Realism and International Relations - A Graphic Turn Toward Scientific Progress

Translating the vast amount of information in the field of international relations into knowledge requires a greater emphasis on communication beyond the use of text. Given the challenges posed by existing and intensifying information overload, Patrick James calls for a new vision of progress with a solid foundation in the philosophy of inquiry and through graphic representation of cause and effect. In his new book Realism and International Relations, Patrick James gives us the most comprehensive reassessment of realism since the classic works of Vasquez. When translated into a graphic format that facilitates comparative analysis, realist theories collectively have much to contribute to scientific progress.

List of contents

• Preface


• Acknowledgments


• Part I Setting the Agenda


• Chapter 1 Realism, International Relations and the World Today


• Chapter 2 Progress in International Relations


• Part II Creating a Metatheory of Progress for International Relations


• Chapter 3 Introducing Components: Knowledge, Units and Methods


• Chapter 4 Knowledge


• Chapter 5 Units


• Chapter 6 Methods


• Chapter 7 A Metatheory of Progress


• Part III Identifying Realism


• Chapter 8 The Nature of Realism


• Chapter 9 Classifying Realist Theories of War


• Chapter 10 Classical Realism


• Part IV Realist Theories of War


• Chapter 11 Power Cycles


• Chapter 12 Structural Realism


• Chapter 13 Balance of Threat


• Chapter 14 Balance of Interests


• Chapter 15 Defensive Realism


• Chapter 16 Dynamic Differentials


• Chapter 17 Offensive Realism


• Chapter 18 Predation


• Part V The Way Forward


• Chapter 19 Dialogue for Realist Theories of War


• Chapter 20 Realism and Progress in International Relations


• References

About the author

Patrick James is the author or editor of over 30 books and more than 170 articles and book chapters. Among his honors and awards are the Louise Dyer Peace Fellowship from the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, Official Visitor at Nuffield College of Oxford University, and the Governor-General's International Award in Canadian Studies. James has been Distinguished Scholar for the ISA in Foreign Policy Analysis, 2006-07, Ethnicity, Nationalism and Migration, 2009-10, and Active Learning and International Studies, 2021-22. He served as President of the ISA, 2018-19. James is the Editor-in-Chief of the Oxford Bibliographies in International Relations.

Summary

Realism is one of the core theories within the field of international relations, and it generally posits a state system characterized by anarchy where states act in what they perceive to be their own self interests. It is a controversial theory, and it has many opponents. Yet effective debate among realists and those who identify with other schools of thought has diminished dramatically over time. As Patrick James argues in Realism and International Relations, scholars in the field have become dissatisfied with results from exchanges in words alone. He contends that translation of the vast amount of information in the field into knowledge requires a greater emphasis on communication beyond the use of text. Given the challenges posed by existing and intensifying information overload, he develops a new model that relies on the graphic representation of analytical arguments.

As James explains, realist scholarship in the post-World War II era is the natural domain for the application of systemism, a graphic form of expression with straightforward rules for portrayal of analytical arguments, notably cause and effect within theories. Systemism goes beyond prior iterations of systems theory to offer a visualization technique borrowed and adapted from the philosophy of science. Systemist graphics reveal the shortcomings, contributions and potential of realism. These visualizations, which focus on realist theories about war, are intended to bring order out of what critics tend to describe, with some justification, as chaos. In sum, a graphic turn for realism in particular and international relations in general is essential in order to achieve the scientific progress that otherwise is likely to remain elusive. A major theoretical work by an eminent scholar, this will be of interest to all theorists focusing how the international system of states actually functions.

Additional text

Realism and International Relations stands as an incredibly ambitious attempt to re-connect realism to metatheoretical debates within the discipline, revive neglected arguments, compare a huge range of theories and advance theoretical integration.

Product details

• Authors: Patrick James, Patrick (Dana and David Dornsife Dean''s Pr James
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 21.12.2022
• EAN: 9780197645024
• ISBN: 978-0-19-764502-4
• No. of pages: 648
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General, International Relations