International Relations Theory for the Twenty-First Century International Relations (IR) theory has been the site of intense debate in recent years. A decade ago it was still possible to divide the field between three main perspectives – Realism, Liberalism and Marxism. Not only have these approaches evolved in new direc- tions, they have been joined by a number of new ‘isms’ vying for attention, including feminism and constructivism. International Relations Theory for the Twenty-First Century is the first comprehensive book to provide an overview of all the most important theories within international relations. Written by an international team of experts in the field, the book covers both traditional approaches, such as realism and liberal internationalism, as well as new developments such as constructivism, poststructuralism and postcolonialism. The book’s comprehensive coverage of IR theory makes it the ideal text for teachers and students who want an up-to-date survey of the rich variety of theoretical work and for readers with no prior exposure to the subject. Martin Griffiths is Associate Professor in International Relations in the Department of International Business and Asian Studies at Griffith University, Brisbane. International Relations Theory for the Twenty-First Century An introduction Edited by Martin Griffiths First published 2007 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2007. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2007 Editorial selection and matter; Martin Griffiths; individual chapters the contributors. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data International relations theory for the twenty-first century : an introduction / edited by Martin Griffiths. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. International relations—Philosophy. I. Griffiths, Martin, 1961– JZ1305.I5658 2007 327.101—dc22 2007011599 ISBN 0-203-93903-4 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 10: 0–415–38075–8 (hbk) ISBN 10: 0–415–38076–6 (pbk) ISBN 10: 0–203–93903–4 (ebk) ISBN 13: 978–0–415–38075–1 (hbk) ISBN 13: 978–0–415–38076–8 (pbk) ISBN 13: 978–0–203–93903–1 (ebk) Contents List of contributors vii Preface viii Acknowledgments x 1 Worldviews and IR theory: Conquest or coexistence? 1 MARTIN GRIFFITHS 2 Realism 11 COLIN ELMAN 3 Liberal internationalism 21 JOHN MACMILLAN 4 Marxism 35 MARK RUPERT 5 Critical theory 47 ANDREW LINKLATER 6 Constructivism 60 ANDREW BRADLEY PHILLIPS 7 The English School 75 ALEX J. BELLAMY 8 Poststructuralism 88 JENNY EDKINS 9 Feminism 99 CYNTHIA ENLOE 10 Postcolonialism 111 RITA ABRAHAMSEN 11 Theories of state formation 123 HEATHER RAE vi Contents 12 International political economy 135 TOM CONLEY 13 Worldviews and international political theory 146 ANTHONY J. LANGLOIS Bibliography 157 Index 177 List of contributors Rita Abrahamsen is Reader in the Department of International Politics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Alex J. Bellamy is Professor in the School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland. Tom Conley is Senior Lecturer in the School of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University. Jenny Edkins is Professor in the Department of International Politics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Colin Elman is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, Arizona State University. Cynthia Enloe is Research Professor of International Development and Women’s Studies, Clark University. Martin Griffiths is Associate Professor in the Department of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University. Anthony J. Langlois is Senior Lecturer in the School of Political and International Studies, Flinders University. Andrew Linklater is Woodrow Wilson Professor in the Department of International Politics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. John MacMillan is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics and History, Brunel University. Andrew Bradley Phillips is Lecturer in the School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland. Heather Rae is Fellow in the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University. Mark Rupert is Professor of Political Science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. Preface This book has been three years in the making. A number of chapters began life as shorter entries in the Routledge Encyclopedia of International Relations and Global Politics (2005). As the editor of that volume, it struck me that they merited a wider audience. The Encyc- lopedia weighed in at nearly one thousand pages. This book is much more focused. It is written for students who have no prior experience with the broad subject of International Relations (IR) theory, and who may even be daunted by the word ‘theory’. To be sure, the word is used in a bewildering variety of ways in the study of IR. It is applied to proposi- tions and arguments at varying levels of abstraction, and debates over its most appropriate meaning have proceeded apace with little consensus achieved. If there is no agreement on how best to understand this term, let alone how best to engage in developing and criticizing the existing stock of IR theory, there is much greater consensus over the ways in which the term is used. Three in particular stand out. First, for most scholars a theory is simply an explanation of an event or pattern of behavior in the ‘real’ world. This is otherwise known as empirical theory. A theory explains such patterns by elaborating on why they take place. In one (in)famous expression, a theory explains laws of behavior. According to this conception, theories are useful instruments. If we know why and how events relate to each other, we may then be able to intervene and perhaps change reality to suit our purposes. This conception of empirical theory rests on two important assumptions. First, there is a categorical distinction between theory and practice. The world consists of an apparently random collection of facts that need to be described and studied to discern how they are related. Theory and practice are linked by empirical propositions that summarize the degree to which certain facts are connected to other facts. Only when we have a large body of such propositions can we engage in the hard work of attempting to explain them. Second, theories are never true or false in any absolute sense. Whilst theories must always be tested against the evidence, they can only be replaced by better theories that are either more coherent or comprehensive in the scope of their explanatory power than their rivals. The sheer variety of empirical theory in the study of IR is very wide indeed. It is common to distinguish between middle-range theory and grand theory. For example, there is a big difference between a theory that tries to explain single events like the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, a theory that tries to account for the variation of patterns of war and peace among the great powers over the last two hundred years and a theory that attempts to explain why war itself takes place. Second, it is common to come across the phrase normative theory. Unlike empirical theory, normative theory is concerned to elaborate the ethical standards used to judge international conduct. Today, there exists a large body of normative theory concerned with the use of force (just war theory) and distributive justice in IR. When is it right or Preface ix appropriate to use military force? Is the present distribution of global wealth and income fair? These are the kinds of questions that normative theory seeks to answer. Third, the term is sometimes used in a constitutive sense. Unlike empirical or normative theory, this use of the term is perhaps best expressed through other concepts such as perspective, worldview or framework of analysis. This book is primarily concerned with IR theory in this third sense. As I argue in the first chapter of the book, worldviews are fundamental lenses through which we interpret the main patterns of ‘reality’ that we then seek to explain, justify or criticize in a more formal sense via empirical and normative theories. The book then elaborates nine such worldviews or perspectives. The final three chapters are theoretically focussed analyses of particular issue-areas in contemporary IR, which assess the role of worldviews in shedding light on the process of state-making, the dynamics of globalization and the world economy, and in facilitating or impeding some of the key normative challenges of the twenty-first century. Each chapter concludes with a short section on further reading for those readers who wish to continue the journey. Acknowledgments An edited book always involves a number of debts. First, the book could not have been completed without the cooperation (and patience) of the contributors. To them I owe my greatest thanks. I am indebted also to Craig Fowlie at Routledge for his continuing support and patience as deadlines passed. A special mention is due to Robyn White and Natalie Pears for their invaluable assistance in preparing the manuscript. Finally, to Kylie and Jade; your love makes it all possible, always. 1 Worldviews and IR theory: Conquest or coexistence? Martin Griffiths Introduction This book is an introduction to the diverse worldviews that underpin contemporary Inter- national Relations (IR) theory.