Walter Benjamin, a Methodological Contribution

This article examines the work and philosophy of Walter Benjamin as
an important source of information for international relations (IR) and
International Political Sociology (IPS) scholars, particularly in light of
his methodological contributions, which could provide important
ground for movements such as the aesthetic turn in IR and everyday
life ⁄ popular culture studies within IR and IPS. Benjamin’s contributions
are examined in light of his most controversial, albeit unfinished, project—
The Arcades Project, a recently published volume that focuses on a
selection of documents from the Benjamin archive; and a study by Howard
Caygill on Benjamin’s attempt to create a ‘‘new philosophy,’’ and
along with it, a new methodology for studying ‘‘experience.’’ The article
focuses on three main elements that stand at the basis of Benjamin’s
unique methodology: (1) his process of selecting the object of study;
(2) his treatment of temporality and processes of change ⁄ history; and
(3) his focus on the visual as key to escaping the limitations of
traditional ‘‘philosophical’’ text.