What is theory? What is IR?

1. What is theory? What is IR? • What is theory Etymology Definition: A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explainedThe Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) A theory is an account of the world which goes beyond what we can see and measure. It embraces a set of interrelated definitions and relationships that organizes our concepts of and understanding of the empirical world in a systematic way A Dictionary of Sociology In science, a way of looking at a field that is intended to have explanatory and predictive implicationsThe Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy A set of hypotheses or propositions, logically or mathematically linked, which is offered as an explanation in general terms for a wide variety of connected phenomena The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science and Medicine

2. Thinking theory thoroughly James Rosenau • Df. Capacity to think theoretically:’the inclination to perceive and assess the course of events as suggestive or expressive of larger forces • Nine principles of creative theorizing. It is: • not about developing clear-cut definitions • to distinction between value theory and empirical theory • to assume an underlying order • to generalize and use abstractions • to sacrifice detailed descriptions for broad observations • to be tolerant of ambiguity, concerned about probabilities and distrustful of absolutes • to be playful about international phenomena • to be puzzled by international phenomena • to constantly be ready to be proven wrong

3. What is International Relations • The ‘terminological’ issue: international relations/ international politics/ world politics • The kind of interactions and processes that are studied and explained (high/ low policy- politics thought of in broad terms) • Actors: national governments, international organizations, transnational and transgovernmental actors