The Poetics of Fear: A Human Response to Human SecurityThe Poetics of Fear looks at how fear is used for political purposes, focusing on the binary logic of 'this is the way things are, and there is nothing (else) you can do about it' -- a logic that underlies the realist tradition in international relations theory. The Shield of Achilles from Homer's Iliad is used as metaphorical analysis to look at what the politics of fear is, how it works, and how it can be resisted. It aims to provide a human response to human security matters. The work first shows how the Shield works to paralyze its audience. How can it be resisted? One response is to offer a warning about the hazards of bearing the Shield. After looking at thinkers such as Plato, Baudrillard, and Nietzsche, the work concludes with an examination of ekphrasis as a critical tool.With a unique and fresh perspective, The Poetics of Fear will be relevant to those interested in security studies and critical theoretical approaches to political science. |
Contents
| 1 | |
THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES AND THE LOGIC OF FEAR | 17 |
CHAPTER 3 UNHEEDED WARNINGS | 45 |
CHAPTER 4 MIMESIS AS RESISTANCE | 72 |
CHAPTER 5 WHAT BEGINS WITH CRATYLUS LEADS TO BAUDRILLARD | 98 |
POLITICS AS POETICS | 119 |
CHAPTER 7 EKPHRASIS AS CRITIQUE | 146 |
CHAPTER 8 CONCLUSION | 177 |
APPENDIX A | 181 |
APPENDIX B | 189 |
| 197 | |
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action Afghanistan already American appears argument attacks audience Baudrillard bear bear the shield becomes challenge character claim clear close comes complete concept course critical Critical Security Studies death discussion distance effect ekphrasis entirely example fact fear follow force give given gods hand Homer hope human Ibid illusion important kill kind knowledge language less lines live logic longer look means mimesis nature Neoptolemus Nietzsche Nietzsche’s object Odysseus offers once operation Pakistan particular peace Philoctetes philosopher Plato poet political position possible present President Press problem Qaeda question reality reference remains renders representation Republic response seen sense Shield of Achilles Socrates speaking speech taken tell Terror terrorists things threat Thucydides tool tradition true truth turn understanding United University York