Imperial ontological (in)security
Buffer states’, International Relations and the case of Anglo-Afghan relations, 1808–1878
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6060969 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Martin J Bayly (0000-0002-5772-9770, London School of Economics and Political Science, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 816-840 |
| Publication date | 2015-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | European Journal of International Relations (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1354-0661 • E-ISSN: 1460-3713 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1354066114557569 |
| OpenAlex | W1992216438 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 16 |
| References cited | 57 |
This article offers a new perspective on ‘buffer states’ — states that are geographically located between two rival powers — and their effect on international relations, with a particular focus on the imperial setting. The article argues that such geographic spaces have often been analysed through a structuralist-functionalist lens, which has, in some cases, encouraged ahistorical understandings on the role of buffer states in international affairs. In contrast, the article offers an approach borrowing from the literature on ontological security and critical geopolitics in order to access the meanings that such spaces have for their more powerful neighbours. The article draws upon the case study of Afghanistan and Anglo-Afghan relations during the 19th century and finds that, in this case, due to the ambiguity of Afghanistan’s status as a ‘state’, and the failure of British policymakers to establish routinized diplomatic engagement, Anglo-Afghan relations exhibited a sense of ontological insecurity for the British. These findings suggest previously unacknowledged international effects of ‘buffer states’, and may apply to such geographic spaces elsewhere
Afghan · Ambiguity · Epistemology · Geopolitics · International relations · International relations theory · Linguistics · Ontological security · Political economy · Political geography · Political science · Politics · Security studies · Sociology · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Philosophy · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East
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Dissolving Distance
| Unique citing works | 16 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,78 |
| Citation span | 2017 - 2026 (10) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 16 |