Important Theories in International Relations
Chapter – 2
Table of Contents
WHAT IS A ‘THEORY’ AND WHY IS IT REQUIRED?
- A theory is an analytical tool used to understand, explain, and predict a subject matter.
- It consists of a body of rules, ideas, principles, or techniques to explain a natural event, which can be tested and used for predicting future events.
- In the scientific sense, a theory is an analytic structure designed to explain a set of empirical observations.
- A theory is necessary because it acts as a guiding principle to systematically structure observations.
- Different people with different assumptions and perspectives may observe an event differently.
- A theory helps determine what to accept and what to ignore in observations.
- Without a theory, observers would be overwhelmed by the vast amount of facts and data and would struggle to explain or structure them systematically.
- A theory is essential as it helps observers analyse and explain observations amid contradictory facts and data.
- It leads to an accurate and proper explanation of the subject matter.
THEORIES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Theories in International Relations (IR) provide a conceptual framework to analyze different aspects of the discipline.
- Theory-building in IR is influenced by historical and contemporary developments across the world.
- Initially, theories focused on nation-states and their relations, especially concerning war and peace.
- Later, as non-state actors and events gained influence, new theories like behaviouralism, globalization, and postmodernism emerged.
- Theories in IR may also reflect values and offer visions of the future world or the world people prefer to see and live in.
- Early IR theorists were concerned with the survival of the nation-state system, especially after the First World War.
- As wars threatened the existence of nation-states, early IR theories focused on war, the avoidance of war, and peace.
- Liberalism and realism emerged as theories addressing the issues of war, peace, and the interests of nation-states.
- When the focus on nation-states became less prominent, new theories like behaviouralism and globalizationdeveloped, focusing on non-state issues.
- Post-positivist theories, like postmodernism, challenge earlier theories and claim there is no objective truth in IR, emphasizing subjectivity and human values, ideas, emotions, and beliefs.
- Postmodernism argues that theories, such as liberalism and realism, are subjective interpretations, not eternal objective truths.
- Postmodernists call for the deconstruction of theories to expose their hollowness and arrive at new conclusions.
- Theories in IR are numerous and varied, developing alongside the world’s changing events.
- An important question in IR is which theory is the most important.
- One view holds that the best theory should help systematically structure our thinking of the world.
- Another view argues that there is no single dominant theory and that an issue-based approach is better, where different theories are applied to different problems.
- The debate on the importance of any single theory continues in the discipline.
- These ideas about theories lead into the discussion of major theories in international relations.