Theory and Methods in International Relations: An Introductory Essay:Theory and Method in International Relations
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概要
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The aim of this introductory essay is to analyze the post-war developments in international relations theories and methods and to provide a general organizing framework for this volume of International Relations.A theory in international relations can be defined as a set of concepts and propostitions (hypotheses) which aims at describing, explaining, interpreting, and predicting the phenomena of international relations. Such a theory not only guides research but also offers basic information and policy prescriptions to decisionmakers and citizens. International relations theories are intrinsically plural (i. e., more than one theories exists) and change over time due basically to heterogeneity and a lack of continuity in the realities of internationalr elations—international relations is like 'clouds' and not like 'mechanical clocks.' Plurality in I. R. theories tends to be perpetual since a theory in IR is not to be proved or disproved in its entire system by empirical evidence, but rather is only to be replaced by a new or revised theory if and only if the latter explains or interprets the events more deeply, and a wider range of events can be explained by the new theory than the present one. Changes in international relations theories can, besides the lack of continuity in the realities, be justified by the fact that they must provide reasonable interpretations regarding politically important current events to citizens and decisionmakers. But, because of this, there always exists the possibility that international relations theories are only 'fashion' reflecting the current situation in IR.A methodology is concerned with how we develop and test a theory. Even though there is no agreed upon methodology in IR research, there seems to be basically two different types of methodologies: one is the "interpretative" method and the other is the "procedural" method. The "interpretative" method looks at the intentions and motivations of human beings, social institutions, conventions and customs and interprets, and extracts the meaning of, by impressionistic illustrations, behavior, events and the operation of social systems. The "procedural" method utilizes scientific procedures such as explanation by covering laws andtests by statistical techniques. Theories and methodologies are independent—for example. we utilize the "interpretative" method for constructing concepts, deriving hypotheses, and 'testing' such hypotheses; or we may use the "interpretative" method for concept formation and hypothesis derivation and use the "procedural" method for hypothesis testing.In the nineteen fifties and sixties, the "procedural" method was widely and enthusiastically introduced, and such behavioral disciplines as psychology, social psychology, modern economics and statistics became major cognate fields of international relations. International relations thories in the fifties and sixties, being influenced by such phenomena, emphasized behavior rather than international institutions, the parts rather than the whole, and tended to be ahistorical. These characteristics reflect the realities of international relations in these periods. The U. S. preponderance, which shaped the world order, was immense and internaitonal economic institutions were stable. These factors were considered ones to continue as constants in international relations in the future. Under these conditions, it was natural that theories of international relations focused on behavior and on the parts rather than the whole.However, in the late sixties and in the seventies, these factors became "variables." The relative power of the United States had declined and international economic institutions were in a shambles.
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