Islamic Politics Research

Islamic Politics Research

International Relations Theories and Absence of an Islamic Theory Mojtaba Abdkhodaei

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mojtaba Abdkhodaei
Assistant Professor of International Relations Department, Allameh Tabatabaei University
Abstract
The study of international relations shows that scholars and thinkers of this realm were and are paying special attention to two fields, first; the challenges of existing theories in analyzing international realities and second, the theoretical deficiencies of these theories, whereas, there has not been an effective investigation, emphasizing religion and specially Islam, to resolve the challenges and eliminate the deficiencies. Therefore, introducing an Islamic theory of international relations puts forward the question that what are the objective deficiencies and analytical disabilities of theorizing in the field of international relations? (Question) The author believes that the Islamic theory enjoys the capability to bridge the existing epistemic gap. (Hypothesis)  Despite the success of ideationalism in criticizing the materiality which dominates the international theories, it suffers from a thin materialism, so introduction of and approach to the capacity of the epistemic system of Islam in international arena is inevitable. (Objective) This paper, while describing the challenges emanating from the separation of religion from the sphere of this field of study, expresses the explorations that have been carried out to bridge this epistemic gap and by criticizing ideationalism as the last attempt in current debates of international relations, emphasizes the need to turn to Islam. (Methodology) Improving the analytic ability of international relations theories and breaking the existing deadlock is only possible through the application of religion. (Finding)
Keywords
theory
international relations
ideationalism
Islamic Theory
Religion
Acharya, Amitav & Barry Buzan(ed) (2010) Non-Western International Relations Theory: Perspectives on and beyond Asia. New York. Rutledge.
Armstrong, H. F. (1956) “Neutrality: Varying Tunes”. Foreign Affairs. (1956–7). 35.
Barbour, Ian (2000) When Science Meets Religion. London. SPCk.
Buzan, Barry & Little, Richard (2000) International Systems in World History: Remaking the Study of International Relations. Oxford. Oxford University Press.
Lapid, Yosef (1989) “The Third Debate: On the Prospects of International Theory in a Post-positivist Era”. International Studies Quarterly. 33. September.
Pettman, R (2004)  Reason, Culture, Religion: The Metaphysics of World Politics. New York. Palgrave Macmillan.
Smith, Steve (2000) “The discipline of international relations: still an American social science?”. British Journal of Politics and International Relations. Vol. 2. No. 3. October.
ShakmanHurd, Elizabeth (2008) The Politics of Secularism in International Relations. Princeton. Princeton University Press.
Snyder, Jack L.(ed),( 2011) , Religion and International Relations Theory, New York, Columbia University Press.
Wilson, Edward O (1975) Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. Cambridge. Harvard University Press
.
3.Carr, Edward Hallett (1946) The Twenty Years' Crisis. London. Macmillan.
4.Cox, Robert W. (1997) The New Realism: Perspectives on Multilateralism and World Order. New York. United Nations University.
5.Cox, Robert  (1986) “Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International Relations Theory”. in Robert Keohane (ed.). Neorealism and its Critics. New York. Columbia University Press.
     6.Dilthey, Wilhelm (1961) Pattern and Meaning in History. New         York. Harper and Brothers.
7.Rush, Fred (2005) Critical Theory. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
8.Scott, Len (2012) “Should We Stop Studying the Cuban Missile Crisis?”. International Relations. 2012. 26.
9.Wæver, Ole (1998) “The Sociology of a Not So International Discipline: American and European Developments in International Relations”. International Organization. 1998. vol. 52. no. 4.
Islamic Politics Research
Volume 1, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
February 2014
Pages 77-104

  • Receive Date 24 December 2013
  • Revise Date 03 February 2014
  • Accept Date 10 March 2014