Principle of economy of language and the question of anthropomorphism of state

Abstract

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the paper is twofold: (1) polemics with Alexander Wendt’s thesis that state is a person and (2) innovative approach to the problem of anthropomorphism of state in general theories of International Relations.
 THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: How is anthropomor‑ phism of the state present in the language of grand theories of IR? How the language as a system shapes the phenomenon of anthropomorphism of the state in those?”. Research methods: qualitative content analysis and close reading research technique.
 THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Using these research method and techniques, the author analyses theories of Hans Morgenthau, Raymond Aron, Headley Bull, Morton Kaplan, and Kenneth Waltz seeking the presence of anthropomorphism as a feature of their language. He summarises his find‑ ings that enable him to critically engage with Alexander Wendt’s thesis, hence fulfilling the scientific objective of the paper.
 RESEARCH RESULTS: On the basis of the conducted research, the anthro‑ pomorphism of state is a fact of language of the analysed theories.
 CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The author problematizes Alexander Wendt’s thesis that state is a person by pointing out that anthropomorphism of state is not predicated upon the ontological reality of state as person, but on the linguistic rule that language seeks the economy of utterances. Pointing out to this fact is novel, since the literature referred in the article largely omits it. It is an important contribution for all the scholars for whom the problem of the state is a major research interest.