Visualisation and knowledge production in international relations: The role of emotions and identity
| Author | Sybille Reinke de Buitrago |
| Date | 01 June 2019 |
| Published date | 01 June 2019 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1755088219830117 |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1755088219830117
Journal of International Political Theory
2019, Vol. 15(2) 246 –260
© The Author(s) 2019
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DOI: 10.1177/1755088219830117
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Visualisation and knowledge
production in international
relations: The role of emotions
and identity
Sybille Reinke de Buitrago
University of Hamburg, Germany
Abstract
Emotions, and linked national identity, play a significant role in how we make sense of
the world and in knowledge production in international relations. How we understand
international relations is also shaped by our emotions and identity through their role in
sense and meaning making of visual representation, such as political cartoons. This article
analyses how political cartoons with portrayals of interstate relations are interpreted,
and which emotions and elements of national identity are evoked and give meaning to
interpretations. Cartoons from US media were shown to US and German viewers. In
a two-stage process, viewers addressed evoked emotions and then critically discussed
emotions, identity and representations. Focusing on commonalities and differences in
how viewers read and felt visual content, the article enables insights on how emotions
and identity add to knowledge production in international relations and how they do so
differently with viewers of different identity backgrounds.
Keywords
Emotions, Germany, knowledge production, national identity, US, visual analysis
Introduction
Emotions are a significant element of how we understand ourselves and the world around
us. They are part of our reasoned thinking, communication, and interaction with others.
Emotions are closely linked with identity processes and self-other relations, framing the
ways we see the world and represent it. With emotions, and national identity, shaping how
Corresponding author:
Sybille Reinke de Buitrago, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH), University of Hamburg,
Beim Schlump 83, 20144 Hamburg, Germany.
Email: sybille.rdeb@gmail.com; reinkedebuitrago@ifsh.de
830117IPT0010.1177/1755088219830117Journal of International Political TheoryReinke de Buitrago
research-article2019
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