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WiSe 12/13: Locating the "I" in IR Theory: Non-Western Contributions to International Relations Scholarship

Ingo Peters; Wiebke Wemheuer

Comments

It has often been criticized that International Relations Theories (IRT) lack a note of internationalism. For instance, it can be argued that instead of being composed to explain how the world in a global sense works, theories of international cooperation often look on how powerful, mostly Western states behave amongst each other or as dominant forces vis-à-vis smaller, mostly non-Western states. But not only its theories lack internationalism, the discipline of IR, understood as a social group, does as well. Non-western contributions to IR scholarship just start to find their way into the minds and works of Western scholars. This new development and the contributions to IR it could deliver will be at the centre of this seminar. Its aim is twofold: on the one hand it will give an overview of critical literature on the sociology of IR, identifying problems non-Western or non-core scholars face when working in the field of IRT. On the other hand it will question the added-value of including non-Western concepts and approaches into our mindsets. Are they really different? Why or why not? Finally, what can we learn from them? This seminar enters into a rather new topic area. Therefore, students will be asked to actively participate in shaping its form and content. In the end students will contribute with presentations and seminar papers mapping the characteristics of IRT in a region of their choice. For a better illustration of the seminar's content, students might want to have a look on some introductory reading: Acharya, A., & Buzan, B. (2007a). Why is there no non-Western international relations theory? An introduction. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific , 7 (3), 287-312. Aydinli, E., & Mathews, J. (2000). Are the Core and the Periphery Irreconcilable? The Curious World of Publishing in Contemporary International Relations. International Studies Perspectives , 1, 289-303. Grovogui, S. N. (2006). Beyond Eurocentrism and Anarchy: Memories of International Order and Institutions. Houndsmill: Palgrave Macmillan. Jones, C. S. (2003). Editor's Introduction: Locating the "I" in "IR" - Dislocating Euro-American Theories. Global Society , 17 (2), 107-110. Mgonja, B. E., & Makombe, I. A. (2009). Debating international relations and its relevance to the third world. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations , 3 (1), 27-37. Smith, S. (2002). The United States and the Discipline of International Relations: "Hegemonic Country, Hegemonic Discipline". International Studies Review , 4 (2), 67-85. Tickner, A. (2003a). Seeing IR Differently: Notes From the Third World. Millenium-Journal of International Studies , 32 (2), 295-324. Tickner, A., & Waever, O. (2009). International Relations Scholarship Around the World. New York: Routledge. Waever, O. (1998). The Sociology of a Not So International Discipline: American and European Developments in International Relations. International Organization , 52 (4), 687-727. Der Seminarreader ist im Kopierladen Brümmerstr. 40/ Ecke Thielallee erhältlich. close

16 Class schedule

Additional appointments

Mon, 2013-02-04 16:00 - 18:00

Lecturers:
Dr. Ingo Peters

Location:
Garystr.55/121 Seminarraum (Garystr. 55)

Regular appointments

Mon, 10:00 - 12:00 16 Class schedule

Mon, 2012-10-15 10:00 - 12:00

Lecturers:
Dr. Ingo Peters
Wiebke Wemheuer-Vogelaar