William Clapton | The University of New South Wales (original) (raw)

Books by William Clapton

Research paper thumbnail of Risk and Hierarchy in International Society: Liberal Interventionism in the Post-Cold War Era

The English School of International Relations has traditionally maintained that international soc... more The English School of International Relations has traditionally maintained that international society is anarchical and cannot accommodate hierarchical relationships between states. This book provides an innovative theoretical and conceptual approach that challenges this view, demonstrating that international society can accommodate hierarchies between sovereign states.

Synthesising the concept of international society with elements of Beck's 'risk society', Clapton explores a particular set of hierarchies in the post-Cold War era that are characterised by interventions conducted by Western states in non-Western territories to promote liberal democratic government. Exploring interventions along the European Union's periphery, in the South Pacific and in Iraq, Clapton argues that these interventions are essentially exercises in risk management, designed to promote liberalism and democracy as a means of managing globalized risks to the security of Western states, such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Journal Articles by William Clapton

Research paper thumbnail of The domestic politics of international hierarchy: Risk management and the reconstitution of international society

Recent work has identified new hierarchical relationships within international society. However, ... more Recent work has identified new hierarchical relationships within international society. However, few scholars have provided a satisfactory account of what informs their formation, reproduction or constitutional effects for international society. We argue that underpinning the emergence of a more hierarchical international society is a new social logic of risk, which constructs illiberal and/or fragile states as potentially dangerous sites of instability and disorder that pose particular security risks for Western states. We proceed to argue that such risk-based hierarchies are transformative of both inter-state and intra- state relations, by stripping equal political agency from ‘risky’ actors within and without the state. We demonstrate these claims by drawing on examples of international state building in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.

Research paper thumbnail of The domestic politics of international hierarchy: Risk management and the reconstitution of international society

Research paper thumbnail of Risk in International Relations

International Relations, Jan 1, 2011

Abstract Risk is a concept that has recently filtered through into International Relations (IR). ... more Abstract Risk is a concept that has recently filtered through into International Relations (IR). However, the literature on risk, risk management and IR is still comparatively small and there is still significant scope for the theorisation of these concepts in an IR context. Thus far, the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Managing risk within international society: hierarchical governance in the Asia-Pacific

Australian Journal of International Affairs, Jan 1, 2009

Several recent works have emphasised new relations of hierarchy within international society, pri... more Several recent works have emphasised new relations of hierarchy within international society, primarily involving the claim by certain Western states of the authority to intervene in particular territories in order to build state capacity and the institutions of sound liberal ...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk and hierarchy in international society

Global Change, Peace & Security, Jan 1, 2009

Conference Presentations by William Clapton

Research paper thumbnail of Managing Risk Within International Society: Situational Prevention and the Promotion of Liberalism

Research paper thumbnail of Risk and Hierarchy in International Society: Liberal Interventionism in the Post-Cold War Era

The English School of International Relations has traditionally maintained that international soc... more The English School of International Relations has traditionally maintained that international society is anarchical and cannot accommodate hierarchical relationships between states. This book provides an innovative theoretical and conceptual approach that challenges this view, demonstrating that international society can accommodate hierarchies between sovereign states.

Synthesising the concept of international society with elements of Beck's 'risk society', Clapton explores a particular set of hierarchies in the post-Cold War era that are characterised by interventions conducted by Western states in non-Western territories to promote liberal democratic government. Exploring interventions along the European Union's periphery, in the South Pacific and in Iraq, Clapton argues that these interventions are essentially exercises in risk management, designed to promote liberalism and democracy as a means of managing globalized risks to the security of Western states, such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Research paper thumbnail of The domestic politics of international hierarchy: Risk management and the reconstitution of international society

Recent work has identified new hierarchical relationships within international society. However, ... more Recent work has identified new hierarchical relationships within international society. However, few scholars have provided a satisfactory account of what informs their formation, reproduction or constitutional effects for international society. We argue that underpinning the emergence of a more hierarchical international society is a new social logic of risk, which constructs illiberal and/or fragile states as potentially dangerous sites of instability and disorder that pose particular security risks for Western states. We proceed to argue that such risk-based hierarchies are transformative of both inter-state and intra- state relations, by stripping equal political agency from ‘risky’ actors within and without the state. We demonstrate these claims by drawing on examples of international state building in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.

Research paper thumbnail of The domestic politics of international hierarchy: Risk management and the reconstitution of international society

Research paper thumbnail of Risk in International Relations

International Relations, Jan 1, 2011

Abstract Risk is a concept that has recently filtered through into International Relations (IR). ... more Abstract Risk is a concept that has recently filtered through into International Relations (IR). However, the literature on risk, risk management and IR is still comparatively small and there is still significant scope for the theorisation of these concepts in an IR context. Thus far, the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Managing risk within international society: hierarchical governance in the Asia-Pacific

Australian Journal of International Affairs, Jan 1, 2009

Several recent works have emphasised new relations of hierarchy within international society, pri... more Several recent works have emphasised new relations of hierarchy within international society, primarily involving the claim by certain Western states of the authority to intervene in particular territories in order to build state capacity and the institutions of sound liberal ...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk and hierarchy in international society

Global Change, Peace & Security, Jan 1, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Managing Risk Within International Society: Situational Prevention and the Promotion of Liberalism