scholarly journals Embracing ontological doubt: The role of ‘reality’ in political realism

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamila Stullerova
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Political Realism ◽  
Normative Judgment ◽  
Empirical Reality ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Classical Realism

While a number of scholars argue that classical realism is conspicuously similar to critical international relations, this article takes an issue with such an interpretation. It does not challenge the observation that both approaches are comparable when it comes to ethical concerns and a related critique of modernity, but it puts forth an argument that they differ fundamentally when it comes to their basic intellectual motivation and purpose. This also makes classical realism more ready to formulate normative judgment. To articulate what provides for the ethical impetus in classical realism, the study turns to the work of Stephen Turner and his collaborators who illuminate Weberian sources of classical realist social science. Adopting the category of analyticism from Patrick Jackson, it further puts forth that normative judgment is linked to classical realism’s inherent ontological doubt, a feature it compensates for by focusing on epistemology necessitating constant engagement with empirical reality as a source of its (weak) ontological orientation. As a result, classical realism is reinforced here as an approach to international relations worth reviving and further developing.

9. Constructivism

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Fierke
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Social Science ◽  
International Relations ◽  
War On Terror ◽  
Middle Ground ◽  
Theory Versus

This chapter examines the key debates that have shaped the development of constructivism in International Relations (IR). It first considers the idea that international relations is a social construction, as it emerged from the critique of more traditional theories of IR. It then explores the distinctions among various constructivisms, with particular emphasis on the contrast between those who seek a ‘better’ social science, and hence better theory, versus those who argue that constructivism is an approach that rests on assumptions at odds with those of positivist method. The chapter proceeds by discussing constructivists' critique of rationalism, along with constructivism as a ‘middle ground’ between rationalist and poststructuralist approaches to IR. It also analyses the role of language and causality in the debate between rationalists and constructivists. Finally, it links all these insights to the War on Terror.

Deconfusing Morgenthau: moral inquiry and classical realism reconsidered

2000 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM BAIN
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
American Foreign Policy ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Moral Inquiry ◽  
Political Realism ◽  
Moral Tradition ◽  
Moral Voice ◽  
Classical Realism

This article explores Jim George's claim that Hans Morgenthau's notion of political realism is founded upon a spectator theory of knowledge and that it discloses no meaningful distinction between theory and practice. An investigation of Morgenthau's understanding of scientific inquiry, the relation of theory and practice, and his views on American foreign policy suggests that both of these claims may be misplaced. Rather Morgenthau's realism is an authentic moral voice in the discourse of world politics which emphasizes the importance of judgment and the need to locate statecraft in historical, social, and political context. It is a realism that is representative of a rich moral tradition, one which orders, arranges, and prioritizes fundamental human values and which is concerned with how these values might be realized. This conclusion not only emancipates a valuable tradition of scholarship, it also raises important question about how we engage and organize the discipline of international relations and it suggests that some critical thinking spaces may provide a rather limited refuge for those wishing to go beyond Morgenthau and realism.

scholarly journals Education And Digital Ethics: An Interview With Humberto De Faria Santos

2021 ◽  
pp. 05-17
Author(s):  
Anderson Bronzato
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Educational Organizations ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Digital Ethics ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Ethics Course ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

The present report represents the content shared by interviewing Humberto de Faria Santos, graduated in Theology and International Relations with a master’s degree in management systems. Mr. Santos has already done Economics and Organizational Ethics course at the University of Harvard. The interview aimed to bring into discussion the relationship between ethics into the technology field. Here, it was approached (i) the role of universities, (ii) key principles and values, (iii) a comparative view between the job market and educational organizations, (iv) the ethical concerns at non-academic training organizations, (v) privacy, ethics, and the digital world, (vi) the creation of solutions avoiding problems to society and finally, (vii) the collaboration of technology to the ethics rise.

scholarly journals TRANSFORMATION OF THE SYSTEM OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN POST COVID-19 PERIOD

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karine Khojayan
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
International System ◽  
World Order ◽  
Global Politics ◽  
Political Realism ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Global Affairs ◽  
Global World ◽  
The Impact

The article analyses possible scenarios of global world order followed by the outbreak of COVID-19. It assesses to what extend the pandemic will impact the process of transformation of the system of international relations and discusses possible scenario of the global politics for post-COVID period. The article suggests that the expected outcome of the pandemic will be bi-polar world order, which will much differ from the system of the International Relations of Cold War period. The impact of COVID-19 on ongoing processes will be tangible. In the meanwhile, bearing in mind emerging neorealistic tendencies, enhancing role of states as pivotal actors of international system and current level of global inter-dependence, the international relations cannot return to the epoch where political realism had dominant position in global affairs. The article concludes that the pandemic will not drastically change the international order, but it will decently accelerate international processes, started years ago.

