The Eurocentric Conception of World Politics
Western International Theory, 1760–2010

Reveals international theory as embedded within Eurocentrism such that its purpose is to celebrate/defend the idea of Western civilization.

John M. Hobson (Author)

9781107604544, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 March 2012

406 pages, 18 b/w illus. 6 tables
22.8 x 15.5 x 1.9 cm, 0.64 kg

'[Hobson's] book will be necessary reading for all those interested in IR.' Patrick Chabal, International Affairs

John Hobson claims that throughout its history most international theory has been embedded within various forms of Eurocentrism. Rather than producing value-free and universalist theories of inter-state relations, international theory instead provides provincial analyses that celebrate and defend Western civilization as the subject of, and ideal normative referent in, world politics. Hobson also provides a sympathetic critique of Edward Said's conceptions of Eurocentrism and Orientalism, revealing how Eurocentrism takes different forms, which can be imperialist or anti-imperialist, and showing how these have played out in international theory since 1760. The book thus speaks to scholars of international relations and also to all those interested in understanding Eurocentrism in the disciplines of political science/political theory, political economy/international political economy, geography, cultural and literary studies, sociology and, not least, anthropology.

1. Introduction: constructing Eurocentrism and international theory as Eurocentric construct
Part I. 1760–1914: Manifest Eurocentrism and Scientific Racism in International Theory: 2. Eurocentric imperialism: liberalism and Marxism, c.1830–1914
3. Eurocentric anti-imperialism: liberalism, c.1760–1800
4. Racist anti-imperialism: liberalism and cultural-realism, c.1850–1914
5. Racist imperialism: 'racist-realism', liberalism, and socialism, c.1860–1914
Part II. 1914–1945: Manifest/Subliminal Eurocentrism and the High Tide of Scientific Racism in International Theory: 6. Anti-imperialism and the myths of 1919: Eurocentric Marxism and racist cultural-realism, 1914–1945
7. Racist and Eurocentric imperialism: racist-realism, racist-liberalism, and 'progressive' Eurocentric liberalism/Fabianism, 1914–1945
Part III. 1945–1989: Subliminal Eurocentrism in International Theory: 8. Orthodox subliminal Eurocentrism: from classical realism to neorealism, 1945–1989
9. Orthodox subliminal Eurocentrism: neo-liberal institutionalism and the English school, c.1966–1989
10. Critical subliminal Eurocentrism: Gramscianism and world-systems theory, c.1967–1989
Part IV. 1989–2010: Back to the Future of Manifest Eurocentrism in Mainstream International Theory: 11. Imperialist and anti-imperialist Eurocentrism: post-1989 'Western-realism' and the spiritual return to post-1889 racist-realism
12. Imperialist Eurocentrism: post-1989 'Western-liberalism' and the return to post-1830 liberal paternalist Eurocentrism
Part V. Conclusion: Mapping the Promiscuous Architecture of Eurocentrism in International Theory, 1760–2010: 13. Constructing civilization: global hierarchy, 'gradated sovereignty' and globalization in international theory, 1760–2010
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Cultural studies [JFC], Social & political philosophy [HPS], General & world history [HBG]