Critical Approaches

Question 1

Origins

Answer 1

• humanities and social sciences debate
  1. poststructuralism:
• similar origins to constructivism
• political philosophy, sociology, linguistics
  2. Postcolonialism:
• subaltern studies, literary analysis, anthropology
  3. Feminism
• gender studies, international law, sociology, geography

Question 2

Common objectives of the theories:

Answer 2

• criticism of the production and understanding of IR (foundationalism)
• critical attitudes towards existing IR conceptions: marginalisation of factors, actors, regions
• ruling hegemonic discourse (Gramsci)
• reproduction of identities and power relations
• constitutive theories

Question 3

What is the vantage point

Answer 3

• biased but unaware
• no universal theory
• dominant IR understandings actually non-arbitrary
• builds on specific historical and social context

Question 4

Introduction of new methods and issues:

Answer 4

• new methodologies (textual analysis, interpretivism, discourse analysis…)
• new sources of data (language, pop culture, literature, poetry, textbooks…)
• new transnational actors, issues and relationships (identity, responsibility, gender, justice, racism)

Question 5

Maps in IR by critical theories

Answer 5

• maps favour, promote and shape IR
• representation matters
• highlights knowledge and power relationship

Question 6

Nuclear proliferation by critical theories

Answer 6

• post-colonialism: the great equalizer?

- feminism: competitive male sexuality

Question 7

Nuclear non-proliferation by feminism

Answer 7

• low women participation
• women pay “gender tax” to participate
• absent female participation in nuclear issues =
  1. higher risk taking behaviour
  2. negotiated agreements less likely to hold
  3. innovative ideas unheard
• also civil society groups

Question 8

Peace processes without women

Answer 8

• first Intifada (Palestine uprising) main participants women = successful resistance, negotiations and sustaining agreements
• vs. Oslo peace process without women = failed

Question 9

Definitional problems of critical theories:

Answer 9

• binary opposition
• sovereignty vs self determination
• privileging citizens over humans
• reason vs. rational, peace vs. war, North vs South…
• boundary making and othering -> marginalizes

Question 10

Limitations of critical theories:

Answer 10

• what is the ultimate objective? explanatory vs critical
• still not mainstream: why?
• internal contradictions - limited dialogue
• contradictions between 3 theories