"His extensive methodological chapters deliver a step-by-step primer of how to undertake rigorous analysis of political rhetoric. Taken on its own terms, Stengel’s book is carefully constructed and clearly reasoned, and it usefully demonstrates what a careful and systematic reading of rhetoric can—and can’t—accomplish."
—William G. Gray, H-Net, H-War
— William G. Gray, H-Net, H-War
Named one of Süddeutsche Zeitung's Books of the Year 2022
— Süddeutsche Zeitung
"Stengel’s greatest contribution is the demonstration that security policy discourse has had both an enabling as well as a limiting effect on Germany’s use of force, leading to Germany’s regular participation in foreign military missions, but with restrictions that often seem incomprehensible to Germany’s allies. This insight has implications for the importance of language and ideational creation, not only in the local German environment but also within the broader of context of transatlantic security as well."
—Atlantic Community
— Joseph Verbovszky, Atlantic Community
Named one of Internationale Politik's Books of the Year 2022
"Frank A. Stengel explores the question of how the discourse on out-of-area operations unfolded against the background of a deeply rooted antimilitarism and elegantly embeds the German debate in domestic as well as transatlantic processes. A must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the change in German foreign policy."
—Carlo Masala, Internationale Politik
— Internationale Politik
"Stengel’s book contributes to a growing body of literature that—correctly in my view—treats security policy change not as inevitable adjustments to a country’s changing environment, but as the result of political decisions that reflect value commitments, worldviews, and the expectations of the domestic public as well as allied states. Stengel’s contribution is theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich."
—Perspectives on Politics
— Wolfgang Wagner, Perspectives on Politics
"Stengel’s book is an excellent read and a thought-provoking study into how security discourses emerge and how they change. Students of German politics, international relations and foreign policy will greatly benefit from this book and the detailed information it provides. It is very timely reading for observers and academics working in the field of IR and German Politics."
—Dr Antti Seppo, German Politics
— Dr Antti Seppo, German Politics
"Stengel’s book is one of the most competent applications of discourse theory in IR. It is strong not only in theory, but also in methodological and empirical rigor."
–Jakub Eberle, International Studies Review
— Jakub Eberle, International Studies Review