Crisis as practice: routinizing Russia – U.S. security rivalries

Crisis as practice:
routinizing Russia – U.S. security rivalries


Neklyudov N.Y.,

MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, neklyudov.n.ya@my.mgimo.ru


elibrary_id: 984594 |

Baykov A.A.,

MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, a.baykov@inno.mgimo.ru


elibrary_id: 621264 |

Shchekin A.S.,

MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, as9416@yandex.ru


Article received: 2023.06.05. Accepted: 2023.08.30


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2023.06.06
EDN: NEXGKI


For citation:

Neklyudov N.Y., Baykov A.A., Shchekin A.S. Crisis as practice: routinizing Russia – U.S. security rivalries. – Polis. Political Studies. 2023. No. 6. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2023.06.06. EDN: NEXGKI


The authors express their gratitude to Igor Istomin, Alexander Chekov, Iver Neumann, and Ted Hopf. The authors also thank Anne Crowley-Vigneau for her help in editing the paper.


Abstract

This article contributes to the debate on how an international crisis may contribute to ontological security. We argue that ontological security can paradoxically be achieved through escalating practices capable of provoking international crises. By merging ‘practices’, a fairly distinct theoretical perspective of International Relations, with ontological security, we seek to expand Jennifer Mitzen’s premise that “even dangerous routines provide ontological security” and consider practices as a source of attaining ontological security. To partake in the practical turn in ontological security studies, we borrow the concepts of Practice Turn in IR, habitus (disposition), and field (environment). After substantiating the connection between the two theories, we take the demise of the INF Treaty as an example of a crisis. We argue that the INF Treaty, as a field, has become a source of ontological threat to both the U.S. and Russia. Following the end of the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia have constantly changed their habitus by developing key missile technologies and deteriorating bilateral relations. Accordingly, the changed habitus no longer conformed to the realities of the field, making its delegitimization by both sides self-evident.

Keywords
practices, ontological security, INF, Russia, US.


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Content No. 6, 2023

See also:


Zamyatin D.N.,
Space and (In)security: ontological models of imagination. – Polis. Political Studies. 2013. No3

Analytical Report by the Institute of Sociology, RAS,
Russia’s national security in experts eyes. – Polis. Political Studies. 2011. No3

Sheynis V.L.,
Russia’s national security. durability trial. Part II. – Polis. Political Studies. 2010. No1

Arbatov A.G.,
Nuclear reloading and international security. – Polis. Political Studies. 2011. No3

Morozov V.Ye.,
Security as a form of political issues: on securitization and politicization. – Polis. Political Studies. 2011. No3

 
 

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