TY - JOUR
T1 - The Visual Politics of the 2015 Iran Deal: Memory and Narrative Alignment
AU - Miskimmon, Alister
AU - O'Loughlin, Ben
PY - 2020/9/11
Y1 - 2020/9/11
N2 - This article explores the role of visuality and narrative in the forging of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the UN Security P5+1. We advance strategic narrative theory by explaining how narrative alignment between longstanding antagonists can occur through protagonists’ coordination of communication – a methodology of orchestration – across public and private spaces of diplomacy. Analysis of news, policy and social media materials as well as interviews with protagonists allows us to trace the gestures and performances through which actors sought to reinforce or overcome an identity narrative of Iran as untrustworthy and dangerous. We draw on Foucault’s concept of alethurgy to show how verification mechanisms were constructed to ensure Iran’s actions (if not its intentions) could be brought into public view. US and Iranian leaders’ political will was significant, and sanctions and sabotage exerted considerable pressure on Iran. This article demonstrates how communication can enable alignment and peace-making rather than confusion and conflict in world affairs.
AB - This article explores the role of visuality and narrative in the forging of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the UN Security P5+1. We advance strategic narrative theory by explaining how narrative alignment between longstanding antagonists can occur through protagonists’ coordination of communication – a methodology of orchestration – across public and private spaces of diplomacy. Analysis of news, policy and social media materials as well as interviews with protagonists allows us to trace the gestures and performances through which actors sought to reinforce or overcome an identity narrative of Iran as untrustworthy and dangerous. We draw on Foucault’s concept of alethurgy to show how verification mechanisms were constructed to ensure Iran’s actions (if not its intentions) could be brought into public view. US and Iranian leaders’ political will was significant, and sanctions and sabotage exerted considerable pressure on Iran. This article demonstrates how communication can enable alignment and peace-making rather than confusion and conflict in world affairs.
U2 - 10.1080/09557571.2020.1813087
DO - 10.1080/09557571.2020.1813087
M3 - Article
JO - Cambridge Review of International Affairs
JF - Cambridge Review of International Affairs
SN - 0955-7571
ER -