1. Critical Theory (And Post-Modernism)

2. Positivist Review Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberalism – two sides of the same coin? Similar assumptions: –Potential for cooperation (disagree over how much) –Positivist methodologies –Objective approach –Emphasis on “high politics”

3. Positivist Review “explanatory” theories see the task of theory as being to report on a world that is external to our theories. Want to uncover regularities in human behaviour Explain the social world in the same way as natural scientists explain the natural world.

4. Critical Theory: Origins Can trace back to the enlightenment. Kant, Hegel, Marx

5. Critical Theory: Origins Frankfurt school: Understand the features of contemporary society by understanding its historical and social development Trace contradictions in the present; open up the possibility of transcending contemporary society with its built-in forms of domination.

6. Critical Theory: Origins emphasis here is on: –Analysing social structures –Determine power structures, which ones cause abuse –Intention is on overcoming these structures and abuse. Identify possibilities for social transformation This is the link with Kant, Marx, etc.

7. Critical Theory and IR By 1980s, there is dissatisfaction with positivist approaches Robert Cox, “Social Forces, States and World Order: Beyond International Relations Theory”, Millennium Journal of International Relations, (1981) Andrew Linklater, Men and Citizens, (1982) Mark Hoffman, “Critical Theory and the Inter- Paradigm Debate”, Millennium Journal of International Relations, (1987)

8. Critical Theory and IR Robert Cox –Borrowing from Horkheimer (uses “traditional”) –“problem solving” vs “critical theory “Problem-Solving” theory: –accepts the prevailing definitions; tries to solve the problems these definitions generate. Critical theory –look at the way the problem serves particular interests, shuts down different debates and solutions

9. Critical Theory and IR Robert Cox con’t: Postitivist methods: – take the world as an untheorized given –trying to work out how to better theorize, given the world Critical theory: – recognizes that the theorist is situated within the historical circumstances of the time.

10. Critical Theory and IR “Theory is always for someone and some purpose” –not just a neutral thing we are trying to get across. –Speaks from a particular moment in history – seeks to understand why and how it came to be –what possibilities for change there might be.

11. Critical Theory: Research Takes issue with positivism and “scientific” methods –Not neutral –World is historically constructed. –Liberalism not an emancipatory theory. Challenges the idea of immutable “structure”/looks at prospects for greater human freedom. –Realism, rational choice suggest present world is pre- determined. (states, boundaries, war, etc.) –Imagine international relations beyond borders. Shared humanity across borders.

12. Critical Theory: Research Draws on Marxism ultimately sees it as a flawed theory wants to create a “historical sociology” with an emancipatory purpose –Look at historical developments – how power structures have evolved, and how they may be overcome.

13. Critical Theory Critical theory: judges social arrangements by the way they embrace open dialogue envisages new forms of political community (local or global) emphasizes unconstrained discourse to rethink national boundaries and examine the possibility of escaping them.

14. Critical Theory Critical theory –Emphasis on “emancipatory” theory. –Lost purpose of IR? Impact: –Gramsci and “Hegemony” –Feminism

15. Post-Modernism aka post-structuralism aka deconstruction aka post-postivism Closely related to critical theory, but some important differences No set-definition of what post-modernism is.

16. Po-Mo: Foucault & Power Genealogy: focus on the process by which we have “constructed” origins, given meaning to particular representations of the past. –guide daily lives and set clear limits to political and social options. –po-mo to expose the processes of exclusion –Idea that one cannot study history objectively Knowledge is not immune from the workings of power – what we know depends on power in our lives.

17. Derrida and Deconstruction World is a “text” that must be interpreted. –World is constructed like a text. –Cannot refer to anything “real” – only “interpretive experience” –Quoting Montaigne: “We need to interpret interpretations more than to interpret things” stable and natural concepts and relations are artificial concepts.

18. Derrida and Deconstruction Society relies on artificial, seemingly opposite distinctions. –Good/bad, male/female, civilizational barbaric Arranged hierarchically – society tends to prefer one over the other. (ie: order to anarchy) Deconstruction show that terms are really an illusion. –Terms are mutually constitutive –Cannot have ‘other’ without ‘self’ Differences between two terms mask differences within terms.

19. Critical vs Po-Mo Some po-mos agree with critical theorists aims. Yet others disagree: Critical theory/Marxism presents new “meta-narratives” and its own truth claims. Derrida,sympathetic: –“new International” should be supported –violence, inequality, exclusion, famine, and thus economic oppression affect humanity on huge scale Yet, others see the emancipatory projects as just another claim to power for which we must be sceptical.

20. Criticism Positivists: –this is not social science, not verifiable –Can’t offer a theory of IR. Only deconstructs –Keohane: rationalist vs reflectivist Is this fair? –Have done positivist vs post-postivist to death! –But many critical theorists see themselves as engages with current issues –Writing for a different audience than IR academics