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Debates about the Possible as a Central Concern in International Relations Theory
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DEBATES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE
AS A CENTRAL CONCERN IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY
Jeffrey W. Knopf
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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DEBATES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE
AS A CENTRAL CONCERN IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY
Jeffrey W. Knopf
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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