The Concept of Discourse in International Relations Theories

Year 2023, , 75 - 93, 31.12.2023

Oğuzhan Yanarışık

https://doi.org/10.14782/marmarasbd.1371983

Abstract

Language and speech are essential for our social existence. People use language to communicate with each other, exchange information, express their feelings, wishes and needs, respond, understand and react. Basically, discourse can be defined as the space in which intersubjective meaning is produced, sustained, transformed and accordingly becomes the constituent of social reality. The concept of discourse has been a buzzword in the critical international relations literature for nearly three decades. Discourse Analysis is the study of language in use. There are many different approaches to Discourse Analysis. In this article, the concept of discourse is analyzed from a theoretical perspective. In this context, the foundations of the relationship between language and discourse are analyzed; discourse analysis as a popular methodology is examined; the relationship between critical theory and critical discourse analysis is evaluated and finally, the critique of the positivist tradition is emphasized. Thus, the discursive approach to international relations, which has resulted in significant scholarly expansion and deepening in recent years, is analyzed in detail.

Keywords

Discourse, Discourse Analysis, Critical Theory, International Relations Theory

Uluslararası İlişkiler Kuramlarında Söylem Kavramı

Abstract

Dil ve konuşma, sosyal varlığımız için gereklidir. İnsanlar birbirleriyle iletişim kurmak, bilgi alışverişinde bulunmak, duygu, istek ve ihtiyaçlarını ifade etmek, cevap vermek, anlamak ve tepki vermek için dili kullanmaktadır. Söylem, temelde, öznelerarası anlamın üretildiği, sürdürüldüğü, dönüştürüldüğü ve buna bağlı olarak toplumsal gerçekliğin kurucusu haline geldiği alan olarak tanımlanabilmektedir. Söylem kavramı özellikle eleştirel uluslararası ilişkiler literatüründe yaklaşık otuz yıldır moda bir terim haline gelmiş durumdadır. Söylem Analizi ise kullanımdaki dilin incelenmesidir. Söylem Analizine yönelik birçok farklı yaklaşım vardır. Bu makalede, söylem kavramı kuramsal perspektiften incelenmektedir. Bu kapsamda, dil ve söylem ilişkisinin temelleri analiz edilmekte; popüler bir metodoloji olarak söylem analizi incelenmekte; eleştirel teori ve eleştirel söylem analizi ilişkisi değerlendirilmekte ve son olarak pozitivist geleneğin eleştirisi üzerinde durulmaktadır. Böylelikle, son yıllarda uluslararası ilişkilere yönelik önemli bilimsel genişleme ve derinleşme ile sonuçlanan söylemsel yaklaşım detaylı bir şekilde tahlil edilmektedir.

Keywords

Söylem, Söylem Analizi, Eleştirel Teori, Uluslararası İlişkiler Teorileri

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