Abstractions in International Relations: on the mystification of trans, queer, and subaltern life in critical knowledge production

This paper identifies a common process of mystification within academic knowledge production today: the treatment subordinated groups as mere metaphors or rhetorical figures for theorizing. We witness it when academics ask what trans might teach us about transnationality, we are invited to reflect on be queer modern warfare, nation-states described subaltern. Trans, queer, and subaltern populations routinely fetishized scholarship “traditional” International Relations concerns statecraft, migration, security, so on. tendency serves mystifying function by disabling scholars from examining social relations that shape organize their lives histories. proceeds in three parts. First, understand origins logics this self-mystifying process, returns, via Stuart Hall, Karl Marx’s methodological writings abstraction. It contributes formalization his methodology contemporary IR drawing distinction between fetishization abstraction concretization Second, explores how abstracted subject positions have been fields international studies: studies, theory, studies. Third, after elaborating critique move, outlines alternative approaches instead seek concretize abstractions trans, attending specific historical determinations. These strategies demystification, argue, carry forward founding commitment critical theory is all too often abandoned scholarly today.