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Debates about the Possible as a Central Concern in International Relations Theory |
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Abstract:
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Specialists in other sub-fields of Political Science often admonish IR specialists for constantly returning to first principles. In this paper, I will espouse a contrary position – that IR theory would benefit from greater self-consciousness about first principles. Specifically, I seek to show that an important strand in IR theory involves debates about what might or might not be possible in the future. I will describe these as “possibilistic” debates. While the more familiar “probabilistic” claims in IR theory can be used as a basis for forecasting likely future outcomes, possibilistic arguments are associated instead with what might be called “feasibility-casting.” Finally, in contrast to the familiar “as if” assumption used in deductive theorizing, arguments about possibility are often asserted through the use of what I will call an “and therefore” clause. |
Most Common Document Word Stems:
theori (165), possibl (154), possibilist (94), ir (76), debat (76), might (75), intern (73), realist (73), polici (68), one (67), war (65), would (65), argument (64), outcom (64), causal (64), make (56), chang (54), use (51), institut (51), futur (50), also (50), |
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international relations theory; alternative futures; realism; possibilistic arguments |
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Association:
Name: American Political Science Association
URL: http://www.apsanet.org
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Citation:
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MLA Citation:
| Knopf, Jeffrey. "Debates about the Possible as a Central Concern in International Relations Theory" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, Sep 02, 2004 <Not Available>. 2009-05-26 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p61062_index.html> |
APA Citation:
| Knopf, J. , 2004-09-02 "Debates about the Possible as a Central Concern in International Relations Theory" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL Online <.PDF>. 2009-05-26 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p61062_index.html |
Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Specialists in other sub-fields of Political Science often admonish IR specialists for constantly returning to first principles. In this paper, I will espouse a contrary position – that IR theory would benefit from greater self-consciousness about first principles. Specifically, I seek to show that an important strand in IR theory involves debates about what might or might not be possible in the future. I will describe these as “possibilistic” debates. While the more familiar “probabilistic” claims in IR theory can be used as a basis for forecasting likely future outcomes, possibilistic arguments are associated instead with what might be called “feasibility-casting.” Finally, in contrast to the familiar “as if” assumption used in deductive theorizing, arguments about possibility are often asserted through the use of what I will call an “and therefore” clause. |
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| Document Type: |
.PDF |
| Page count: |
43 |
| Word count: |
16290 |
| Text sample: |
| DEBATES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE AS A CENTRAL CONCERN IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY Jeffrey W. Knopf National Security Affairs Department Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA 93943 Comments welcomed please email to jwknopf@nps.edu Prepared for delivery at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association September 2 - September 5 2004. Copyright by the American Political Science Association. DEBATES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE AS A CENTRAL CONCERN IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY Jeffrey W. Knopf Abstract: Specialists in other sub-fields of |
| be absolute producing a perfect world that lasts permanently; it focuses instead on the possibility of relative improvement that could be moderately durable. When theorists switch back and forth between probabilistic and possibilistic arguments they can end up talking past each other rather than joining debate on the same propositions. Greater clarity about the difference between the two types of theory might make IR theory debates more productive. Greater care in the treatment of possibilistic claims might also improve |
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