Ideas and Explanation: Advancing the Theoretical Agenda

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Tannenwald
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Causal Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Constitutive Analysis ◽  
Constitutive Explanation ◽  
The Cold War

This article responds to key methodological and theoretical challenges posed by the literature on the role of ideas in international relations, especially the literature on ideas and the end of the Cold War. The article develops a theoretical framework that guides the analysis of the empirical articles that follow. It identifies explanatory strategies for the role of ideas and seeks to clarify key methodological issues in the study of ideas. The article defines terms, identifies several different relationships between ideational and material factors, and lays out a series of “tests” for evaluating the causal effect of various kinds of ideas and ideational mechanisms. It then seeks to clarify two primary issues: whether it is possible to draw a clearer line between the material and the ideational; and what is meant by “constitutive effects” and “constitutive explanation.” The article defends the notion of constitutive explanation and shows how both causal analysis and constitutive analysis are valid explanatory strategies for the role of ideas.

scholarly journals Acordos de Sokovia e os Limites do Poder: Capitão América e Reflexões Sobre o Papel da Superpotência no Sistema Internacional

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 434-456
Author(s):  
Liliane Klein Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Civil War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International System ◽  
International Relations Theory ◽  
American People ◽  
Sovereign State ◽  
Captain America ◽  
The Cold War

Ao observar o sistema unipolar que emergiu do final da Guerra Fria, é marcante o sentimento de insegurança geopolítica gerada pela existência de apenas uma superpotência global e as dúvidas da atuação do Estado soberano nessa conjuntura. Nesse paradigma, Capitão América: Guerra Civil é lançado com uma simbologia contestadora do papel do hegemon no sistema internacional. Com isso, inicialmente é exposto o enredo do filme, seguido das teorias liberal e realista das Relações Internacionais e da semiótica greimasiana. Com isso em vista, é feita a análise dos símbolos do longa-metragem e, por fim, se conclui que os autores do texto tinham como objetivo disseminar uma mensagem de união política entre os americanos.     Abstract: Observing the unipolar system emerging from the closure of the Cold War, is remarkable the sentiment of geopolitical insecurity generated by the existence of only one global superpower and the doubts about the role of the sovereign State in such system. In this paradigm, Captain America: Civil War is released with a contesting symbology about the role of the hegemon in the international system. Therefore, first it is exposed the movie plot, followed by the liberal and realist theories of international relations and the French semiotics. With this in mind, the symbols in the feature are analised and, in conclusion, it is stated that the authors wish to convey a message in bipartisan union amongst the American people. Keywords: International Relations Theory, Semiotics, Captain America.     Recebido em: setembro/2019. Aprovado em: maio/2020.

The End of the Cold War as a Hard Case for Ideas

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. Wohlforth
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Hard Case ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Cold War

The articles in this special issue of the journal succeeded in meeting the core objective set out in the introduction: to refine, deepen, and extend previous studies of the role of ideas in the end of the Cold War. In particular, they confront more forthrightly than past studies a major challenge of studying ideas in this case; namely, that ideas, material incentives, and policy all covaried. Two other important problems for those seeking to establish an independent role for ideas remain to be addressed in future studies. Facing those problems as squarely as the contributors to this issue have faced the covariation problem will yield major benefits for the study of ideas in this case and in international relations more generally.

Introduction: The Role of Ideas and the End of the Cold War

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Tannenwald ◽  
William C. Wohlforth
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
North American ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
International Politics ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Important Place ◽  
New Models ◽  
The Cold War

The end of the Cold War helped to prompt new interest in the study of ideas in international politics. Once the province of a few dedicated researchers on the fringes of the discipline, scholarship on the role of ideas now occupies an important place in the mainstream of North American and especially European international relations research. The five articles in this special issue of the journal are intended to move the research agenda on ideas and the end of the Cold War to a new level of rigor. They develop new models of how ideas affected the outcome and, in so doing, take stock of this event to refine our understanding of how ideas work in international politics. Although we seek a deeper understanding of the end of the Cold War itself, we also use this seminal case to clarify and advance the debate over the role of ideas in international politics more generally.

scholarly journals The role of theory of international relations in explicating global political events

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Mr.Sc. Bardhok Bashota
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Specific Form ◽  
Temporal Context ◽  
Post Cold War ◽  
Political Events ◽  
Narrow Context

It is rather obvious that different developments in the international relations scene are so dynamic that a theory of international relations cannot elaborate alone the ways they begin, develop and eventually end. Therefore, one must underline that using a theoretical framework of wi-der extent becomes almost indispensable. In this sense, one must underli-ne that IR theories are paths or means used by scholars to provide expla-nation on these developments. Among numerous IR theories, those app-lied the most are the three key ones: liberalism, realism and rationalism.These three theories, depending on the manner and logic of approach and effort in trying to elaborate an IR event, they gain labels in a specific form, for instance – positivist theories. They are called positivist, because they aim to pursue the example of natural science to be more accurate in their work, at least in a metaphorical sense. Therefore, the contents of this paper provide an example of physics, to adapt to the nature of theory elaborated herein.The reason and objective of this paper is to argue our thesis that “li-beral theory alone cannot elaborate on all IR developments, and more theories are required”. The two other theories, realism and ratio-nalism help build a more wholesome understanding of IR developments. Also, the two other theories are used to support or counter the arguments of liberals and liberalism in relation to interpretation, explication and forecast of IR developments, which are tasks of an IR theory.This research is realized in a temporal context of post Cold War. This period is more suitable for study, and has attracted our interest. Otherwise, the three theoretical traditions had existed even before, and any effort to elaborate in details would be historical. Also, the focus in only three main IR theories, Liberalism, Realism and Rationalism, narrow down the field of study and make it more tangible. Nevertheless, to have an easier job in reaching a scientific and statistically measurable scientific conclusion, we have analysed only the views of authors consi-dered to be the key representatives of the three main theories. Hence, only in a narrow context of time, theory and author, can we reach more accurate con-clusions. For the purposes of this paper, Fukuyama is the “Liberalist”, Huntington is “Realist” and Brzezinski is a “Rationalist”. 

