A instrumentalização da mentira na política internacional

Abstract

The instrumentalisation of lies in international politics aims to explain why and how deception is used to obtain political advantages in the internal and external scenario to the State. Thinking lies as a strategic tool of state power leaves room for the conception of reason and effect, which would motivate and result from the articulation of lies in political maneuvers. This powergrabbing instrument reveals itself as an object capable of analytical consideration, for, despite the multiple glances that can be cast on the different slopes, lies have seduced rulers of all ages with their potential capacity to optimize time and resources in reversing difficult circumstances, as well as in gaining strategic advantages. In this sense, the research that follows conceives the lie under the lens of political utilitarianism, which manifests itself in state strategic pragmatism, for the purpose of maximizing relative capacities, a perspective that approaches offensive realism in its causal logic. Thus, as lie is understood as a resource that serves the reason of state, its minimum of political legitimacy is established, extending beyond collective morality and common sense. The construction of this theoretical study employs the method of deductive approach, on which the analysis of the more general aspect to the more specific aspect of the theme is constructed, unraveling the content from the premises, through a literature review. In the first chapter, the conception of lie as a political instrument is introduced, providing conceptual and behavioral basis of its use, as well as presenting its classifications and typifications. The theoretical construction of the lie will be based on the assumption of the existence of the lie-power relationship, which is relative to the state reason and, therefore, close to what the offensive realism postulates. The later chapters will examine the applicability of the description and theoretical analysis of the use of lies in the political sphere; the following cases: the Invasion of Iraq in 2003; the growth of the Japanese war industry between 2010 and 2017 and the Chinese harmonious development between 2010 and 2018. Against the backdrop of these concrete cases, this research aims to demonstrate how the instrumentalised lie for political purposes has been established among governments, in the national and international political environment, being able to perform actions such as a skillful tool of power.