The Power of Language and Identity: British Neutrality and the American Civil War.

How important is identity and discourse in determining foreign policy decisions? Synthesizing discursive theorizing used by constructivists with the account of self-identity put forth by Anthony Giddens, I propose an alternative framework for understanding the concept of security in hegemonic foreign policy decisions. This paper then uses this framework to assess the impact Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had upon the British decision to remain neutral during the American Civil War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]