Chapter1_IRTheoryBook.ppt

8/11/2019 Chapter1_IRTheoryBook.ppt

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International Relations Theory

A New Introduction

Chapter 1

Why Theorize International Relations?


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Why Theory?

This chapter seeks answers to questions such as:

If the objective is to understand international relations,

then what can theory do for us?

What is the added value of theoretical reflection?

What is Theory?

What is Meta-theory?


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Why Theory?

Five key sets of reasons

Research guidance

Excellent tool to challenge prejudices or traditional worldviews

Theory makes it easier to grasp the modern world

Theory can play an important role when we want toevaluate political practice

International Relations is a discipline defined by itstheories, therefore knowledge of its theories is aprecondition for becoming acquainted to the discipline


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What is Theory?

S. Burchill (2001):

The term theory is not limited to its scientific or positivist

formulations

Explanatory theories of the kind which flow from the adoption of a

positivist methodology, are only one type of international theory

Several avenues of theorizing; see C. Brown (1997)

Explanatory Theories

Normative or Prescriptive Theories

Interpretative Theories


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What is Meta-theory?

Theoretical reflections on theory!

Key aspects of Meta-theory:

Ontology

Epistemology

Agent-Structure Problem

Level-of-Analysis


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Theoretical Traditions

To achieve an adequate balance between inclusion and

exclusion, this book offers six theoretical traditions:

International Political Theory International Liberalism

Political Realism

The International Society Tradition

International Political Economy

The Post-Positivist Tradition


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Currents of Thought

Individual currents are part of a tradition but morespecific and dynamic than traditions

Examples: In International Society Tradition: pluralism and

solidarism

In Realism: classical realism, neorealism and post-neorealism

In Liberalism: strong and weak liberalism; ideational,republican and commercial liberal theory (A.Moravcsik); neoliberal institutionalism, republican andcommercial liberalism (R. Keohane)


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Six Theoretical Debates

pluralists

ENGLISH

SCHOOL

classical realism

REALISM

5.

6. 4.

1.

2.3.

LIBERALISM

solidarists neorealism

strong weak

Inter-tradition and intra-tradition debates

Numbers 1-3 represent intra-tradition debates

Numbers 4-6 represent inter-tradition debates


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Theorists & Do-It-Yourself Theory

Theoretical traditions, currents of thought and specific

individual theories can be presented in three different

fashions:

As a kind of pre-given complex structure of ideas

As creation of one or more individuals and as

accomplished in a specific context of time and space

As Do-It-Yourself Theorizing: Theory builder vs.

Theory consumer


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What is the field of international

relations?

Some theorists

define IR narrowly as simply relations between units(states) in the international system

are more inclusive in terms of both actors & relations,focus on inter-state, inter-society & state-societyrelations

include inter-region relations, relations between states

and international organizations or economic relations

The nature of international relations is historicallycontingent

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Chapter1_IRTheoryBook.ppt