Symbolic Representations of ‘Sovereignty’ in Modern Political Discourse (Comparative Analysis of Contemporary Discourse From France, USA, Russia and China)

Abstract

Based on idea of the analysis of symbolic representations of sovereignty and framework of post-structuralist international relations theory this research is exploring the performative nature of sovereignty in a comparative empirical perspective. We have taken four well-known speeches on sovereignty issues to see which symbolic representations of sovereignty were involved in the specific discourse of the four presidents: France, the United States of America, Russia and China. In the analysed symbolic representations of sovereignty we encounter important differences synthesize ten symbolic representations of sovereignty that are common to all four examined discourses.