Aspiration is an essential component of politics. It articulates goals, affirms identities and values, and structures action at all levels of social life. Yet political scientists have spent little time theorizing aspiration-- what it is, how it relates to other concepts, and the kinds of effects it creates. In this paper, we develop the concept theoretically and argue that aspiration creates a distinct “aspirational politics” that differs from our international relations (IR) models of both norm-driven social activism and interest-driven rational choice. We identify three core features of aspiration that undergird its theoretical utility: lofty goals, change over time, and transformation through imagination. In the hands of skilled political actors, aspiration does essential work in both facilitating agreement and mobilizing social action that create change in the world. But aspiration also has a dark side and can be manipulated to dodge accountability, postpone action, and to serve private, rather than public, goals.

中文翻译：

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志向政治

志向是政治的重要组成部分。它阐明了目标，确认了身份和价值观，并在社会生活的各个层面上构建了行动。然而，政治科学家们很少花时间在理论上，即抱负，它与其他概念的关系以及所产生的影响。在本文中，我们从理论上发展了这一概念，并认为抱负产生了一种独特的“抱负政治”，这与规范驱动的社会行动主义和利益驱动的理性选择的国际关系（IR）模型不同。我们确定了愿望的三个核心特征，这些愿望支撑了它的理论实用性：崇高的目标，随时间的变化以及通过想象的转变。在熟练的政治演员手中，志向在促进达成共识和动员创造世界变化的社会行动方面都做了必不可少的工作。但是，愿望也有阴暗面，可以操纵它以逃避问责制，推迟行动并为私人而非公共目标服务。