Thomas Risse
Encyclopedia
Thomas Risse is a Berlin based international relations
scholar. He currently acts as chair for “transnational relations, foreign- and security policy” at the Otto-Suhr Institute for Political Science
at Freie Universität Berlin
. Furthermore he has several engagements in German and international research networks, he also heads the PhD program of the Hertie School of Governance
in Berlin.
Thomas Risse is usually identified as a constructivist scholar of international relations. In contrast to American constructivists, his work borrows heavily from German social theory and philosophy, and in particular the work of Jürgen Habermas
. His work suggests that communicative action can reshape actors' understanding of their interests with important consequences for world politics.
In that framework Thomas Risse's work can be divided into several phases. This paper proposes the phases:
During the 1980s the main focus of his work laid on security policy
, his dissertation “Die Krise der Sicherheitspolitik” (The Crisis of Security Policy) dealt with foreign and security policy decision making processes in West-Germany
. In his thesis he observes the development of a Peace movement
(opposed to the installation of medium-range rocket on German soil) and theorised their influence on West-German foreign policy. The contribution of his work is crucial to IR theory because it opposes the logic of equality between force and deterrence.
With the end of the Cold War, the focus of his work shifted to transnational relations and human rights
. One of his works out of this period is the edited volume “Bringing Transnational Relations Back In”. Here he argues that regular interactions between non-state actors, that do not act on behalf of national governments, but try to influence the policies of a state, got out of focus. These organisations could be various NGOs for example, the Socialist International
, Amnesty International
or religious groups among others. In this volume an outlook on methodology and theory of transnational relations and their impact on domestic policy is developed. Another work of reference of this period is “Die Macht der Menschenrechte” (The Power of Human Rights). Based on liberal theory and democratic peace, Risse looks at international norms, speech acts and political change in the South. Whereby the main focus is laid on the realisation of human rights. His core theory is that the key for respect of human rights is the influence on transnational and domestic civil society
on state structures. Inter alia he shows that economic development and democratisation do not forcibly go hand in hand.
Post 9/11 his focus changed again towards research on failed state
s and governance. In his latest publication he focussed on aspects of governance in failed states.
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
scholar. He currently acts as chair for “transnational relations, foreign- and security policy” at the Otto-Suhr Institute for Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Freie Universität Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
. Furthermore he has several engagements in German and international research networks, he also heads the PhD program of the Hertie School of Governance
Hertie School of Governance
The Hertie School of Governance is a private university in Berlin, in the historic Quartier 110 of Friedrichstraße. The school is regarded as one of the leading policy institutes in Europe...
in Berlin.
Thomas Risse is usually identified as a constructivist scholar of international relations. In contrast to American constructivists, his work borrows heavily from German social theory and philosophy, and in particular the work of Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas is a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his theory on the concepts of 'communicative rationality' and the 'public sphere'...
. His work suggests that communicative action can reshape actors' understanding of their interests with important consequences for world politics.
In that framework Thomas Risse's work can be divided into several phases. This paper proposes the phases:
- Cold War
- Post-Cold War
- Post 9/11Aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks were the transformative incident of the first term of President George W. Bush and led to what he has called the Global War on Terrorism, or war against terrorism. The accuracy of describing it as a "war" and the political motivations and consequences are the topic of...
During the 1980s the main focus of his work laid on security policy
Security policy
Security policy is a definition of what it means to be secure for a system, organization or other entity. For an organization, it addresses the constraints on behavior of its members as well as constraints imposed on adversaries by mechanisms such as doors, locks, keys and walls...
, his dissertation “Die Krise der Sicherheitspolitik” (The Crisis of Security Policy) dealt with foreign and security policy decision making processes in West-Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. In his thesis he observes the development of a Peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
(opposed to the installation of medium-range rocket on German soil) and theorised their influence on West-German foreign policy. The contribution of his work is crucial to IR theory because it opposes the logic of equality between force and deterrence.
With the end of the Cold War, the focus of his work shifted to transnational relations and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. One of his works out of this period is the edited volume “Bringing Transnational Relations Back In”. Here he argues that regular interactions between non-state actors, that do not act on behalf of national governments, but try to influence the policies of a state, got out of focus. These organisations could be various NGOs for example, the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
or religious groups among others. In this volume an outlook on methodology and theory of transnational relations and their impact on domestic policy is developed. Another work of reference of this period is “Die Macht der Menschenrechte” (The Power of Human Rights). Based on liberal theory and democratic peace, Risse looks at international norms, speech acts and political change in the South. Whereby the main focus is laid on the realisation of human rights. His core theory is that the key for respect of human rights is the influence on transnational and domestic civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
on state structures. Inter alia he shows that economic development and democratisation do not forcibly go hand in hand.
Post 9/11 his focus changed again towards research on failed state
Failed state
The term failed state is often used by political commentators and journalists to describe a state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government...
s and governance. In his latest publication he focussed on aspects of governance in failed states.
Articles
- Bruce M. Russett, Thomas Risse-Kappen, John J. Mearsheimer (1991), 'Back to the Future, Part III: Realism and the Realities of European Security', International SecurityInternational SecurityInternational Security is a peer-reviewed academic journal in the field of international and national security. It was founded in 1976 and is edited by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and published four times a year by MIT Press, both of Cambridge,...
, 15 (3), 216-22. - Thomas Risse and Antje Wiener (1999), 'Something Rotten and the Social Construction of Social Constructivism: a Comment on Comments', Journal of European Public PolicyPublic policyPublic policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
, 6 (5), 775-82. - Risse-Kappen, Thomas (1991), 'Opinion, Domestic Structure, and Foreign Policy in Liberal Democracies', World PoliticsWorld PoliticsWorld Politics is an academic journal founded in 1948. It publishes articles from all subdisciplines of political science. Material might be historical in nature, current affairs, journalistic, or policy-oriented. It includes research on all topics of import in the field of international affairs...
, 43 (4), 479-512.
Books
- Risse-Kappen, Thomas (ed.) (1995), Bringing Transnational Relations Back in, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
- Risse, Thomas (1988), Die Krise der Sicherheitspolitik. Neuorientierungen und Entscheidungsprozesse im politischen System der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 1977-1984, (Mainz: Grünewald-Kaiser).
- Risse, Thomas (2002), Die Macht der Menschenrechte. Internationale Normen, kommunikatives Handeln und politischer Wandel in den Ländern des Südens, (Baden-Baden: Nomos).
- Risse, Thomas and Ursula Lehmkuhl (eds.) (2008), Regieren ohne Staat?: Governance in Räumen begrenzter Staatlichkeit, Baden-Baden: Nomos).
- Wendt, A. "Anarchy is What States Make of It: the Social Construction of Power Politics" (1992) in International Organization.