scholarly journals Faktor Kebudayaan dalam Teori Hubungan Internasional [The Cultural Factors in International Relations Theory]

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Umar Suryadi Bakry
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Ir Studies ◽  
The Cold War

<p>This article tries to explain some thoughts on the importance of cultural factors in the study of International Relations (IR).  The mainstream theories of international relations since the end of the World War II have ignored the role of cultural factors in world politics. But, after the Cold War era in 1990s, culture began to enter the center of research on international relations.  After the Cold War ended, cultural factors become particularly prominent and began to gain more attention from the scholars of International Relations. There are at least three prominent theories which are increasingly taking into account the role of cultural factors in international relations, that is, Huntington’s “clash of civilization” theory, Nye’s “soft power” theory, and constructivism theory. In addition, since the 1990s, many studies conducted by IR scholars have focused on the relationship between culture and the foreign policy of a country. The emergence of international culturology as a sub-field of IR studies further confirms that culture is an important variable in international relations.</p>

La sécurité collective : chimère, éphémère ou mutante ?

Res Publica ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-84
Author(s):  
Huri Türsan
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
International Agreements ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Collective Security ◽  
The Cold War

The joint international action against Iraq and the search for a new security doctrine following the end of the Cold War, led, in the early '90s, to a revival of the notion of collective security embodied in several international agreements. This notion is based on the assumption of responding collectively to international aggression. However, the international guagmires of recent years and especially the case of former Yugoslavia where international organizations have played the role of alibi to agression, has once more, dealt a major blow to the illusion of the implementation of the principles of collective security. In a way similar to the 1930s and the bipolar balance of power of the Cold War, collective security seems ephemeral today. We can therefore safelypredict that in the foreseeable future, international relations wilt continue to be shaped by the balance of specific state interests and not by universally applied principles of collective security.

The Changing Role of Dialogue in the International Relations of Southeast Asia

Asian Survey ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 953-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
KIM HYUNG JONG ◽  
LEE POH PING
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
External Threat ◽  
Dialogue Mechanism ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
Changing Role

ASEAN’s dialogue mechanism has been evolving from consensus-seeking to strategic means, to use the Habermas distinction. This consensus norm was maintained during the Cold War because of rapport among ASEAN leaders and the presence of an external threat. However, ASEAN expansion to 10 countries, the emergence of non-traditional threats to security, and democratization have weakened this norm.

The theoretical framework of the new popular diplomacy Concept and concepts approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Thamer Abdul Razak Mahmoud
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
International Environment ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Relationship

The developments and changes taking place in the international environment and in various fields are reflected in their impact on the nature of international relations and the opening of new fields of means to regulate those relations in the interests of States. The official diplomacy governing the relationship between governments was one of those means that indicated the need for popular diplomacy, During which the governments of the foreign countries, and their tasks become complementary to the work of diplomacy and help in achieving the objectives of foreign policy of States, and used popular diplomacy during World Wars I and II as well as the duration of the cold war as a means to achieve the goals and After the end of the Cold War and with the tremendous development in the fields of information and communication, ideas emerged from thinkers and research centers that called for the re-establishment of new popular diplomacy for the purpose of influencing and manipulating foreign peoples in a way that achieved States that their objectives in various areas, which requires standing in the research on the concepts of diplomacy, traditional folk diplomacy, and new popular diplomacy, while standing on the concepts approach to the concept of new or related to popular diplomacy In terms of similarities and differences.

scholarly journals Decolonization and the Cold War

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cary Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Relations ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
International System ◽  
Global Order ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Way

This chapter examines decolonization during the Cold War. It suggests that decolonization can be considered both as a response to the globalization of European influence and as a process of globalization which paved the way for the dismantling of the North Atlantic-centered international system. The chapter contends that decolonization during the Cold War was about the rethinking of the nature of the global order and the role of race and citizenship therein. It also argues that decolonization is the proof and constant reminder that the bipolar order pursued by the superpowers and their allies after the war was never a stable framework for the management of international relations.

Conflict resolution after the Cold War: the case of Moldova

1999 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW WILLIAMS
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
External Actors ◽  
Subjective View

This article considers some implications of the Moldovan conflict from 1991 to the present for thinking about International Relations (IR) and conflict theory, as well as more specifically about the complexities of the conflict itself. This encompasses an examination of the roles of key external actors, and particularly of the Russian Republic and of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as well as a subjective view of the role of the internal actors and their aims. The analysis is based on an on-going involvement in a ‘problem-solving’ exercise in the area.

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