ABSTRACT

Ever since an intense theoretical debate over a decade ago, the concept of heterogeneity has had a well-established place within poststructuralist Discourse Theory. It captures the interactions between the heart of the space of representation and its margins, between excluded excess and manifest presence; and conceptualizes particularities, differential remainders, and discursive exteriority. The analytical implications of heterogeneity remain underexploited, however. This contribution makes the case that one way to operationalize the notion of heterogeneity in empirical research is by tracing its strategic effects. Since heterogeneity constitutes ‘the primary terrain within which homogeneizing logics operate’, heterogeneous dynamics like the ‘incorporation of new demands’ and ‘the exclusion of others who were previously present’ affect and shape the availability and feasibility of political strategies. This contribution first provides an extensive definition of heterogeneity drawing on the original debate that gave the concept prominence. An approach that captures and explains the strategic effects of heterogeneity is then developed through the integration of heterogeneity into the logics framework. Finally, this approach is illustrated through an exploration of the politics of international trade.

摘要

自从十多年前激烈的理论辩论以来，异质性的概念在后结构主义话语理论中占有一席之地。它捕捉了表征空间的核心与其边缘之间、被排除的过剩和明显的存在之间的相互作用；并概念化特殊性、微分剩余和话语外部性。然而，异质性的分析意义仍未得到充分利用。这一贡献表明，在实证研究中实施异质性概念的一种方法是追踪其战略影响。由于异质性构成了“同质化逻辑运作的主要领域”，“纳入新需求”和“排除先前存在的其他人”等异质动态影响并塑造了政治战略的可用性和可行性。这一贡献首先提供了异质性的广泛定义，借鉴了使概念突出的原始辩论。然后，通过将异质性整合到逻辑框架中，开发了一种捕捉和解释异质性战略影响的方法。最后，通过对国际贸易政治的探索来说明这种方法。然后，通过将异质性整合到逻辑框架中，开发了一种捕捉和解释异质性战略影响的方法。最后，通过对国际贸易政治的探索来说明这种方法。然后，通过将异质性整合到逻辑框架中，开发了一种捕捉和解释异质性战略影响的方法。最后，通过对国际贸易政治的探索来说明这种方法。