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An Inclusive Map.Indd CIPE an inclusive map of international relations theories and authors Florent Frasson-Quenoz Cuadernos del Cuadernos .º 21, juio 214 1886 Los Cuadernos de trabajo del Centro de Investigaciones y Proyectos Especiales, CIPE, de la Facultad de Finanzas, Gobierno y Relaciones Internacionales, son una contribución a la investigación, al desarrollo del conocimiento, a los debates con especial significado y alcance en las políticas públicas, las finanzas, la economía y las relaciones internacionales. En los Cuadernos se expresan los avances de las líneas y los grupos de investigación del CIPE y, por tanto, son una muestra de los procesos académicos e intelectuales que adelantan profesores, investigadores y estudiantes de la Universidad Externado de Colombia. El CIPE tiene tres gru- pos de investigación reconocidos por COLCIENCIAS: Observatorio de Análisis de los Sistemas Internacionales, OASIS; Observatorio de Políticas, Ejecución y Resultados de la Administración Pública, OPERA; Observatorio de Economía y Operaciones Numéricas, ODEON. o uii o ooi Juan Carlos Henao o u i, oio io iio Roberto Hinestrosa Rey ooii i Frédéric Massé ISSN 1794-7715 © Universidad Externado de Colombia, 2014 Derechos exclusivos de publicación y distribución de la obra Calle 12 n.º 1-17 este. Bogotá, Colombia. Tel.: 341 9900 ext. 2002, Fax: 286 9676 Dirección electrónica: [email protected] Primera edición: junio de 2014 Diagramación: David Alba Salazar Impresión y encuadernación: Digiprint Editores EU., con un tiraje de 1 a 300 ejemplares Impreso en Colombia Printed in Colombia Prohibida la reproducción impresa o electrónica total o parcial de esta obra, sin autorización expresa y por escrito del Departamento de Publicaciones de la Universidad Externado de Colombia. Las opiniones expresadas en esta obra son responsabilidad del autor. 3 An inclusive map of international relations theories and authors Florent Frasson-Quenoz Externado de Colombia University Working Paper “The History of science is always ri- concept of political right and left, I started cher than its rational reconstruction” building a conceptual map of Interna- Lakatos, 1971, p. 104 tional Relations Theories (irt). INTRODUCTION One of the main obstacles when one tries to explain what it means to understand the world with analytical tools is the absence of an inclusive chart that presents the similarities and differences between one theory and the other. In this paper I will try to explain what this chart could look like, and position the main authors and theories of International Panorama.it, 15/06/2009 Relations on it. My intellectual questioning started Unfortunately, IR theorizing is not a two- when I read a 2009 paper by Ole Waever dimensional phenomenon and a repre- on Kenneth Waltz, in which he presented sentation inspired from the semicircular Waltz’s theory of theory. In this very same right and left divide could not render its paper Waltz explains how the construc- complexity. Alexander Wendt’s mapping tion of an intellectual representation is of irt (2006, p. 29) was considering two an indispensable first step in the direction dimensions of irt from an ontological of creating a new theory. Following this standpoint. This particular map was a very advice, and remembering my younger good starting point but, as I experimented days when I was trying to understand the with my students, using this particular map DOCUMENTOS DE TRABAJO 4 in order to explain ontological contending Both Wendt’s and Adler’s map of irt points of view was more than challenging. were somehow disturbing for my students. As I was trying to use Wendt’s map to ex- Such questions as “How neorealism can plain the different theories and contending be both -and at the same time- holist and paradigms, I had to admit that IR theorizing individualist?”, “Is not the English School is not only multidimensional ontologically materialist more than idealist?” or “Is not but also epistemologically. When in 1997 the English School at the crossroads of all Emanuel Adler argued that constructivism theories and not constructivism?” were was in fact situated at the crossroads of all questions that needed a long and detailed irt he used Wendt’s map and “simply” response. located constructivism in the middle of it. Those questions were sufficient to justify a new investigative problem: How Alexander Wendt’s map of irt could the major theories of International Relations be represented on a single map? The three variables I consider im- portant in order to draw this map are: the grade of confidence in relation to the possibility of change, the analytical refer- ent and the philosophical inclination of the different authors. In the firsts pages of this paper I will explain those variables and then I will try to explain how the main thinkers and tendencies of irt can be located on the map. (2006, p. 29) HOW TO REPRESENT Emanuel Adler’s map of irt THREE VARIABLES ON A TWo-dIMENSIONAL MAP? One of the first and most important dif- ficulties