Power and Cultures of the World. Developing New Social Architectures of Influence in the UN: A Network Analysis

Livia García-Faroldi,Valeria Bello

doi:10.17583/rimcis.2020.5248

Abstract

The most important sociologists have discussed whether it is the social structure that produces individual behaviours or the latters are only the results of individuals’ will. In the literature of international relations, as well, a similar debate about the structure-agency problem has developed: in this context, the central question is whether or not there exist external sources of influences for the decisions that states take in international politics. This article, by sharing an integrative and post-structural approach (Archer, 1995; Foucault, 1970) proposes an empirical analysis of the formation of power architectures within the UN-SC surrounding the question of Intercultural Dialogue. A Social Network Analysis checks whether the way actors exercise power is concurrently the result of individual wills whose contents follows both institutional and cultural conditioning. Findings show that there is not a fixed structure of power relations which can be given for granted but it is continuously negotiated through both practices and social interactions. However, both institutional and, above all, cultural factors shape power relations.

Highlights

The formation of discourses and how they interact with social interactions and practices at international level is a crucial case study for international sociology; it shows the sort of influences occurring at international level that affect societies globally
By showing the network of relations as emerged during the discussion developed in the 6322 Meeting of the United Nations (UN)-SC, Figure 1 makes clear that there exist actors and concepts more central than others
B a acc a UN c a c aa a c a ac discourses shaping societies more globally, this article has proposed an empirical analysis of the formation of discourses surrounding the question of Intercultural Dialogue within the UN-SC

Summary

Introduction

The most important sociologists of all times have formulated theories, with the aim of explaining whether it is the social structure that produces individual behaviors or the latters are only the results of individuals own will This simplistic summary of the matter of discussion does not make justice to the complexity of the debate that has developed since the 1970s, when scholarship has started to focus on approaches that combine both views. The formation of discourses and how they interact with social interactions and practices at international level is a crucial case study for international sociology; it shows the sort of influences occurring at international level that affect societies globally This is the case of the discourses surrounding Intercultural Dialogue. A variety of works on Interculturalism have currently identified in the importance of dialogue and communications included in this framework its differences with multiculturalism, as it concerns interethnic and intercommunity relations and the integration of migrants (Bello & Bloom, 2017; Meer & Modood, 2012; Sze & Powell, 2004)

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