Theories of International Relations / Edition 5

by Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater, Richard Devetak

Overview

This successful and popular textbook provides a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the main theoretical approaches in the study of international relations. Written by a team of leading scholars from around the world, the core chapters each present a detailed and critical analysis of one of the key theories prevailing in the discipline, from realism and liberalism to feminism and post-structuralism. These are set in context by an introduction assessing the importance and role of theory in the study of world politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230362239
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/24/2013
Edition description:	5th ed. 2013
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Richard Devetak is Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Jacqui True is Professor of International Relations, Director of the Gender, Peace and Security Centre at Monash University, Victoria, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Boxes x

About the Editors and Authors xi

Preface to the 6th Edition xii

1 Introduction Richard Devetak Jacqui True 1

A Century of IR Theorizing 1

Post-War International Relations Theory 5

The End of Theory? Why Theory Has Never Been More Important 6

What Is Theory and How Do We Theorize? 6

Why Theorize? From Motivation to Purpose 9

Evaluating Theories 11

Explanatory Power 12

Predictive Power 12

Interpretive Power 13

Intellectual Consistency and Coherence 13

Reflexivity 13

Outline of the Book 14

Conclusion: Next Generation of IR Theorizing? 17

Glossary Terms 18

2 Realism Jack Donnelly 19

Defining Realism 19

Exemplary Realish Arguments 22

The Hobbesian State of Nature 22

Waltzian Structural Realism 23

Characteristic Realist Propositions 24

Neo-classical Refinements of the Balancing Logic 26

Morality and Foreign Policy 27

Varieties of Realist Theories and Explanations 28

Realist 'Theories' 28

Realist Explanations vs. Explanations that Employ Realist Elements 28

Structural Realism: Indeterminate Predictions 30

Augmented Structural Realism 31

Neo-classical Realism 32

Fear, Uncertainty and the Future of Realist theories 33

Glossary Terms 34

Further Reading 35

3 Liberalism Scott Burchill 36

After the Cold War 37

The Liberal View: 'Inside Looking Out' 38

War, Democracy and Free Trade 39

Prospects for Peace 39

The Spirit of Commerce 43

Interdependence and Liberal Institutionalism 44

Human Rights 46

Globalization, the Financial System and Terrorism 49

Liberalism and Globalization 50

The Nature of 'Free Trade' 51

Sovereignty and Foreign Investment 53

Non-State Terrorism 55

Conclusion 57

Glossary Terms 58

Further Reading 59

4 Postcolonialism Alina Sajed 60

'The Third World Was Not a Place, It Was a Project' 62

Postcolonialism in IR: Colonialism, Race and Epistemic Justice 67

Postcolonialism and Its Critics/Critiques 73

Concluding Remarks 75

Glossary Terms 76

Further Reading 76

5 The English School Andrew L'inklater André Saramago 77

A Brief Overview 77

Distinctive Debates in the Post-Bipolar Era 79

Power, Order and Humanity: Core Concepts in the English School 82

Order, Justice and the 'Standard of Civilization' in International Society 85

The Revolt Against the West 90

Progress and Civilization in international Society 93

Conclusion 95

Glossary 95

Further Reading 96

6 Marxism Andrew Linklater André Saramago 97

The Historical Materialist Conception of History 99

Class Struggles, Nature and International Relations 102

Imperialism and Dependency 107

The Continued Relevance of Marxism for International Relations 110

Conclusion 117

Glossary of Terms 118

Further Reading 118

7 Critical Theory Richard Devetak 119

Origins of Critical Theory 120

The Politics of Knowledge in international Relations Theory 122

Problem-Solving and Critical Theories 123

Critical Theory's Task as an Emancipatory Theory 125

Rethinking Political Community 128

The Normative Dimension: The Critique of Ethical Particularism and Social Exclusion 129

