Mission in foreign policy

The second chapter presents the author’s concept of mission in foreign policy. Messianism is characterised by a linear vision of history, universalism and mission. In the context of foreign policy, the final component – the imperative to act, of actively shaping reality in order to implement the Ideal – is of central importance. Mission has three characteristics. Firstly (1) a community with a sense of mission is convinced of its own unique destiny. This conviction leads to (2) a sense of its own moral superiority. This is the second characteristic of mission. Finally, the third characteristic, (3) a community implements its mission without being guided solely by its own interests but for the common good. The second chapter provides an analysis of mission by using concepts of role-identity, ontological security and status. Mission in foreign policy can be understood as an expression of a country’s role-identity. Mission narrative is also a mechanism of strengthening ontological security. It is an element of the autobiographical narrative which gives a country a sense of existential continuity and is thus a source of ontological security. Mission needs to be studied in politics in three contexts: (1) identity, (2) status, (3) legitimacy.