von Twickel, Ruben (2025) Applying Watsuji's Concept of Interpersonal Relations to Inter-State Relations: Rethinking Sovereignty Through Relational Ethics. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).
|
PDF
BAS5377234RvonTwickel.pdf Download (541kB) | Preview |
Abstract
In an era of deepening global interdependence, the traditional Westphalian conception of sovereignty, grounded in Western individualism and the autonomy of separate, self-contained states, has proven increasingly inadequate for addressing transnational challenges such as climate change, economic complexity, and humanitarian crises. This thesis proposes an alternative model of sovereignty inspired by the ethical philosophy of Watsuji Tetsurō. Grounding this notion on key concepts such as ningen, aidagara, rinri, sonzai and yononaka, I argue that sovereignty should be reimagined not as a static, absolute authority, but as a dynamic and relational construct emerging from mutual recognition and interstate interdependence. The thesis critically engages with traditional sovereignty theory, highlights the limitations of dominant frameworks through thinkers like Krasner and Morgenthau, and applies Watsuji’s ethics to real-world examples, including the European Union and the Paris Climate Agreement. While acknowledging critiques regarding idealism and procedural vagueness, I defend Watsuji’s approach as a normative compass for a more cooperative and ethically grounded international order. This project introduces a non-Western philosophical framework that prioritises relational ethics over rigid autonomy in international relations theory
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Name supervisor: | Timmenga, F.L.S. |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2025 08:39 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2025 08:39 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/606 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |