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Scientific Realism and International Relations

  • Book
  • © 2010

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Editors:
  1. Jonathan Joseph

    1. University of Kent, UK

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  2. Colin Wight

    1. University of Exeter, UK

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
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  2. Scientific Realism and International Relations

    • Colin Wight, Jonathan Joseph
    Pages 1-30

  3. Reductionism, Emergence and Explanation in International Relations Theory

    • David Leon
    Pages 31-50

  4. The International as Emergent: Challenging Old and New Orthodoxies in International Relations Theory

    • Jonathan Joseph
    Pages 51-68

  5. State Theory in International Relations: Why Realism Matters

    • Marjo Koivisto
    Pages 69-87

  6. Inside the American State: Reconciling Structural and Interpretive Analyses within a Critical Realist Perspective

    • Douglas Porpora
    Pages 88-100

  7. What is Realism in International Law and Human Rights?

    • Bill Bowring
    Pages 101-114

  8. Is It Real? The Question of Juridical, Actual and Causal Responsibility in Sovereign Debt Settlements

    • Tomohisa Hattori
    Pages 115-128

  9. Critical Realism and the Analysis of Democratisation: Does Philosophy of Science Matter?

    • Milja Kurki
    Pages 129-146

  10. Exploring Possible, Likely and Desirable Global Futures: Beyond the Closed vs Open Systems Dichotomy

    • Heikki Patomäki
    Pages 147-166

  11. Critical Realism, International Relations Theory and Marxism

    • Faruk Yalvaç
    Pages 167-185

  12. World Market, World State, World Society: Marxian Insights and Scientific Realist Interrogations

    • Bob Jessop
    Pages 186-202

  13. Realism. for Real this Time: Scientific Realism is not a Compromise between Positivism and Interpretivism

    • Jorge Rivas
    Pages 203-227

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 228-258
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Keywords

About this book

Critical and scientific realism have emerged as important perspectives on international relations in recent years. The attraction of these approaches lies in the claim that they can transcend the positivism vs postpositivism divide. This book demonstrates the vitality of this approach and the difference that 'realism' makes.

Reviews

'Some of the most interesting new work in international relations scholarship is conducted under the banner of "scientific" or "critical" realism, and this book brings together many of the major figures in this field in a collection that will be required reading for senior scholars and students alike.' - Chris Brown, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

'This impressive book breaks new ground in articulating scientific realism and explaining its relevance to international relations theory. It offers exceptionally clear discussions of key epistemological and ontological issues in social theory, and demonstrates their significance for a range of substantive topics in the study of world politics, including international law, global governance, Marxism, and the state. A significant step forward for scientific realism in international relations.' David Dessler, Associate Professor of Government, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, USA

'Thought provoking for anyone interested in the concept, which will open many avenues for theorizing in international relations in years to come, within and outside of critical theory circles.' - International Studies Review

Editors and Affiliations

  • University of Kent, UK

    Jonathan Joseph

  • University of Exeter, UK

    Colin Wight

About the editors

BILL BOWRING is Professor of Law at Birkbeck College, University of London, UK, and is a practising barrister BOB JESSOP is Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University, UK MILJA KURKI is Lecturer in International Relations theory at Aberystwyth University, UK, and currently the principal investigator of a European Research Council funded project 'Political Economies of Democratisation' DAVID LEON is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, USA HEIKKI PATOMÄKI is Professor of International Relations at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and Innovation Professor of Human Security - Globalization and Global Institutions at the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia DOUGLAS PORPORA is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Culture and Communication at Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA FARUK YALVAÇ is Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

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