Chapter - Why Theory Matters
Questions for discussion -
- Why is theory unavoidable?
- How does theory allow us to analyze, rather than just describe, world affairs?
- How can theory be used to widen and deepen our perceptions?
- Does theory constitute a sound guide to action?
- Is it possible to 'prove' that one theory is better than another?
- Is all knowledge framed within a paradigm?
- Do the attractions of thinking 'across' paradigms outweigh the drawbacks?
- Is there a real world 'out there', and, if so, how do we know?
- Is neutral and dispassionate scholarship possible?
- How and why are empirical and normative theory intrinsically linked?
- Is the notion of a 'realistic utopia' meaningful or helpful?
Chapter - Introduction: Theorizing International Relations
QUESTIONS FOR REVISION -
1. To what extent can theories of politics be considered 'scientific'?
2. What do you understand by the term 'positivism'?
3. How do we distinguish between material and ideational realities?
4. What is the difference, if any, between a theory and an ideology?
5. In what sense is IR a normative discipline?
6. How central are the concepts of anarchy and sovereignty to IR theory?
7. What are the key features of modernity?
8. What impact has European colonialism had on both practical and theoretical developments in IR?
Chapter - Introduction To International Relations
QUESTIONS TO PONDER - 'Can social scientists claim to produce the same kind of knowledge as natural scientists? Should they try?'
Chapter - Research Methods In International Relations
IR is a field of study defined by contested methodologies and methodological plurality. As such, there is a diversity of theoretical approaches to explaining or understanding world politics alongside a diverse range of research methods available to the student and practitioner of IR. When embarking upon undergraduate or post-graduate essay or dissertation writing there are a number of questions that should be asked even before thinking about a research question. These questions are:
What is your topic of interest?
What is the purpose of your study?
Is it to explain a certain event, trend or phenomena in world politics?
Is it to interrogate the meaning of a particular discourse or practice in world politics?
Where do you fall along the empiricist/interpretivist divide?
Your response to the first question should be fairly straightforward. The second requires you to think about what it is you want to do. What kind of knowledge do you want to add to a particular issue? Once you have settled on a response to this question you are then able to situate your own research along the two broad traditions in IR research presented in this chapter.
Chapter - Why Theorize International Relations?
Questions -
How do different theoretical traditions define the field of international relations?
What can theory do for us when we are attempting to understand international relations? Which different conceptions have been emphasized?
What is meta-theory? How can meta-theory help us to better understand the nature of IR theory? Which key men-theoretical aspects have been highlighted?
What is the nature of theoretical traditions? Which traditions have been selected for the present volume?
How would you characterize intellectual currents of thought, for example, in relation to traditions and concrete theories?
How are form and content related? How do kinds of theory differ?
What is the function of concrete theories? How are traditions and currents capable of producing ever-more concrete theories?
Concerning theoretical debates, how would you characterize intra- and inter-tradition debates, respectively?
What are centric and de-centric perspectives? Which consequences follow from the adoption of a de-centric perspective?
Is DIY theorizing desirable or feasible? Would you rather prefer to leave the task of theory building to theorists?
Attachment:- Assignment - Reading Files.rar