This chapter introduces critical perspectives on international relations: it shows what they have in common, and how they differ from other IR theories. While situating the origins of critical IR theories in the Critical Theory tradition of the Frankfurt School, the chapter takes a broader view and showcases a wide range of critical theories used today. They share the aim of understanding and challenging relations of oppression, and an awareness of their own involvement in the worlds they study. The chapter traces two avenues through which these aims are pursued: making the familiar strange, and moving to unknown terrains. In addition to a case study that illustrates different types and dimensions of critique in statebuliding and peacebuilding projects, the chapter shows how a focus on race and gender is making the familiar contours of IR strange and moving it to new thinkers and themes.
Chapter
10. Critical Theories
Katarina Kušić
Chapter
18. Critical Approaches to Global Politics
Stephanie Lawson
This chapter examines seven critical approaches to global politics: Marxism, Critical Theory, constructivism, feminism, postmodernism, postcolonial theory, and green theory. In their book The Manifesto of the Communist Party, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels address the implications for global order of the rise of capitalism and the role of the bourgeoisie as controllers of capital. Their ideas have had a major influence on critical approaches to virtually all aspects of both domestic and global politics. The chapter considers some major strands of Marxist-influenced theory of direct relevance to global politics, including dependency theory, world-system theory, Gramscian theory, and Frankfurt School theory. It also discusses gender theory and compares postmodern/poststructural approaches to global politics with Critical Theory and constructivism in International Relations.
Chapter
18. Critical Approaches to Global Politics
Stephanie Lawson
This chapter examines seven critical approaches to global politics: Marxism, Critical Theory, constructivism, feminism, postmodernism, postcolonial theory, and green theory. In their book The Manifesto of the Communist Party, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels address the implications for global order of the rise of capitalism and the role of the bourgeoisie as controllers of capital. Their ideas have had a major influence on critical approaches to virtually all aspects of both domestic and global politics. The chapter considers some major strands of Marxist-influenced theory of direct relevance to global politics, including dependency theory, world-system theory, Gramscian theory, and Frankfurt School theory. It also discusses gender theory and compares postmodern/poststructural approaches to global politics with Critical Theory and constructivism in International Relations.
