Representants and International Orders: The Staging of Political Authority (Lse International Studies)

Description

Representants and International Orders investigates the critical role of political representatives in constructing and maintaining international political authority. Alena Drieschova argues that international orders are not merely abstract systems but are actively staged and performed through the everyday practices of diplomats, state officials, and other representatives.

The book challenges conventional understandings of how political authority operates at the global level. Rather than viewing international order as an institutional given, Drieschova demonstrates how representatives continuously negotiate, interpret, and enact the rules and norms that govern interstate relations. Through detailed analysis of diplomatic encounters and performances, she reveals the theatrical dimensions of international politics and the ways authority is constructed through representation.

This work contributes to International Relations theory and diplomatic history by bridging constructivist and performative approaches. It offers valuable insights for scholars interested in how global political order is maintained through human agency and symbolic practice.