Desire and Imitation in International Politics

In this innovative approach to international relations, Jodok Troy draws on René Girard’s mimetic theory to examine why rivalry and conflict persist even in an ostensibly rational world. Challenging conventional assumptions about autonomous state behavior, Troy argues that struggles for power are often driven by mimetic desire, as states model their ambitions on those of rivals.

Reframing classical realism through a mimetic lens, the book reveals how comparison, imitation, and rivalry fuel disorder and violence in global politics. At the same time, Troy shows how mimetic theory opens new paths for thinking about ethical restraint, reconciliation, and nonviolent competition among states. Concise yet theoretically ambitious, this book is essential reading for scholars of international relations, political theory, and the study of violence and culture.