The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state

The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state

Mainstream International Relations theory (neorealism, neoliberalism and positivist constructivism) largely adheres to a model of the state as a rational unitary-actor. This model is deemed necessary because the goal of the mainstream theories is to isolate the systemic causes of international state...

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Main Author: Wright, Richard Ian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2019
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/1/36291-114464-1-SM.pdf
id ukm-14259
recordtype eprints
spelling ukm-142592020-02-14T23:41:46Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/ The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state Wright, Richard Ian Mainstream International Relations theory (neorealism, neoliberalism and positivist constructivism) largely adheres to a model of the state as a rational unitary-actor. This model is deemed necessary because the goal of the mainstream theories is to isolate the systemic causes of international state behavior. This goal is predicated upon certain underlying philosophical presuppositions, namely: 1) the privileging of material over ideational causes, and 2) the analytical distinction between state and international levels of analysis. The first presupposition leads to a focus on material forces (e.g. weapons and economic resources), largely excluding the impact of ideas. The second presupposition isolates systemic forces, bracketing-out the internal domestic politics of states types of government for example. This focus on material and systemic forces is facilitated by the rational unitary-actor image of the state. However, if the goal is to understand alternative causal factors (e.g. individual agency, domestic politics, multi-level shared idea for example) then an alternative model of the state becomes necessary. The model proposed here is one based upon Weber’s methodological individualism and views the state as a “pluralistic” (rather than unitary) and “fallible” (rather than rational) international actor. Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2019-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/1/36291-114464-1-SM.pdf Wright, Richard Ian (2019) The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state. Jebat: Malaysian Journal of History, Politics and Strategic Studies, 46 (2). pp. 196-219. ISSN 2180-0251 http://ejournal.ukm.my/jebat/issue/view/1229
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
language English
description Mainstream International Relations theory (neorealism, neoliberalism and positivist constructivism) largely adheres to a model of the state as a rational unitary-actor. This model is deemed necessary because the goal of the mainstream theories is to isolate the systemic causes of international state behavior. This goal is predicated upon certain underlying philosophical presuppositions, namely: 1) the privileging of material over ideational causes, and 2) the analytical distinction between state and international levels of analysis. The first presupposition leads to a focus on material forces (e.g. weapons and economic resources), largely excluding the impact of ideas. The second presupposition isolates systemic forces, bracketing-out the internal domestic politics of states types of government for example. This focus on material and systemic forces is facilitated by the rational unitary-actor image of the state. However, if the goal is to understand alternative causal factors (e.g. individual agency, domestic politics, multi-level shared idea for example) then an alternative model of the state becomes necessary. The model proposed here is one based upon Weber’s methodological individualism and views the state as a “pluralistic” (rather than unitary) and “fallible” (rather than rational) international actor.
format Article
author Wright, Richard Ian
spellingShingle Wright, Richard Ian
The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
author_facet Wright, Richard Ian
author_sort Wright, Richard Ian
title The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
title_short The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
title_full The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
title_fullStr The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
title_full_unstemmed The philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
title_sort philosophical turn: examining the foundational presuppositions of international relations theory and the potential for an alternative image of the state
publisher Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate 2019
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14259/1/36291-114464-1-SM.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T20:06:42Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T20:06:42Z
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