Review of special issue on ‘IR, multiplicity and the problematique of difference’
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00108367221134863 |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
https://doi.org/10.1177/00108367221134863
Cooperation and Conflict
2022, Vol. 57(3) 402 –412
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/00108367221134863
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Review of special issue on
‘IR, multiplicity and the
problematique of difference’
This is a proposed special issue devoted to the research programme on multiplicity as
initiated by Justin Rosenberg. The submission includes 10 articles in addition to an intro-
duction. One of the big strengths of this set of articles is the width of themes and sub-
fields. They illustrate well the relevance of the key analytical ideas of ‘multiplicity’ to
diverse areas and thereby support the central claim that this can serve as a new unifying
frame for IR. At the same time, the width is promising in terms of gathering critical
insights to help the programme develop. However, the articles do not fully deliver on this
yet in their present state. Two main weaknesses account for this: first the articles are gen-
erally too uncritical, often satisfied by showing the possibility of applying Rosenberg’s
terms to their case (either ‘multiplicity’ as such or its ‘five consequences’) without suffi-
ciently exploring what their study adds to a programme that is still in a formative period.
(My comment decidedly does not imply that every article should overstate conclusions
about what is ‘wrong’ or ‘missing’ in the approach under investigation, as too often has
become the standard article format, but they should be more ambitious in drawing out
lessons about how to develop, refine and extend the approach.) Second the alleged angle
of the special issue, ‘the problematique of difference’, disappears from sight in most of the
articles. It is from the start an ambiguous angle taken, because it is unclear whether it is
meant as emphasizing a quality with the multiplicity programme or as an intervention in
relation to it. Possibly, this is a productive ambiguity, but in any case the ‘problematique
of difference’ has to be brought out more clearly in the whole collection.
I will comment in most detail on the introduction, both because it is the one that needs
to be clarified to carry the rationale of the issue and because many of the comments here
are relevant to several of the other articles. The comments come in a maybe slightly
unconventional ‘discussing’ format. I do not want to take (only) a judgmental position as
‘referee’ and point thumbs up or down, because I fundamentally find the project promis-
ing but want to push the contributors to develop their arguments further and be more
respectful of existing literatures. Thus, my comments are on most points intended not to
shoot down but to stimulate.
Introduction – and general comments
The introduction is generally reasonable in its balanced picture of the nature of the
Rosenberg intervention, the ensuing debate and its relationship to wider developments in
the discipline. However, it is generally far too superficial and especially lacking of
1134863CAC0010.1177/00108367221134863Cooperation and ConflictBook Review
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