The Elusive Arts of Reflexivity in the ‘Sciences’ of International Relations

Bibliographic Data

ID11922341
AuthorsChristine Sylvester (0000-0002-0708-4222, University of Connecticut and University of Gothenburg, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume41
Issue2
Pages309-325
Publication date2012-12-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMillennium Journal of International Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-8298 • E-ISSN: 1477-9021
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0305829812463479
OpenAlexW2093726623
LanguageEN
Citations received9

There are a number of highly laudable aspects of Patrick Jackson’s broadened discussion of scientific inquiry in the field of International Relations, among them the attention he gives to feminist analysis as exemplary of reflexive science. Yet there are a few worrying elements in his approach as well. This piece addresses issues around Jackson’s presentation of feminist analysis and, in addition, tackles his off-handed reinscription of the split between social sciences and the arts (plus his neglect of poststructuralism). Jackson’s view of feminist analysis relies on early writings on feminist philosophy of science. He therefore underestimates the goals and the epistemological complexities of current research in feminist International Relations. As a separate but overlapping underestimation, Jackson’s drive for a post-foundational science ignores the capacity of the arts to enhance the very qualities of research that attract him to reflexive forms of International Relations science. To overcome both sets of concerns requires enlarging the critical scope of reflexive inquiry

Epistemology · Field (mathematics · International relations · Political science · Politics · Presentation (obstetrics · Reflexivity · Scope (computer science · Social science · Sociology · The arts · Computer Science · Gender Politics and Representation · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Historical Gender and Feminism Studies · Law · Philosophy

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