International Relations Theory as a Social Science

Abstract

International Relations Theory as a Social Science

Abstract

Alıhough its subjcct mattcr covcrs dccisions and pratiqucs whose
dircct or indirect influcncc on thc livcs of statcs, countries and thcreforc,
individuals cannot bc neglectcd, thc study of intcrnational Relations (IR) has
yet failcd to achicvc a status of proper scicncc. This essay inquires the
relative position of thc disciplinc versus general social thcory, its
comparative povcrty in thc cpistcmological1
and mcthodological altcrnative
approachcs and poses the question vvhether this povcrty is an outeome of the
thcorctical povcrty; or more concisely, thc domination of the disciplinc by
onc single paradigm for half a ccntury: Rcalism. So far, thc study contends,
thc political and social milicu in vvhich intcrnational Relations has developed
as an acadcmic pursuit, vvas not sufficiently ripe for a compctition of
theoretical pcrspcclivcs. Thc occurrcnccs of the last tvvo dccadcs in thc ficld
have refleeted on the pcrception and conccptuali/.ation of statcs' relations vvilh
cach other and on a plethora of thcorctical approachcs the basic tenet of vvhich
is an opposilion to ıhc posilivist orienied realist thcory of IR.  

Keywords

• International Relation
• Theory
• Social Science

References

1. Gabricl Almond and G. Bingham Povvell, Comparative Politics: System, Process and Policy, Boston, Liltlc Brovvn Pub., , 1978.
2. Büşra Ersanlı Behar, İktidar ve Tarih: Türkiye'de Resmi Tarih Tezinin Oluşumu (1929-1937), İstanbul, Afa Yayınları, 1992.
3. Montgomcry Norman Birnbaum, The Radical Renewal: The Politics of Ideas in Modern America, Nevv York, Panthcon, 1988.
4. T.B. Bottomore, Toplumbilim, Çcv. Ünsal Oskay, Ankara, Doğan Yayınları, 1977.
5. James Der Dcrian, Michacl Shapiro, International Intertextual Relations: Postmodern Readings of World Politics, Lcxington, Lcxington Books, 1989.
6. Stephcn Gill, American Hegemony and the Trilateral Commission, Cambridgc, Cambridge Univcrsity Press, 1990.
7. S. Gill, D. Law, The Global Political Economy, Perspectives, Problems and Policies, Whcatshcaf, Hertfordshire, Harvestcr, 1988.
8. 1995] INTERNATIONAL RELATİONS THEORY AS SOCİAL SCIENCE

9. Robert O. Keohanc, Realism, Neorealism and the Study of World Politics, Keohane, Ed. 1986.
10. Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, University of Chicago Press, 1962.
11. Andrcvv Linklater, Beyond Realism and Marxism: Critical Theory and International Relations, London, MacMillan, 1990.
12. Nicholas Onul, WorId of Our Making: Rules and Rule in Social Theory and International Relations, Comumba, University of South California Press, 1989.
13. I. Prigogine, Isabcllc Stcngers, Order Out of Chaos, New York, Bantam Books, 1984.
14. A. Sclami Sargut, Kültürlerarası Farklılaşma ve Yönetim, Ankara, Vcrso Yayınları, Nisan 1994.
15. Ali Yaşar Sarıbay, Siyasal Sosyoloji, İstanbul, Der Yayınları, 1994. D. Michacl Shafcr, Deadly Paradigms: The Failure of US Counterinsurgency Policy, Princelon, Princcton Univcrsity Press, 1988.
16. Barlas Tolan; Sosyoloji, Ankara, Adım Yayıncılık, 1993.
17. R. B. J. Walker, Inside/Outside: International Relations as Political Theory, Cambridgc Mass., Cambridgc Univ. Press, 1993.