Open AccessEvolution of the Other in Modern Conflict: a Constructivist Experience of Cconflict
Author(s) -
D. Chernobrov
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
vestnik mgimo-universiteta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2541-9099
pISSN - 2071-8160
DOI - 10.24833/2071-8160-2012-6-27-47-53
Subject(s) - terrorism , constructivism (international relations) , conflict resolution , argument (complex analysis) , political science , state (computer science) , politics , power (physics) , political economy , epistemology , prism , sociology , cultural conflict , international relations , social science , law , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , optics , algorithm , quantum mechanics , computer science , philosophy
Conflict, as dealing with power, generally tends to be analysed in Russian sources through the prism of national interest and power play. Emerging new phenomena, such as terrorism, new/ asymmetric warfare, popular uprisings (e.g. Arab Spring), and the controversial notion of globalization, tend to be placed in realist frames of balancing, interest and state politics. This essay expands a constructivist contribution to explaining conflict by looking at the evolution of the image of the ‘other’ and stressing its importance as an element reflecting and cementing the conflict potential at a collective, public level. The argument links the evolution of the Other to its multilevel self-identities, formation of nation-state-self, increase in accessible information flows. By making a socio-historical cut, the essay suggests that conflict ‘others’ today have become more complex, which inhibits conflict resolution and leads us to reevaluate the often neglected role of constructivist analysis.