The Debates about “Great Debates”: How to Structure the Theory of International Relations

The Debates about “Great Debates”:
How to Structure the Theory of International Relations


Alekseyeva T.A.,

Prof., Head of Political Theory Department, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University), MFA of Russia. Moscow, Russia, ataleks@mail.ru


elibrary_id: 1361 |


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2016.06.02

For citation:

Alekseyeva T.A. The Debates about “Great Debates”: How to Structure the Theory of International Relations – Polis. Political Studies. 2016. No. 6. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2016.06.02



Abstract

The article is devoted to the recent discussions among international studies scholars about the canonic interpretation of the history of formation and development of the theory of international relations through so called “Great Debates”. By now there is good evidence that they were nothing more than “semi-myth”; at best it is a way to structure the discipline, which has sufficient faults. According to the author, there are possibilities for fuller structuring of the subject with pedagogical purposes as well. The author discusses the key “flashpoints” in the current debate about the “Great Debates”, also in the perspective of the history of the concept. It is emphasized that the author does not object to the use of the term as a tool to explain the differences in the polar positions, but considers it inappropriate to artificially make absolute the extreme points of view. On the contrary, it is suggested to consider other possible options for structuring the object, also for training purposes. The problem of interaction of theories within the international relations discipline is analyzed through the prism of the history of international political thought. Shown are the “reference points” of institutionalization of international relations theory as an independent discipline, the evolution of approaches to structuring of the discipline, as well as corresponding criticism (of the “traditional”, “paradigm”, “contextual” and other approaches). Particular attention is paid to the history of the collision of two theoretical and international approaches – “realism” and “idealism”, its discursive and theoretical content, the problem of the differences and interactions between “idealism” and “realism”, the specifics of the image of “idealist” as “the Other”.

Keywords
theory of international relations; the Great Debates; idealism; realism; the structure of the TIR.


Content No. 6, 2016

See also:


Konyshev V.N., Sergunin A.A.,
International relations theory: on the threshold of new «Great Debates»?. – Polis. Political Studies. 2013. No2

Konyshev V.N., Sergunin A.A.,
“The Great Debates”: The Means of Structuring or Periodization of International Relations Theory?. – Polis. Political Studies. 2017. No4

Alekseyeva T.A., Lebedeva M.M.,
What Is Happening to the Theory of International Relations. – Polis. Political Studies. 2016. No1

Safronova O.V., Korshunov D.S.,
«New» or «Old» great debates?. – Polis. Political Studies. 2013. No4

Pavlova E.B., Romanova T.A.,
Debates in International Relations Theory: Rethinking Interdisciplinarity. – Polis. Political Studies. 2019. No2

 
 

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