Introduction: Critical and Post-modern Challenge to International Relations

ARI C. T.

Critical Theories in International Relations: Identity and Security Dilemma, ss.1-8, 2023 (Scopus)

Özet

The inability of mainstream theories to explain the new developments that emerged after the Cold War made critical theories more popular and attractive. Traditional mainstream theories looking at problems from the state’s perspective and having similar methodological and ontological concerns have opened up space for critical theories. Mainstream theories can be expressed by different names. In other words, they can be expressed as conventional theories, material theories, rational theories, empirical theories, positivist theories, classical theories, American-based theories, status quo theories, explanatory theories, problem-solving theories (Cox distinction), and objectivist theories. On the other hand, post-positivist theories, which are generally expressed as critical theories, are also named anti-rational theories, reflexive theories, constitutive theories, post-structuralist theories, post-empirical theories, subjective theories, social theories, constructivist theories, anti-realist theories, anti-state theories, and normative theories. While these expressions generally reflect the common features of this group of theories, they also point to the big difference between traditional and critical theories