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International Theory Book Symposium on Peter J. Katzenstein and Lucia A. Seybert, eds, Protean Power: Exploring the Uncertain and Unexpected in World Politics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2020

Jacques E. C. Hymans Open the ORCID record for Jacques E. C. Hymans [Opens in a new window]
Jacques E. C. Hymans*
Affiliation:
School of International Relations, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
*
Corresponding author E-mail: hymans@usc.edu
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Abstract

Katzenstein and Seybert's Protean Power offers a fresh perspective on the concept of power in international relations (IR) theory. Standard IR theory defines power as control power, which exists in the world of calculable risk. But IR must also grapple with protean power, which exists in the world of incalculable uncertainty. In this symposium, scholars representing a variety of theoretical perspectives evaluate the concept of protean power as it stands now and as it should develop in the future.

Keywords

powerprotean powerriskuncertaintyunexpected outcomes

Information

Type
Symposium: Protean Power: Exploring the Uncertain and Unexpected in World Politics: Edited by Jacques E. C. Hymans
Information
International Theory , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , November 2020 , pp. 408 - 409
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

Dedication

We dedicate this symposium to the memory of Lucia Seybert, Professorial Lecturer at the School of International Service, American University and the co-editor of Protean Power, who passed away shortly after completing the volume.

Contents

410–421 Introduction to the symposium

The concept of protean power: change we can believe in?

Jacques E. C. Hymans

422–434 Control power as a special case of protean power: thoughts on Peter Katzenstein and Lucia Seybert's Protean Power: Exploring the Uncertain and Unexpected in World Politics

Emanuel Adler

435–448 Irreparable ignorance, protean power, and economics

George F. DeMartino and Ilene Grabel

449–458 Protean Power as a plea for an open social ontology, non-efficient causal explanations, and cautious political practice

Stefano Guzzini

459–470 Power, luck, and scholarly responsibility at the end of the world(s)

Benoît Pelopidas

471–480 Unknown effects of social innovations

Michael Zürn

481–499 Protean power: a second look

Peter J. Katzenstein

Acknowledgements

The guest editor offers thanks above all to the contributors to this symposium. Thanks also to the past and present editors of IT who welcomed our project, and to the anonymous reviewers for their very constructive feedback.