Postpositivist International Relations Theory

This book discusses postpositivist theories foregrounding postpositivism against the reigning realist and positivist–pluralist orthodoxies.

The book explicates seven theories, not as disparate endeavours but as developments linked by a common thread that seeks to enunciate globalist emancipatory goals for the theoretical field and the world that these theories seek to change. It focuses on the following themes: feminism, environmentalism or green theory, the English School, critical theory, constructivism, postmodernism, and postcolonialism. Additionally, a separate chapter on globalization shows that while mainstream (neo)realist international relations theories respond hostilely to globalization and liberal-pluralist theories react benignly to it, postpositivist theories positively welcome it. The book offers a competent meta-theoretical gridwork, showing on which side of the opposing disciplinary positions in the fourth debate each of the seven theories are located. It is a comprehensive guide to the postpositivist restructuring of the discipline of international relations.

This book will be of interest to researchers and students of political science, international relations, history, humanities, and literature.