scholarly journals A pragmatic methodology for studying international practices

2019 ◽  
pp. 175508821987917
Author(s):  
Sasikumar S Sundaram ◽  
Vineet Thakur
Keyword(s):  
Critical Theory ◽  
Social Science ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International Politics ◽  
Science Inquiry ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Semantic Field ◽  
Central Thesis ◽  
Practice Turn

Practice turn marks an important advancement in International Relations theorizing. In challenging abstract meta-theoretical debates, practice theorizing in International Relations aims to get close to the lifeworld(s) of the actual practitioners of politics. Scholars from different positions such as constructivism, critical theory, and post-structuralism have critically interrogated the analytical framework of practices in international politics. Building upon these works, we are concerned with a question of how to examine the context of international practices that unfolds in multiple ways in practitioners’ performances. Our central thesis is that a distinct pragmatic methodology offers an opportunity to keep with the practice turn and avoid the problematic foundational moves of mainstream practice theorizing. This involves foregrounding three interrelated processes in examining practices: the role of exceptions in the normal stream of performances, normative uptake of the analysts, and the semantic field that actors navigate in political performances. We argue that this methodology is predicated on its usefulness to interpret practices through reflective social-science inquiry.

Conclusion

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Power Analysis ◽  
International System ◽  
International Relations Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Military Power ◽  
Policy Options

The preceding chapters examined power analysis as a tool of social science and the concept of power in international relations theory from both historical and analytic perspectives. This chapter reviews the evolving role of the concept of power in international relations theories, summarizes the case for the contemporary relevance of a Dahlian approach to power analysis, and suggests guidelines for future research on the role of military power in international relations. It concludes with a consideration of the overall value of power analysis, including the clarification of policy options, understanding success and failure, understanding the role of power in the international system, and accountability.

Hans Kelsen's Political Realism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Schuett
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
World Order ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Political Realism ◽  
Moral Choice ◽  
Power Politics ◽  
Natural Laws ◽  
Illiberal Democracy ◽  
Hans Kelsen ◽  
Classical Realism

What does it mean to be a foreign-policy realist? Why is it important to get Hans Kelsen right? How can open society ideals be reconciled with the tragedies of world politics? It is widely acknowledged that the rules-based international order is under assault by visions of illiberal democracy at home and powerful autocracies abroad. The Schmittians old and new are making a comeback, and neorealists in particular continue to pit realism against liberalism: where there is only power or nothing, all else is scorned as naïve, including Kelsen. The book challenges the neorealist myth of power politics and conventional views of the Austrian-American jurist in international relations theory. Revisiting Kelsen’s life and thought through the prism of classical realism, the supposed Kantian idealist is presented as a calm yet bold, progressive political realist who has continued analytical and normative relevance in the study of politics and world order. The case is made that a synthesis of political realism and progressive policies is possible. No matter what the Schmittians say or do, what is in a liberal democracy’s so-called national interest is not a function of causality, necessity, or any other natural laws of impersonal forces or anarchical structures. Rather, what is willed, or not willed, on any given day in politics and international relations is the product of political imputation, moral choice, and individual and collective human agency.

scholarly journals The Response of the Hermeneutic Social Sciences to a ‘Post Carbon World’

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Redclift
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Environmental Economics ◽  
Back Seat ◽  
Policy Debates ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
The Social

Abstract: Sociology has taken a ‘back seat’ in much of the debate, within policy and social science circles, about ‘post-carbon’ societies, in which our dependence on hydrocarbons is significantly reduced. The low profile of sociology does not reflect a lack of relevance, but rather an inability to follow up on the debates being generated in several congruent areas, including geography, international relations and particularly environmental economics. Sociology has much to contribute to the discussion of societal alternatives, not least in the work being undertaken on utopias and governance. It is suggested that sociologists can enhance the role of the social science disciplines, and that of sociology in particular, by re-engaging in the wider discussions, lending a hermeneutic understanding to the current policy debates about responding to climate change.

scholarly journals Political Realism in International Relations: Classical Realism, Neo-realism, and Neo-Classical Realism

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-600
Author(s):  
Ekaterine Lomia
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International System ◽  
Global Politics ◽  
Political Realism ◽  
World War ◽  
Ancient Greek ◽  
Basic Approach ◽  
Classical Realism ◽  
Sophisticated Analysis

Realism, also known as political realism, is one of the most dominant theories of international relations. The school of thought in realism was established in the post-World War II era; however, it is widely associated with the ancient Greek studies, particularly, in the works of Thucydides who allows a more sophisticated analysis of the conception of power and its place in the anarchic international system. Unlike idealism and liberalism, which underline the idea of cooperation in international relations, realism stresses a competitive and confrontational side of human nature and argues that in global politics there is no space for morality. Thus, states show constant readiness to obtain power and achieve their political ends. The article aims at studying the basic approach, the theory of realism is based on. The study has been prepared as a result of examining articles and books written by dominant realist scholars who have influential opinions in the field.        

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