The Sociological Dimension: States, Social Forces and Changing World Orders 131

The Praxeological Dimension: Cosmopolitanism and Discourse Ethics 134

Dialogue and Discourse Ethics 136

Conclusion 138

Glossary 139

Further Reading 140

8 Feminism(s) Jacqui True 141

Waves of Feminisms and Generations of Feminist International Relations 142

Empirical Feminism 144

Making Women and Gender Structures Visible 145

Gendering Institutional Institutions 146

Gendering Foreign Policy and War 147

Introducing New Transnational Actors 149

Analytical Feminism 150

Gendered Divisions of Domestic and International 150

Feminist Revisioning of IR Levels of Analysis 151

Gender Bias of IR Concepts 154

Normative Feminism 156

Diverse Feminist Epistemologies 157

Deconstructing Gender 159

Conclusion 161

Glossary Terms 162

Further Reading 163

9 Post-Structuralism Richard Devetak 164

Power and Knowledge in International Relations 164

Genealogy 165

Textual Strategies of Post-Structuralism 169

Deconstruction 170

Double Reading 172

Ashley's Double Reading of the Anarchy Problématique 172

Problematizing Sovereign States 174

Violence 174

Boundaries 176

Identity 177

Statecraft 179

Beyond the Paradigm of Sovereignty: Rethinking the Political 181

Sovereignty and the Ethics of Exclusion 183

Post-Structuralist Ethics 184

Conclusion 186

Glossary Terms 186

Further Reading 187

10 Constructivism Christian Reus-Smit 188

Rationalist Theory Versus Critical Theory 189

Constructivism 190

The Contribution of Constructivism 196

Constructivism's Discontents and Limitations 197

Cutting-Edge Constructivism 201

Conclusion 204

Glossary of Terms 205

Further Reading 206

11 Institutionalism Toni Haastrup 207

Introduction 207

The Institutionalisms: What Are They? 208

Rational-Choice Institutionalism 212

Sociological Institutionalism 213

Historical institutionalism 213

Discursive institutionalism 215

Feminist Institutionalism 215

The Uses of Institutionalisms 216

Critiques and Overlaps 220

Conclusion 221

Glossary of Terms 222

Further Reading 222

12 Green Theory Matthew Paterson 224

Theorizing Environment Within international Relations 226

Institutionalist Accounts of Environmental Politics 227

Beyond IR: Green Politics and the Challenge to World Order 228

Bio-Environmentalism - Authority, Scale and Ecocentrism 229

Social Greens - Limits to Growth and Political Economy 233

Social Limits to Growth 234

Back to the Commons 235

Greening Global Politics 236

The Anthropocene: Rethinking Green Global Politics? 239

Conclusions 242

Glossary Terms 243

Further Reading 243

13 International Political Theory Terry Nardin 244

Theorizing International Politics 244

Justice in War 246

From International to Global Justice 250

From Global Justice to Global Order 254

The History of international Thought 258

Glossary Terms 261

Further Reading 261

References 262

Index 314

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for the fifth edition:

'Books that get to a fifth edition are clearly doing something right. It is no mystery why this excellent text continues to be used around the world. Comprehensive coverage, impressive depth of analysis and beautifully written chapters all combine to make it highly recommended for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Courses that do not use it are missing out, so are their students!' – Colin Wight, University of Sydney, Australia

Reviews of the previous editions:

'An outstanding textbook.' - Andreas Bieler, University of Nottingham, UK

'One of the most useful books on International Relations theory to have appeared in recent years...a most valuable addition to the burgeoning literature in the field.' - Chris Brown, Political Studies

'A very fine book, bringing together a group of contributors who describe the major currents of International Relations theory. Beginning with 'liberal internationalism' and finishing up with 'green politics', the book is highly readable and illuminating for a subject not everyone finds accessible.' - RUSI Journal

Editorial Reviews

An authoritative survey of the discipline's diverse and evolving theoretical terrain, as well as nuanced analysis of the key concepts, debates, and ideas that have animated the study of international relations.” —Suwita Hani Randhawa, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, UWE Bristol, UK

“This textbook brings together an outstanding array of scholars to offer a comprehensive outline of the main theories of International Relations and how they relate to a changing world.” —Steven Slaughter, Associate Professor, Deakin University, Australia

“Overseen by a new editorial team, with new and updated chapters, the sixth edition of Theories of International Relations provides a refreshing and dynamic insight into the state of the discipline at the start of the 2020s. Chapters offer a rich – yet systematic – discussion of core theories in International Relations, and readers are invited to consider how these theories help us make sense of, and respond to, our contemporary global challenges: making Theories of International Relations an indispensable resource for students and researchers alike.” —Laura McLeod, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, University of Manchester, UK

“This book not only provides excellent coverage of a wide range of theoretical approaches in International Relations, but its introduction situates them in a critical historical dialogue that should be instructive for students and teachers alike. The line-up of contributors is stellar, and the treatment of approaches is nuanced and very much up to date.” —Luis Cabrera, Associate Professor of Political Science, Griffith University, Australia

“This textbook continues to be core reading for students of International Relations. The inclusion of chapters on postcolonialism and institutionalism make important contributions to the scope of this key text. A fantastic next step for this book.” —Samantha Cooke, Senior Lecturer in International Relations and International Politics, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

From the Publisher