International Relations Theory A New Introduction

1. International Relations TheoryA New Introduction Chapter 7 The Post-Positivist Tradition

2. Introduction • Post-positivist tradition refers to contending views within philosophy of science • Prime characteristic of the tradition is difference • Significant aspect of post-positivist scholarship = critique of mainstream perspectives on international relations, yet output in the form of substantive studies of world politics has been even more significant.

3. Genealogy Four Debates Co-Constituting the Discipline • Idealism-Realism 1940s-1950s • Traditionalism-Behavioralism 1960s-1970s • Inter-Paradigm Debate 1980s (Realism-Liberalism-Globalism) • Positivism vs. Post-positivism 1990s-

4. Currents of Thought • Social constructivism • Poststructuralism • Critical Theory

5. Kinds of Theory Cultivated? • Meta-theory • e.g. W. Carlsnaes(2002) • Interpretative theory • e.g. F. Kratochwil, J. Ruggie (1986; 1991, 1998) • Normative theory • Explanatory or causal theory • e.g. R. Jepperson, A. Wendt, P. Katzenstein (1996)

6. Main Intra-Tradition Debates • Onpost-positivist – positivism relationship • Critical Theory  Constructivism  poststructuralism • On whether emancipation is part and parcel of the post-positivist tradition • Concerning the nature and very possibility of theory • Methodology has proven to be a contested issue

7. Research Agenda • Key concepts: anarchy, power and security have always played a significant part in theorizing and analyzing international relations • Regarding meta-theoretical reflections, focus is more on deeds than on vices of meta-theory

8. Research Agenda • Meta-theoretical reflections are sometimes merged with critical concerns • The post-positivist tradition is no stranger to empirical studies yet insists that there is a crucial difference between ‘empirical’ and ‘empiricist’.

9. Conclusion • Post-positivist theoretical approaches may appear slightly diffuse and lacking common main features • Despite uncertainties, the development of the tradition demonstrates that the representatives of the tradition cultivate a wider range of studies than do theorists in most other traditions

10. Conclusion • Movement between philosophical, meta-theoretical, theoretical and empirical levels of analysis is commonplace • The tradition is characterized by lively internal debates, e.g. • On the question whether a focus on non-material phenomena should have epistemological consequences • On the possible methodological consequences of studying social ontology