Abstract:
The role of emotions in international relations is often ignored. Emotions are traditionally left out of any analysis of public life due to their intangible nature and the belief that emotional behaviour is irrational. Through exploring the role of emotions within the literature of international relations theory, and utilising the understanding of emotions that can be borrowed from psychology, this thesis will endeavour to conceptualise emotions so as to begin to understand their role in international politics. By utilising a constructivist framework, in conjunction with social psychology, this thesis will develop a framework that enables a deeper understanding of the specific role of emotions within international relations. Essentially, this thesis will determine how emotions impact decision-making and policy choices within global politics. In employing examples relating to the giving of foreign aid and the decision to prosecute sexual violence as a weapon of war in the wake of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda during the 1990s, it can be shown the traditional theories fall short of being able to effectively explain such actions. By harnessing a deeper understanding of emotion it is possible to gain a greater understanding of how and why particular decisions are made by international actors.