International Theory
Positivism and Beyond

Key figures who have made leading contributions to the development of international theory provide a major survey of the state of the subject.

Steve Smith (Edited by), Ken Booth (Edited by), Marysia Zalewski (Edited by)

9780521479486, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 June 1996

380 pages, 3 b/w illus. 3 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.56 kg

'This excellent collection, which will no doubt be essential reading for postgraduates, should also be read by anyone interested in the future of international relations.' Richard Devetak, International Affairs

This book provides a major review of the state of international theory. It is focused around the issue of whether the positivist phase of international theory is now over, or whether the subject remains mainly positivistic. Leading scholars analyse the traditional theoretical approaches in the discipline, then examine the issues and groups which are marginalised by mainstream theory, before turning to four important new developments in international theory (historical sociology, post-structuralism, feminism, and critical theory). The book concludes with five chapters which look at the future of the subject and the practice of international relations. This survey brings together key figures who have made leading contributions to the development of mainstream and alternative theory, and will be a valuable text for both students and scholars of international relations.

Introduction Steve Smith, Ken Booth, and Marysia Zalewski
Part I. Debates: 1. Positivism and beyond Steve Smith
Part II. Legacies: 2. The timeless wisdom of realism? Barry Buzan
3. The growing relevance of pluralism? Richard Little
4. The interstate structure of the modern world system Immanuel Wallerstein
5. The accomplishments of international political theory Stephen Krasner
6. The continued significance of positivism Michael Nicholson
Part III. Silences: 7. The rise and fall of the inter-paradigm debate Ole Weaver
8. Margins, silences and bottom rungs: how to overcome the underestimation of power in the study of international relations Cynthia Enloe
9. Is there a classical international theory? Robert Jackson
Part IV. Openings: 10. Authoritarian and liberal militarism: a contribution from comparative and historical sociology Michael Mann
11. The achievements of post-structuralism Richard Ashley
12. The contributions of feminist theories to international relations Christine Sylvester
13. The achievements of critical theory Andrew Linklater
Part V. Directions: 14. The last post? Martin Hollis
15. Probing puzzles persistently: a desirable but improbable future for IR theory James Rosenau
16. The future of international relations: fears and hopes Fred Halliday
17. Seventy-five years on: rewriting the subject's past - reinventing its future Ken Booth
18. 'All these theories yet the bodies keep piling up': theory, theorists, theorising Marysia Zalewski.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS]