Week 3 - Ideas and Interests

In his lecture on ideas and interests, Dr. Jackson asked if it was possible to determine what publicly available ideas and norms an actor is drawing on, and if possible, what happens if it looks like an actor is drawing on incompatible logic.   

The process of trying to separate and characterize the ideas and interests of an actor is, in my opinion, somewhat convoluted.  Ideas lead to interests and interests can lead to ideas.  My understanding is that individual actors are quite a bit more opaque than states when it comes to deciphering ideas and interests.  Individuals don’t necessarily express their ideas and there’s not always an opportunity to do so.  Depending on the particular norm or idea, an actor’s position may change over time or depending on context.   Incompatible logic of individual actors is rarely a matter of major concern, and I imagine a lot of individuals change their opinions throughout their lifetime with little to no effect.

States, on the other hand, are by necessity more transparent.  States are often in situations in which they are required to take a clear position on a matter, such as in the passage of legislation or a public statement, and these statements may reflect internalized ideas and norms.   If they appeared to be drawing on incompatible logic, even that based on the ideas and norms of the majority, the result would most likely be much different than if an individual was drawing on incompatible logic.   States, and the elected officials that represent them, are constantly under scrutiny and their ideas are expected to remain more stable over time.  Their positions are often put in writing for record or publication, and are expected to demonstrate a consistent ideology in order to be considered competent. 

How do we figure out what ideas are actually important? Objectively, they all are.  Regardless of compatibility, the ideas of individuals and States tell us a little bit about their culture and what they consider important.  If ideas are incompatible, this in itself may share a little more information regarding  how their culture might be changing over time.