An alternative vision of politics and violence

This article aims at introducing René Girard’s mimetic theory in the field of International Studies, identifying some of the areas of research that it might usefully open up. First, the article explores mimetic theory and some of its basic concepts—mimetic desire, mimetic rivalry, the scapegoat mechanism, and the sacrificial crisis—in order to highlight the strong heuristic and analytical potential of Girard’s work. Second, the article considers Girard’s contribution in light of contemporary theories of International Relations to demonstrate its added value. Third, the article serves as a critical introduction to the various sections and contributions of the Special Issue

Critical theory · Economics · Epistemology · Field (mathematics · International relations · International relations theory · Order (exchange · Political science · Politics · Rivalry · Scapegoat · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Computer Science · Political Theology and Sovereignty · Violence, Religion, and Philosophy · War, Ethics, and Justification · Law · Philosophy

• Mimetic Desire and Ressentiment in the Case of the Japan–South Korea Trade Dispute

  Ahlem Faraoun•European Journal of Korean Studies•2021

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• Violence and the return of the religious

  Open Access•James R Mensch•Man and World•2020

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• Rene Girard’s Mimetic Theory

  Open Access•Muzzamel Hussain Imran•Chinese Political Science Review•2025

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• Totus mundus agit histrionem’

  Open Access•Elisabetta Brighi•Contemporary Italian Politics•2024

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• Mimetic rivalry in practice

  Open Access•Aidan Hehir, Claudio Lanza•Journal of International…•2021

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• The Globalisation of Resentment

  Open Access•Elisabetta Brighi•Millennium Journal of International…•2016

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• Americanisation in Turkish geopolitical self

  M Evren Eken, Toygun Karahasanoğlu•Critical Studies on Security•2025

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• International Relations, Meaning and Mimesis

  Necati Polat•International relations, meaning…•2012

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• Theory of World Security

  Open Access•Ken Booth•Theory of World Security•2007

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• A New World Order

  Anne-Marie Slaughter•New World Order•2005

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• Violence and the Sacred

  René Girard•Violence and the sacred•1979

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• ‘Like me’

  Open Access•Andrew N Meltzoff•Developmental Science•2007

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• Action recognition in the premotor cortex

  Vittorio Gallese, Luciano Fadiga et al.•Brain•1996

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• Immanuel Kant Critique of Practical Reason

  Open Access•Immanuel Kant, Andrews Reath et al.•Kant•1997

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• The Realist Tradition and the Limits of International Relations

  Open Access•M C Williams•Realist Tradition and the Limits…•2005

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• The Tragic Vision of Politics

  Open Access•Richard Ned Lebow•Tragic Vision of Politics•2003

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• Social Theory of International Politics

  Open Access•Alexander Wendt•Social Theory of International…•1999

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• Liberal Leviathan

  G John Ikenberry•Liberal Leviathan•2011

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• Introduction

  Open Access•Kimberly Hutchings, Tuija Pulkkinen•Hegel's Philosophy and Feminist…•2010

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• The Ambivalence of Scarcity and Other Essays

  Paul Dumouchel•Ambivalence of Scarcity and Other…•2014

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• The Routledge Handbook of New Security Studies

  Pinar Bilgin, Pınar Bilgin et al.•The Routledge handbook of new…•2010

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• The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations

  Open Access•Scott Thomas, Scott M Thomas•Global Resurgence of Religion and…•2005

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• The Logic of Violence in Civil War

  Open Access•Stathis N Kalyva, Stathis N Kalyvas•Logic of Violence in Civil War•2006

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• Until the end of the world

  Open Access•Antonio Cerella•Journal of International…•2015

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• Desire for power or the power of desire? Mimetic theory and the heart of twentieth-century realism

  Open Access•Jodok Troy•Journal of International…•2015

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• Historical Sociology in International Relations

  Open Access•George Lawson•International Politics•2007

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• The cold peace

  Richard Sakwa•Cambridge Review of International…•2013

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• Introduction Understanding New Wars

  Harald Wydra•Cambridge Review of International…•2013

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• Bipolarity redux

  Roberto Farneti•Cambridge Review of International…•2013

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• Notes on Post‐Secular Society

  Open Access•Jürgen Habermas•New Perspectives Quarterly•2008

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• Social Forces, States and World Orders

  Open Access•Robert W Cox•Millennium Journal of International…•1981

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• The postsecular in International Relations

  Open Access•Luca Mavelli, Fabio Petito•Review of International Studies•2012

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• Politics among Nations. The Struggle for Power and Peace

  Henri Guitton, Hans J Morgenthau•Revue économique•1955

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• Violence and the Sacred

  Open Access•René Girard, Aisha Karim et al.•On Violence•1979

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• Drone warfare and the limits of sacrifice

  Open Access•Bianca Baggiarini•Journal of International…•2015

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• The mimetic politics of lone-wolf terrorism

  Open Access•Elisabetta Brighi•Journal of International…•2015

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• A Mimetic Perspective on Conflict Resolution

  Open Access•Roberto Farneti•Polity•2009

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• The poverty of Grand Theory

  Open Access•Chris Brown•European Journal of International…•2013

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• Martyrdom and Sacrifice in a Time of Terror

  Mark Juergensmeyer•Social research•2008

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