one faces when one tries to think the variety and multidimensionality of irt is the fact that International Relations is not considered by all its students as a sci- ence per se. This problem is not particular to our discipline but a concern for all social sciences. It is true that the inquiry (1997, p. 331) process in our branch of knowledge pro- 5 duction does not correspond to the canons Following the first conception, it of heuristics as stated by George Pólaya in would be possible to give a comparable 1957: First understand the problem faced, explanation to IR phenomena as “exact second establish a plan to solve it, third scientists” do of natural phenomena: implement the plan and, fourth, confirm objective causes that exist independently the solution. from the conscientiousness of actors, al- This very same problem about “what ways produce the same effects. Following is scientific?” is at the root of the second the second one, it would be impossible interparadigmatical –or great-debate in IR to produce explanations because the re- (Kaplan, 1966). The fact of the matter is searcher is always considered a part of the that some scholars of IR were so profoundly problem he is observing. For reflexivists unsettled by this question that they were only the interpretation – not explanation drawn to reformulate their theories in order - of facts is possible. to make them more “scientific” (neorealism What could be viewed as a peculiar and neoliberalism). Here, “more “scientif- characteristic of the irt, the division ic”” would mean a science constructed on a between positivist and reflexivist, is not. materialistic base and a systematic problem In fact, this schism is an expression of a solving approach. Nevertheless, as John much deeper philosophical divide. Since Mearsheimer stated, his scientific theory the beginning of recorded occidental of IR “only gets it right 75% of the time” philosophical thought a division between (2013), far from the 100% IR scholars seek. dualism (Plato) and monism (Thales or Phrased simply, in spite of their best efforts Heraclitus) persist and this divide has IR scholars have not been able to gain the irrigated debates in all sciences, not only recognition they are looking for. My bot- social ones. tom line here is that methods are one of If we reflect on the debate in theoreti- the variables one has to consider if one is cal physics about the existence of “time”, to represent accurately the variety of irt. the parallels we can draw with social sci- But the methods chosen to lead an ences are illustrative. When physicists try inquiry are fundamentally linked to the to give an answer to the simple question methodological standpoint a researcher “Does time exist?” the variety of responses adopts (Jackson, 2011, p. 30). Since is striking. Lee Smolin (2013) explains the behavioral charge against the proto- that time can be measured because it is scientific construction of knowledge in the created through the relations between ma- late 1960’s and early 1970’s, two method- terial elements in the universe. Sean Car- ological conceptions are in contention: an roll (2010) defends the idea that “time” is explicative or rationalist/positivist concep- a dimension more of the reality we live in tion and a comprehensive or reflectivist/ and that all moments in time are equally reflexivist one (Kehoane, 1998). real, consequently that all moments in DOCUMENTOS DE TRABAJO 6 time exist simultaneously. In 2001, Julian siderations, such as rationality –materi- Barbour argued that if materiality was real, ally defined- and utilitarianism (Keohane “time” was an illusion created by human & Martin, 1995, p. 39). The latter are minds. In his view, just as a movie is a suc- drawing on social relativity of reality and cession of images, time is a succession of consequently are magnifying the impor- slices of matter. But for others (Mauldin, tance of the revolving logic of agents and 2010), the reality of “time” is simple com- the importance of values (Onuf, 2013). mon sense so there is no time to waste Those considerations steer the atten- speculating about its reality. tion of theorists on particular sectors of This example shows that social sci- the human activity. Military issues and entists are not the only ones wondering economics are more studied by positivists about such fundamental questions as: and networks and ethics are more studied What is a problem? What is the problem by reflexivists. Usually, realists and liberals to study? How can we bring a solution are presented as positivists and construc- to a problem? What is the solution to a tivists and critical theorists as reflexivists. problem? A direct consequence of the philo- My argument here is that irt are as sophical option taken by theorists is that diverse as any other theories of any other their attention is drawn to a particular science and that the fact that some IR analytical referent – second variable con- theorists reject the views of others is not sidered.
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