The Power of Describing Identity in Diplomacy
Channel: War Studies KCL
Date: 2021-03-10

The Power of Describing Identity in Diplomacy:   Writing Subjects, Territory, Time, and Evil at the End of Gaddafi’s Libya

Speaker: Dr Pablo De Orellana, Lecturer in International Relations at the Department of War Studies

Before the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring, Libya was considered a vital partner in the ‘War on Terror’, one that was ‘constructively’ reengaging with the international community. Over a few weeks in 2011, however, the regime came to be described as ‘rogue’ and predictions were made of ‘madman’ Gaddafi perpetrating ‘genocide’ in Benghazi. What then brought about this spectacular turnaround of US perceptions of Libya in the early 2010s?

Researching how diplomacy describes and analyses the identity of international actors allows for two new perspectives of relevance to diplomatic practice and analysis. Firstly, detailed analysis of diplomatic communication texts reveals how a specific description works, how it functions and what ideas, narratives and links it depends on. Secondly, analysis of how representations of identities and their contexts are constituted, reveals the dynamics of knowledge production of a specific institution. This allows for constructive critique on information management, analysis, prioritisation and the role of dominant and sometimes global policy priorities.

This seminar will lay out the concepts, methods and specific research strategies necessary for this analytical approach. It will then apply it to explore critical insights on US diplomatic knowledge production in the early 2010s towards Libya,. For example, the State Department had little analytical capacity on North Africa, and Secretary of State Clinton relied on a small circle of informal long-time advisors that shaped her perception and descriptions of events. This meant insightful diplomatic reporting, particularly on the Libyan rebels, was ignored showing how diplomacy’s work might yet be better understood and utilised.