Abstract

Adopting a genealogical approach, "The Social Contract of Nations: Peace,

Politics and Discipline in the International Society of States" attempts to reveal how the military dream of tranquilization, manifested in international law, informed the formation of the society of states. Tracing the development of modem international law back to its origins as personified by Hugo Grotius, this thesis brings to light the disciplining and tranquilizing function of international law. The regulation of inter­state relations will appear not only as the pursuit of peace as inspired by the legal philosophers of the Enlightenment epoch, but as dreamt of by 'military intelligence' aiming at ordering and pacifying the entire globe. Perpetual Peace, the invention of the Enlightenment, will become the goal of the formation of international organizations, most recently of the United Nations system. Its purpose, however, will appear in a different light; it will not be seen so much as the achievement of liberal insfautionalism, but as the outcome of the military dream of international society, that is, a thoroughly militarized sphere where Peace--the absence of civil disorder-is maintained through the continuous preparation for war. Peace, as a military strategy, and politics more generally, become the 'other means' by which war is continued. This thesis was written by Christoph A. Borucki for the M.A. in International Relations under the supervision of Drs. Ian Douglas, Jean Allain and Mike Lattanzi, and submitted to the Department of Political Science at The American University in Cairo.

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Date of Award

2-1-2004

Online Submission Date

1-1-2003

First Advisor

Ian Douglas

Committee Member 1

Ian Douglas

Committee Member 2

Jean Allain

Committee Member 3

Mike Lattanzi

Document Type

Thesis

Extent

105 leaves

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Social contract.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Peace.

Rights

The American University in Cairo grants authors of theses and dissertations a maximum embargo period of two years from the date of submission, upon request. After the embargo elapses, these documents are made available publicly. If you are the author of this thesis or dissertation, and would like to request an exceptional extension of the embargo period, please write to thesisadmin@aucegypt.edu

Call Number

Thesis 2003/47

Location

mgfth;mrs2

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