Power/knowledge in international peacebuilding: The case of the EU police mission in Bosnia

Michael Merlingen*, Rasa Ostrauskaite

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

This article develops the argument that peacebuilding brings into play microphysical and nonsovereign forms of power that circulate through opaque capillaries that link foreign peacebuilders and indigenous populations. It examines the governmentality of liberal peacebuilding and the practices of "unfreedom" it licenses; brings into focus the constellation of social control that is effected by the EU's efforts, in the context of its security and defense policy, to promote democratic policing in Bosnia; and shows how a normatively committed form of governmentality theory can be employed to limit the inevitable political pastorate in the international construction of liberal peace in posthostility societies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-323
Number of pages27
JournalAlternatives
Volume30
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

Keywords

  • Bosnia
  • European Security and Defence Policy
  • Foucault
  • Governmentality
  • Peacebuilding
  • Policing

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