Discourse, Interests and Subjects: ‘Interests’ in Political Analysis

This paper argues that interests have consequences in so far as they provide actors with reasons for action, and that actors may find reasons for action in interests they ascribe to themselves and in interests they ascribe to others. This argument undermines many of the ways in which concepts of interests have traditionally been used in social and political analysis. Section I is an introductory discussion of the uses of concepts of interests in political analysis. Section II discusses the place of interests in the explanation of action and Section III discusses connections between interests and actors' social location. A brief conclusion summarises the main arguments of the two central sections.