Call for Papers | Forum 2025 - Emotions in Multilateral Diplomacy: Exploring Affect in International Organisations in Volatile Times

Published on 18 September 2024

Forum editors: Seda Gürkan, Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA), Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA), Leiden University, [e-mail] and Özlem Terzi, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, [e-mail]

Length of proposals: max 300 words. Deadline 15 January 2025. Publication foreseen in fall 2025. Submission: [e-mail] and [e-mail]

 

The research agenda on emotions in International Relations (IR) is growing rapidly. Scholars have already demonstrated how emotions shape interpersonal diplomatic relations (Pace and Bilgic 2019), how they are strategically used in inter-state relations (Hall 2015), how they construct or maintain international conflicts or emotional security communities (Koschut 2014), and how emotions constrain or enable the foreign policies of international entities (Gürkan and Terzi 2024). The purpose of this Forum is to build on this body of research to explore whether emotions might serve as an explanatory factor in the way International Organisations (IOs) operate, make decisions and act in international relations. Therefore, the core objective of this Forum is to investigate the role of emotions in the formulation and conduct of multilateral diplomacy, as well as in shaping policy outcomes within IOs. More specifically, the Forum will examine whether the new volatile security context and shifting global, international, and regional dynamics influence the emotions felt, displayed, or expressed within IOs.

Studying IOs through emotions angle is both timely and relevant for several reasons: First, we are living through an emotional period, characterized by a growing global perception of insecurity among citizens, heightened geopolitical tensions, and new and emerging security threats. Global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, the 2009 financial crisis, and the increasing number of hot conflicts, have made international relations more emotionally charged. However, we still lack an understanding of how this emotional era affect diplomacy, in particular in IOs.

Second, over the past decade, IOs have faced significant internal and external challenges. These include the rise of autocratic states within traditionally Western-led liberal IOs, the return of war to Europe, the emergence of alternative governance structures challenging the Western-liberal world order, and the rise of new security threats. IOs have become more contested both from within and from without. These challenges have placed considerable strain on both the conduct of multilateral diplomacy and the functioning of IOs. In this context, studying emotions can provide a fresh perspective on how the evolving security environment is shaping multilateral diplomatic frameworks: In this volatile geopolitical context, are there some issues that are becoming more ‘emotional’ in IOs? Does the context of geopolitical insecurities increase certain type of emotions in IOs, such as fear or anxiety?  If so, does the salience of certain emotions facilitate consensus building? How do new and emerging security threats affect emotional culture or feeling rules in IOs? Whose emotions do matter in these institutions

Main topics that will be addressed in this Forum include, but are not limited to the following themes and questions:

• Emotions among diplomats: How do emotions circulate among diplomats in multinational diplomatic circles? How do diplomats use emotions in their daily work within IOs?
• Emotions and inter-state negotiations in IOs: What is the impact of emotions on consensus-building, decision-shaping and decision-making in IOs?
• The impact of emotions on IOs’ policy outcomes: How do various emotions bear an impact on IOs’ policy outcomes and inter-organisational relations?
• Emotions and IOs’ self-narrative: To what extent do emotions play a role in IOs’ self-narrative, the construction of institutional identity, and/or their legitimization strategies? How far are the emotions expressed by the IOs shared by their member states?
• Emotions and the changing geopolitical security context: How do new and emerging security threats—such as hybrid warfare, the battle of narratives, and foreign interference—interact with emotions within IOs? How does the shift from cooperation and integration to geopolitical rivalry and friction impact ‘emotional obligations,’ ‘emotional entitlements,’ or ‘hierarchies of emotional deference’ (Gustafsson and Hall 2021)?
• The time factor: How does time affect the expression and content of emotions in IOs? Do IOs change their emotional culture over time? If so, why?
• Citizens and IOs: How do citizens feel about IOs? Do citizens’ emotions impact critical policy decisions, such as coercive diplomacy measures like the adoption of sanctions or decisions to accept new members, as in the case of EU or NATO enlargement?

Contributing short essays might investigate various IOs (such as NATO, UN, EU, ASEAN, WTO, etc.) or their sub-bodies (European Council, European Parliament, North Atlantic Council, UNSC, etc.), might adopt a comparative perspective or focus on a single case, might deal with a specific emotion (like fear, trust, shame, friendship, solidarity, etc.) or might address a variety of emotions in multilateral diplomacy. We particularly welcome innovative ideas for setting a new research agenda for studying emotions in multilateral diplomacy as the Forum is intended to raise new questions on an unexplored area.

The Forum aims to give an impetus to new thinking and research on ‘emotions in multilateral diplomacy and in IOs’. We welcome innovative ideas and essays around thought-provoking questions on un- or under-explored issues related to the topics mentioned above, which might inspire future research or scholarly debate.

Style and Content: The length of essays for the forum should not exceed 3000 words (excluding bibliography). Forum Essays are typically more argumentative than original research articles. They are meant to be a source of inspiration for future academic research and debate. HJD Forums have also proven to be a stimulus for class discussion in graduate seminars. Contributions are usually informed by academic research.

Indicative deadlines:

• Deadline for abstract submission: 15 January 2025
• Decision by the guest editors: 15 February 2025
• First draft to the guest editors: 15 April 2025
• Feedback by the guest editors: 15 May 2025
• First draft submission to the Hague Journal of Diplomacy: 1 June 2025
• Review process by the HJD: June-July 2025
• Publication: September 2025

 

Please send your abstracts at the latest by 15 January 2025 to Seda Gürkan [e-mail] and Özlem Terzi [e-mail]

Abstract length: 300 words

Abstracts should include a cover page indicating author’s contact details, affiliation and a working title for the paper.