author manuscript
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1755088214555455
Publication dates
Published04 Jan 2015

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