The Geopsychology Theory of International Relations in the 21st Century: Escaping the Ignorance Trap by B. M. Jain (review)

B. M. Jain's latest monograph contributes to our understanding of geopolitics in the face of unprecedented challenges in today's world. Jain draws on his theory of geopsychology to problematize the field of international relations (IR) that primarily focuses on concepts of hegemony, rational choice, and balance of power to manage inter- and intra-state conflicts. He argues that mainstream IR theories have been "insufficient to explain the dynamics of bloody violence, ethnic conflicts, and civil wars and illuminate those underlying conditions that might trigger peaceful changes in a violent world order. Besides, mainstream IR theories have been unable to predict the future course of the international system" (ix). The conventional theories do not adduce palpable causal factors that led to the US failure in its longest war in Afghanistan.

Jain identifies a variety of correlates that shape perceptions and approaches of non-state and transnational actors in volatile regions, such as geography, history, culture, ethnicity, religion, and nationalism. He balances a macro-level study of state behaviors with a micro-level analysis of historical circumstances, collective values, and norms in specific settings. By referring to a host of ongoing conflicts in Asia, Jain calls for paying greater attention to the psychological and sociocultural orientations of violent non-state actors and of authoritarian regimes such as China and North Korea. The well-crafted case studies demonstrate how Jain's framework plays out when understanding the nuances of geopolitical rivalries that continue to baffle IR scholars. For instance, India–Pakistan conflicts in South Asia over Kashmir and nuclear proliferation is "a classic case of rival geopsychology" in which both countries "find it hard to navigate the complex cultural and psychological terrain of their fractured bilateral relationship" (88).

Another relevant example is that of China. Jain illustrates how China's foreign policy is influenced by its sense of past national humiliations suffered at the hands of foreign imperialists, its sense of national and cultural pride, and the legacy of a Middle Kingdom mind-set that sees neighbors as tributaries, not sovereign equals. In the course of connecting geopsychology to current pressing issues, Jain alludes to China's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps an elaboration of China's crisis management through its "wolf warrior" diplomacy could be helpful.

Jain further illustrates the value of applying the concept of geopsychology to examine the nuclear standoff in northeast Asia. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un's single-minded pursuit of nuclear adventurism throws light on his unique psyche and his deeply entrenched anti-US perception. In fact, Kim's psychology is attuned to having a dialogue with the United States from a position of strength to protect the national honor. His determination to challenge the United States is traceable to China's solid support, without which Pyongyang cannot sustain itself.

The richness of the range of case studies is evident from the investigation of the United States' Afghan policy. According to Jain, the "US intolerance and disrespect for indigenous cultures, local values, and religious faith of the people in Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey largely contributed to the deepening enmity against the United States in Greater Middle East" (191). Inadequate knowledge about Afghanistan's rugged terrain, ethnic composition, and cultural values led the United States to its "Waterloo" there.

Thematically, Jain's conceptualization of geopsychology resonates with what Naoki Sakai calls the "sentiment of nationality"—the transmission, circulation, and appropriation of affective sentiments constituted through the apparatuses of fantasies and imaginations within a national community. Group bias manifest in ethnonationalism, fanning hostility against the "Other." Acknowledging these emotive impulses might enable us to reexamine the world's conflict zones beyond the binary discourse of "us against them," thus finding room for dialogue. Scholars can apply Jain's analytical tool to studying the escalating anti-Japan sentiments in China. According to Leo T. S. Ching, in Anti-Japan: The Politics of Sentiment...