Role Theory, Narratives, and Interpretation: The Domestic Contestation of Roles

Abstract

This article assesses the possibilities for the development of foreign-policy role theory using the concepts of traditions and dilemmas from the interpretive approach to foreign policy, as well as narratives as an interpretive method for analysis. While role theory is rich in conceptualization, it still suffers from overt structuralism, inattention to domestic processes of divergence/convergence affecting national roles, and from methodological underdevelopment. This article goes beyond studies of national role conceptions that present foreign-policy behavior as determined by the national role, thus making it possible to understand the interplay of competing voices in determining a national role, the processes of role change, and the resulting reorientation of foreign policy. This article illustrates the possibilities and limitations of merging role theory and the interpretive approach through the study of Chile's and Mexico's attempts to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), their accession to APEC, and their performance once accepted into APEC.

Inter‐Role Conflict, Role Strain and Role Play in Chile's Relationship with Brazil

“…Chile is a global trader, as it is among the countries with the most Free Trade Agreements (FTA) anywhere in the world (Wehner and Thies, ). It has pursued a proactive strategy of inserting itself into the global economy ever since the mid‐1990s.…”

Narrative practice in international politics and diplomacy: the case of the Crimean crisis

“…In his study of the ontology of political community, Berenskoetter (2014) identifies the parameters of the biographical narrative that define the nation-state. Other scholars focus on the battle of narratives between groups that have different national roles in conceptions of their country (Wehner and Thies 2014). This is especially the case of international conflicts -they generally come with a conflict of narratives, with different states' framing of the same political event or situation contradicting one another.…”

Malaysian Foreign Policy Toward Singapore From Mahathir to Badawi and Najib: A Role Theory Assessment

“…Thus, role theory seeks to provide a helpful middle ground to integrate foreign policy analyses which usually focus on the agent and system‐level explanations prevalent in International Relations theories (Thies & Bruening, ). Role conception and behavior of an agent are not fixed entirely by the structure because agents within the structures are also capable of shaping their external structures (Wehner & Thies, , pp. 414–415).…”

“…This article seeks to examine the continuity and changes in Malaysia's national role conception vis‐à‐vis Singapore from Mahathir to Badawi, and followed by Najib. Most studies based on role theory have focused on interpreting the historical trajectory of events and narratives of political elites to identify the roles a state may perform (Wehner & Thies, , p. 421). Such narratives prescribe what is allowable or not encouraged in foreign policy options and national role performance (Hansel & Möller, , pp.…”

“…Second, when agents interact, national role conceptions and the foreign policy traditions are continued or contested, such that they change when “dilemmas and historical contingencies remain salient” (Wehner & Thies, , p. 431). Even though national leaders could seek to revise national role conceptions based on their beliefs and worldviews, existing traditionalist elites could resist the newly conceived national roles.…”