Description
Scholarship on ontological security in International Relations (IR) predominantly relies on Anthony Giddens’ sociological theories, often equating ontological (in)security with identity stability. This focus can overlook broader existential, relational, and affective dimensions of security. Responding to calls within IR for a “return to the roots” of ontological security, this panel re-engages and expands the concept’s theoretical foundations to enhance its explanatory power across diverse contexts. What is ontological (in)security beyond identity stability? How should we conceptualise and operationalise it to reflect a more comprehensive understanding of security? This interdisciplinary panel offers fresh perspectives and empirical insights to challenge conventional boundaries of ontological (in)security. Drawing on Melanie Klein’s psychoanalytic theories, Stuart Hall’s work on representation and cultural production, Judith Butler’s insights on gender performativity, Cynthia Weber’s concept of the “perverse homosexual,” and Lea Ypi’s idea of “non-ideal theorising,” the panel’s contributions explore global cases from the US, Britain, Turkey, and Japan to reveal the complexities of ontological security.
