| How is it possible to pursue more inclusive interests in international affairs? This dissertation develops and illustrates a feminist constructivist model for how to construct more just and inclusive interests, in order to create the foundation for more just and inclusive behavior. This conceptual model draws on a Gramscian understanding of hegemony, a narrative model of identity, and a current understanding of social psychology's Social Identity Theory (SIT) to develop existing constructivist theorizing, especially by Alexander Wendt and Nicholas Onuf, and feminist theorizing, especially by Brooke Ackerly. On one hand, it suggests that interests with inclusive "borders" (broad membership) are possible under all conditions of ideological hegemony by drawing on "potential friend" rather than "bully" models. These expand the ingroup by defining others as either "like me" (under conditions of perfect ideological choice) or "like us" (under conditions of perfect ideological hegemony). On the other hand, it suggests that interests with substantively inclusive "roots" (broad basis for defining interests) are possible under conditions of imperfect ideological hegemony and ideological choice by drawing on "old friend" models. These increase the value and complexity of the assumed ingroup's membership (defining others as different from -- but just as valuable as -- us). I illustrate this model using the case of women's human rights discourse in the United Nations (1948-2008). |
