Vicarious Identity in International Relations

Vicarious identification, or "living through another" is a familiar social-psychological concept. As this book argues, it is also an under-appreciated and increasingly relevant strategy of international relations. According to this theory, states identify and establish special relationships with other nations (often in an aspirational way) in order to strengthen their sense of self, security, and status on the global stage. In addition to theorizing vicarious identity in global politics and exploring a range of cases, the book outlines a qualitative methodology for analyzing vicarious identity at the collective level.