International Relations Theory A New Introduction

1. International Relations TheoryA New Introduction Chapter 1 Why Theorize International Relations?

2. 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?

3. Why Theory?Five key sets of reasons • Research guidance • Excellent tool to challenge prejudices or traditional world views • Theory makes it easier to grasp the modern world • Theory can play an important role when we want to evaluate political practice • International Relations is a discipline defined by its theories, therefore knowledge of “its theories” is a precondition for becoming acquainted to the discipline

4. 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

5. What is Meta-theory? • Theoretical reflections on theory! • Key aspects of Meta-theory: • Ontology • Epistemology • Agent-Structure Problem • Level-of-Analysis

6. John Vasquez´ set of criteria ‘Good’ theories should be: • accurate • falsifiable • capable of evincing great explanatory power • progressive as opposed to degenerating in terms of their research programme(s) • consistent with what is known in other areas • appropriately parsimonious and elegant (Vasquez 1995: 230)

7. 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

8. Currents of Thought • Individual currents are part of a tradition but more specific 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 and commercial liberalism (R. Keohane)

9. Six Theoretical Debates • Inter-tradition and intra-tradition debates • Numbers 1-3 represent intra-tradition debates • Numbers 4-6 represent inter-tradition debates

10. 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

11. 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-society relations • include inter-region relations, relations between states and international organizations or economic relations The nature of international relations is historically contingent