CRITICAL THEORY

Does critical theory successfully present realism and liberalism as 'problem-solving' theories? What alternative does critical theory offer?

Table of Content

Introduction1

A) Critical theory1

1.Democracy1

2.Liberation2

3.Justice and Equality3

B) Realism4

C) Liberalism5

Discussion5

A) Realism6

1.The role of state in international relations6

2.State capabilities of identifying opportunities6

3.International relations conflicts due to power6

4.Power dominates international agenda6

Relative vs. absolute power gain7

Power distribution7

System stability7

Bipolar and Multipolar7

B) Liberalism9

1.Liberalism and civil society impact9

2.Environment of the international system9

2.1Convergent state preferences9

2.2. Divergent state preferences9

3.Maximalist and minimalist10

C) Alternative Offered by Critical Theory10

Dependency theory11

Conclusion13

References14

Does critical theory successfully present realism and liberalism as 'problem-solving' theories? What alternative does critical theory offer?

Introduction

I will be discussing whether or not the critical theory successfully present realism and liberalism as a problem solving theories and what are the alternatives that critical theory offers with respect to international relations theories. For better understanding first I will discuss the key concepts of my essay topic which include critical theory, realism, liberalism, problem solving theories and later I will emphasis on alternative which critical theory offers.

A) Critical theory

This concept is designed by several by several generations of German and western European philosophers. This school of thought is known as “Frankfurt school”, according to the director of this school Horkeimer critical theory “has as its object human beings as producers of their own historical form of life”. Critical theory revolves around knowledge aspects, its deals with challenging and destabilizing the current state of knowledge. Following are the few concepts that are very important in understanding critical theory are; .

Democracy

According to various critical theorists “Democracy” is incomplete project of modernity. There are various critiques regarding liberal capitalist form of democracy they believe that Radical Democracy that encompasses more democratic structure should be developed. Further Mouffe suggest the idea that democracy should be further deepen in terms of project of modernity. "Critical theorists claim that democracy, in means of liberal democracy,. is not open to any differences in the society, hence actually a form of domination of the majority over any kind of minorities” (Asrudiancenter, 2012).

There are critical international theorists that believe in ideas of critical social theorists in connection to the international relations. Generally critical global theories attempt to relate to the concepts of critical communal theorists to the global level. Drawing from their perceptions regarding the communicative rationality of Habermas, and other critical philosophers, nonlegislative institutions and other groups should be improvised by the communicative sagacity quite frequently bringing their thoughts, problems and ideas to the global institutions. According to the perception of Habermas, this would make the global system of politics even more autonomous and self governing. Critical philosophers aspire to establish a global system that is ajar to any diversity like nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion, identity, and thus it is more democratic. For instance, the existing configuration of the UN is the dominance of five fortunate states of the Security Council on top of others. Critical philosophers also propose the global and nonlegislative institutions to have a position in the global system as the fundamental units apart from the ...