Walter Benjamin, a Methodological Contribution

Abstract

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