1. International Relations Theory A 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