The Value of Critique

A Critical Rewriting of Global Political Economy, Spike Peterson's ambitious new book, is a unique and valuable contribution to at least three key areas of research: international relations, international political economy, and feminist and critical studies. The book is cogently written, with sophisticated and clear explanations of Peterson's theoretical approaches and methodological choices. Indeed, her second chapter is a cogent explanation of how and why theoretical approaches and methodological choices are mutually implicated, and of the implications for scholarship and knowledge that follow from these decisions. As Peterson straightforwardly states, “what we study and make claims about” is linked to epistemological differences regarding “how we study and what we claim is real or true” (p. 22). Consequently, every chapter situates her argument within an informed description of the relevant scholarship and provides a lucid summary of the implications of her work both for that scholarship and for understanding the global political economy. These are not easy tasks, given that Peterson draws from a multidisciplinary array of work in international/global political economy, postcolonial studies, feminist economics, as well as feminist and critical studies. Importantly, her command of literatures beyond that of international relations provides an effective introduction to, as well as demonstration of the importance of, multidisciplinary analyses of international politics. Finally, this book builds upon feminist theorizing and research not simply with the goal of advancing feminist studies, but to demonstrate how gender is a necessary, and illustrative, analytical category or “governing code” of world politics in general (p. 29). In so doing, Peterson reiterates how feminist theory offers an incisive analysis of relations of power and hierarchies that is irreducible to the simple opposition of men versus women. As Peterson repeatedly demonstrates throughout the book, “diverse hierarchies are linked and ideologically naturalized by the denigration of the feminine. In other words, casting the subordinated as feminine—lacking agency, control, reasons, skills or culture—devalorizes not only women, but also racially, culturally, or economically marginalized men” (p. 14, emphasis added). Collectively, these attributes make A Critical Rewriting of Global Political Economy absolutely appropriate for both advanced undergraduate and graduate classes in international political economy, international relations, globalization, and feminist theory

Argument (complex analysis · Economics · Epistemology · Feminism · Global politics · International political economy · International relations · International relations theory · Multidisciplinary approach · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Scholarship · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Computer Science · Gender Politics and Representation · Gender Studies · Law