Ontological Security in International Relations

Ontological security in international relations refers to the confidence of states in the consistency of their identity, practices and routines within an ever-changing global environment. Beyond traditional concerns with material survival and strategic interests, this concept emphasises how states seek continuity in their self-narratives, institutional norms and diplomatic interactions. Routines such as ritualised recognition by other actors, collective memory of foundational events and narratives of national purpose all contribute to a state’s sense of order and predictability. Disruptions to these routines—whether through crises, stigma or contested historical legacies—can provoke existential anxiety, prompting policies aimed at reassurance as much as physical defence. Research in this field highlights the interplay between identity construction, emotional governance and power hierarchies, demonstrating how ontological security shapes decisions from alliance formation to crisis management. The concept has gained global significance as policymakers confront challenges ranging from rising populism and great-power competition to pandemic-induced anxieties, underscoring its practical application in diplomacy, strategy and soft-power projection.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A recent study of Indian media narratives examines how elite press coverage of the Indo-Pacific strategy serves to sustain a coherent national identity and reassure domestic audiences about India’s evolving global role. By analysing strategic framing in leading publications, researchers demonstrate how references to historical non-alignment, contemporary power aspirations and regional partnerships are woven together to bolster a sense of continuity and purpose. This work illustrates the centrality of coherent storytelling in managing ontological insecurity and underlines the role of media as a key site for the negotiation of state identity in a complex geopolitical landscape.

Ontological Security in International Relations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ontological security in international relations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ontological security: A state’s sense of continuity and order in its identity and routines amid external change.

Stigma shifting: A process by which a status-anxious state deflects humiliation onto other actors to reaffirm its own standing.

Unconscious phantasy: Deep-seated, non-conscious mental constructs that shape collective narratives and anxieties.

Narcissistic narrative: Co-constituted discourse of pride and weakness that reflects a great power’s quest for self-assurance.

Identity narrative: A collective story that underpins a state’s self-perception and guides its foreign policy choices.

References

1. Status Hierarchies and Stigma Shifting in International Relations. International Organization (2024).
2. Deconstructing media narratives of the Indo-Pacific strategy: Exploring India’s ontological security and national identity in the Times of India. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2023).
3. Great Power Narcissism and Ontological (In)Security: The Narrative Mediation of Greatness and Weakness in International Politics. International Studies Quarterly (2021).
4. Narratives, Ontological Security, and Unconscious Phantasy: Germany and the European Myth During the so‐called Migration Crisis. Political Psychology (2022).