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ID: 112422

Poverty of paradigms: subcultures, trading zones and the case of liberal socialism in interwar international relations / Ashworth, Lucian M

Ashworth, Lucian M	Journal Article
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2012.

Summary/Abstract

In a recent article in International Affairs Duncan Bell argued that the work of Peter Galison in the history of science could be usefully applied to the study of the history of International Relations (IR). In this article I take up Bell's challenge, claiming that Galison's post-Kuhnian history of science approach can be used both to understand the history of IR and to replace the ultimately confusing notion of 'paradigm' in the study of IR theory. Galison's method of using 'microhistories' to explore the workings of 'subcultures' in science is applied to the case study of liberal socialism in interwar IR. Through this case I argue that microhistories can help us understand why certain subcultures in IR theory thrive, and others decline. This understanding in turn could help us comprehend the state of currently active subcultures in IR, and give us an alternative to the intellectually unhelpful concept of 'paradigm'.

Key Words

Interwar IR ; History of IR ; History of Science ; Liberal Socialism in IR ; Paradigms in IR

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ID: 071467

Where are the idealists in interwar international relations? / Ashworth, Lucian M

Ashworth, Lucian M	Journal Article
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Publication

2006.

Summary/Abstract

International Relations (IR) textbooks often make reference to an idealist paradigm in interwar IR. This article argues that an idealist paradigm did not exist, and that interwar references to idealism or utopianism are contradictory and have little to do with defining a paradigm. Not only is there no idealist paradigm in IR at this time, but authors from the interwar period that have since been dismissed as idealists rarely share the attributes assigned to idealism or utopianism by later writers. If IR scholars are serious about understanding the history of their discipline then they will have to stop applying misleading and anachronistic terms like idealism.

Key Words

Idealist Paradigm ; Interwar IR ; International Relations - Case Studies

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