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Critical Theory In International Relations

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The aim of this essay is to critically outline and evaluate Critical Theory and how it is applied in the sphere of International Relations (referred to from this point as IR). Critical Theory is one of many lenses through which one can view and interpret interaction between nations; others include Realism, Liberalism, Structuralism and Post-Modernism. Contained within this essay will be detailed analysis of the ideas and thinkers which have shaped Critical Theory, as well as criticisms of the theory and key differences between this theory and other prevalent IR thought. The fundamental concept behind Critical Theory is suggested in its name: Critical Theory. Critical Theorists believe that all knowledge is biased and that philosophies and …show more content…

He believed that ‘[this] participation … [was] not to be confined within the borders of a particular sovereign state’ (Baylis, Smith, and Owens, 2011, p.142). This meant that for Habermas each international actor should have the right to be heard and included in international affairs – and if not, measures were to be taken to ensure they would be in future. Critical Theory applied to an international context would mean the examination of changes which either unite or separate members of sovereign states from the world. (Linklater in Smith, Booth, and Zalewski, 1996, …show more content…

Linklater’s view is that knowledge can be the basis for ‘unsatisfactory social arrangements’ (Linklater in Smith, Booth, and Zalewski, 1996, p.279), so, through the assessment of this knowledge, the roles can be reversed (so to say), and intellect and insight can be used to advance society. While this idea seems to lack a clear plan of action and leaves us wondering how exactly one would go about nurturing such ideas, it is still an important conversation point in Critical Theory discourse. A final Critical Theorist examined in terms of what they contributed to the conversation on Critical Theory is Robert Cox. Cox has famously said ‘theory is always for someone and for some purpose’ (Burchill, Linklater, and Devetak, 2009, p.163). He denies that facts and values can be separated, as followers of Problem-Solving-Theory would claim. This is one of the few ideas that Critical Theorists can unanimously agree on i.e. that knowledge is

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Critical inquiry is the process of gathering and evaluating information, ideas, and assumptions from multiple perspectives to produce well-reasoned analysis and understanding that leads to new ideas, applications and questions. Critical inquiry is more than what is listed above, it is also possessing the ability to assess pieces of writing and use them within your own writing. I think the best example of my writing that supports this is my in-class writing “Seattle Versus the Homeless.” All over the essay, I included poll numbers from various sources, and statements from credible sources, like the mayor of Seattle. This was something I found a bit challenging because it was difficult finding unbiased and trustworthy polls and statements.

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Throughout this essay, I will analyze four different interviews of Bob Archer, Travis D’Ambrosia, Whako, and Ernesto Olguin and analyze the individual, state, and international levels of analysis, as well as their varying realist and liberalist theoretical approach, and explain other approaches that are inferior. II. Interview 1: a. Topic sentence: First, the interviewer discusses the crisis with the director of the CIA, Bob Archer. Archer gives insight of the event with China and the CIA, and during the interview, Archer discusses the individual level of analysis and take a realist approach to his job during the war. b.

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The first great-war shattered the human mind so profound that out of its aftermaths’ emerged a fresh discipline (in 1919 at the University of Whales known to us as International Relations) proposed to prevent war. “It was deemed by the scholars that the study of International Politics shall find the root cause of the worlds political problems and put forward solutions to help politicians solve them” (Baylis 2014:03). International Relations happened to play the role of a ‘correcting-mechanism’ restoring the world order of peace and amity by efforting at its best to maintain the worlds’ status quo. However with the emergence of a second world war much more massive that the first put at stake all the values of that young discipline of IR. The

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As the famous saying goes, “The strong do what they will while the weak do what they must," so let it be with the counties of the world and the role they play in International Politics. Eurocentrism is a concept that places Europe at the centre of the world. Assuming that it is self containing and self representing, the entire world is looked at with Europe at the centre. Eurocentrism bias leads to an illogical understanding of International Relations and makes politics and judgement to incline in the favour of the powerful. In this essay, I will critique the Eurocentric nature of International Relations theory and world politics.

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He argues that due to the absence of a international governing body, states should actively pursue conflict in order to ensure their own survival. He goes on to use economic concepts to describe his viewpoint of the anarchical structure of international politics. He says, “The market arises out of the activities of separate units--persons and firms--whose aims and efforts are directed not toward creating order but rather fulfilling their own internally defined interests by whatever means they can muster”(Waltz, 52). This supports the realist argument that states operate based on self interest and, contrasting with Wendt, do not consider their identities within the international system.

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The current work is meant to explain the differences and similarities between the most dominant theories in international relations, Realism and Liberalism, both theories have some similarities and differences but much more important and interesting is to discuss and explain what differs and makes similar both theories. Conflicts and wars, Similarities and differences between Realism and Liberalism: Both Liberalism and Realism believes that there is no world government that can prevent countries to go to war on one another. For both theories military power is important and both Realism and Liberalism can understand that countries can use military power to get what they need or want. Also, both theories are conscious that without military

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The Theory of Idealism in International Relations. Ojochogwu Aladi Enape Schiller International University. The theories in International relations are assertions that try to explain and justify how international structures work and the characteristics of ever changing interactions across territories.

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