SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF EXILE: DISSIDENT THOUGHT IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

In: International studies quarterly: the journal of the International Studies Association, Band 34, Heft 3, S. 259-268

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE IS ON SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF EXILE. IT STATES THAT EXILE IS IN ITSELF A FORM OF DISSIDENCE, SINCE IT INVOLVES UPROOTING ONESELF FROM A FAMILY, A COUNTRY OR A LANGUAGE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS A IRRELIGIOUS ACT THAT CUTS ALL TIES, FOR RELIGION IS NOTHING MORE THAN MEMBERSHIP OF A REAL OR SYMBOLIC COMMUNITY WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRANSCENDENTAL, BUT WHICH ALWAYS CONSTITUTES A LINK, A HOMOLOGY, AN UNDERSTANDING. THE EXILE CUTS ALL LINKS. AMBIGUITY, UNCERTAINTY, AND THE CEASELESS QUESTIONING OF IDENTITY-THESE ARE RESOURCES OF THE EXILES. THE PURPOSE OF THE ARTICLE IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF WHAT DISSIDENT WORKS OF THOUGHT ALREADY CELEBRATE IN COUNTLESS SCATTERED LOCALES OF RESEARCH LABOR: DIFFERENCE, NOT IDENTITY; THE QUESTIONING AND TRANSGRESSIONS OF LIMITS, NOT THE ASSERTION OF BOUNDARIES AND FRAMEWORKS; A READINESS TO QUESTION HOW MEANING AND ORDER ARE IMPOSED, NOT THE SEARCH FOR MEANING AND ORDER ALREADY IN PLACE; THE UNRELENTING AND METICULOUS ANALYSIS OF THE WORKINGS OF POWER IN MODERN GLOBAL LIFE, NOT THE LONGING FOR A SOVEREIGN FIGURE THAT PROMISES DELIVERANCE FROM POWER; THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, NOT A RELIGIOUS DESIRE TO PRODUCE SOME TERRITORIAL DOMICILE TO CALL HOME.