International Relations Theory A New Introduction Chapter 7 The Post-Positivist Tradition

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.

Four Debates Co-Constituting the Discipline 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-

Currents of Thought Social constructivism Poststructuralism Critical Theory

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)

Main Intra-Tradition Debates On post-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

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

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’.

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

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