The agent-structure problem is a much discussed issue in the field of international relations. In his comprehensive analysis of this problem, Colin Wight deconstructs the accounts of structure and agency embedded within differing IR theories and, on the basis of this analysis, explores the implications of ontology - the metaphysical study of existence and reality. Wight argues that there are many gaps in IR theory that can only be understood by focusing on the ontological differences that construct the theoretical landscape. By integrating the treatment of the agent-structure problem in IR theory with that in social theory, Wight makes a positive contribution to the problem as an issue of concern to the wider human sciences. At the most fundamental level politics is concerned with competing visions of how the world is and how it should be, thus politics is ontology.
Author(s): Colin Wight
Series: Cambridge Studies in International Relations
Edition: 1
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 361
Tags: Международные отношения;Международные отношения;Теория международных отношений;
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 5
Title......Page 7
Copyright......Page 8
Dedication......Page 9
Contents......Page 11
Figures......Page 12
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Introduction......Page 15
The plan of the book......Page 22
1 IR: a science without positivism?......Page 28
Positivism......Page 29
The approach to philosophy......Page 37
Ontological realism......Page 40
Epistemological relativism and judgemental rationalism......Page 51
From science to social science......Page 59
Social knowledge and the limits of naturalism......Page 65
2 The agent–structure problem: from
social theory to IR theory......Page 76
Warring gods: Weber versus Durkheim......Page 78
Analysing IR phenomena: individual choices or structural forces?......Page 86
3 The agent–structure problem in IR
theory: preliminary issues......Page 104
Waltz: reductionist or not?......Page 105
Explaining social outcomes: agents or structures and modes of analysis......Page 113
The agent–structure, levels-of-analysis and macro–micro problem(s): one or many problems?......Page 116
4 Structure......Page 135
Structure: two traditions and five models......Page 137
Structure as patterns of aggregate behaviour that are stable over time......Page 141
Structure as law-like regularities that govern the behaviour of social facts......Page 143
Structure as relations of difference that constitute and define the properties of elements......Page 145
Structure as rules and resources......Page 151
Structure as intersubjectively negotiated meanings......Page 169
Structure as social relations......Page 177
Structure: some final comments......Page 188
5 Agency......Page 191
Agential stories......Page 194
Social action......Page 213
Rethinking agency......Page 219
Rethinking state agency......Page 229
6 The agent–structure problem:
epistemology......Page 240
Epistemology......Page 245
The agent–structure debate: the epistemological thicket......Page 257
7 The agent–structure problem:
methodology......Page 269
Methodology......Page 271
Linking social methodology to social ontology......Page 275
Social causation as an ontologically grounded methodological problem......Page 286
Methodology and the agent–structure relationship......Page 293
8 Conclusion......Page 304
References......Page 314
Index......Page 344
CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS......Page 355
