The closing of the American mind

American School’ International Relations and the state of grand theory

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6060630
AutoresDeborah Levine (0000-0001-8364-0430, University of Alabama), Daniel J Levine (University of Alabama), Alexander D Barder (0000-0002-9914-923X, American University of Beirut, Lebanon)
Ano2014
Volume20
Fascículo4
Páginas863-888
Data de publicação2014-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEuropean Journal of International Relations (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1354-0661 • E-ISSN: 1460-3713
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1354066114530010
OpenAlexW2152905067
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas22
Referências citadas104

Senior ‘American School’ International Relations theorists — John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, Robert Keohane, and others — have evinced a growing concern about a rise of technocratic hypothesis-testing, and a parallel decline in grand theory. We share many of their concerns; yet, we also find such discussions deeply unsatisfying. Grand theory descends into ‘technocracy’ because of reifying and depoliticizing processes deeply woven into both thought and the academic vocation. While confronting such processes is possible, these same scholars are among those who dismiss — and have long dismissed — the key intellectual moves that would sustain such a confrontation. That infelicitous combination, we argue, is unlikely to produce a renaissance of grand theory; indeed, past precedent suggests that it will further stifle it. To suggest how these theorists might better revalorize grand theory, we develop disciplinary-historical case studies around two key research programs: neo-functionalism and structural liberalism. Both were the product of an abiding commitment to grand theory; yet, both fell into reified and depoliticized stances that left little space for such theory. Breaking that cycle of reification and depoliticization might yet be possible; but it will require thinking beyond the call for ‘more grand theory

Epistemology · Functionalism (philosophy of mind) · Grand strategy · International relations · International relations theory · Liberalism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Reification (Marxism) · Sociology · Technocracy · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Philosophy · Political Conflict and Governance · Political Science Research and Education