Interlocuting classical realism and critical theory: Negotiating ‘divides’ in international relations theory
| Author | Michael C Williams,Hartmut Behr |
| DOI | 10.1177/1755088216671735 |
| Date | 01 February 2017 |
| Published date | 01 February 2017 |
Journal of International Political Theory
2017, Vol. 13(1) 3 –17
© The Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/1755088216671735
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Interlocuting classical realism
and critical theory: Negotiating
‘divides’ in international
relations theory
Hartmut Behr
Newcastle University, UK
Michael C Williams
University of Ottawa, Canada
Abstract
The history of the discipline of International Relations is usually narrated as a succession
of theories that would pursue different ontologies and epistemologies and focus on
different problems. This narrative provides some structure to a multifaceted field and
its diverse discussions. However, it is also highly problematic as it ignores common
problems, intersections and mutual inspirations and overemphasizes divides over
eventual commonalities. Rather than such overemphasis, we suggest instead negotiating
between ‘IR theories’ and elaborating their shared foci and philosophies of science in
order to provide new perspectives on and approaches to international politics. We
here negotiate between the two theoretical movements of classical realism and critical
theories that are typically treated as opposites, yet which nonetheless are characterized
by shared concerns about political and social crises, modernity and humanity.
Keywords
Classical realism, critical epistemology, critical theory, divides in IR theory, intellectual
history
Corresponding authors:
Hartmut Behr, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU, UK.
Email: Hartmut.behr@ncl.ac.uk
Michael C Williams, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
K1N 6N5, Canada.
Email: michael.williams@uottawa.ca
671735IPT0010.1177/1755088216671735Journal of International Political TheoryBehr and Williams
research-article2016
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