Hegemony and Discourse Theory

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The research paper explores the application of Ernesto Laclaus and Chantal Mouffe's discursive theory of hegemony to international relations (IR). It contrasts Alexander Wendt's Constructivism with Althusser's ideology, arguing that collective meaning arises from hegemonic struggles rather than a linear process. By viewing the state as an overdetermined entity shaped by overlapping discourses, the paper critiques essentialist notions and presents a discursive framework for understanding world politics, emphasizing democracy as an empty signifier in global hegemonic contexts.