Lecture 1
Introduction
Amitav Acharya, ‘Global International Relations (IR) and Regional
Worlds’ (2014)
***Summary in two sentences:***
- International Relations (IR) needs to overcome its Western-centric roots and
embrace a more inclusive and diverse approach called Global IR.
- This approach recognizes the six multiple dimensions of Global IR, including
pluralistic universalism, grounding in world history, redefining existing IR theories and
methods, integration of regional studies, avoiding ethnocentrism and exceptionalism
and the recognition of multiple forms of agency
5 Most important topics in bullet points
- IR marginalizes societies and states outside of the core countries of the West
- Global IR is a way to combat that
● Uses more inclusive discipline
● States outside of the West
- Six main dimensions of IR
1. Pluralistic universalism
2. Grounding in world history
3. Redefining existing IR theories and methods
4. Integrating the study of regions
5. Avoiding ethnocentrism (=judging one’s culture by one’s own standards, often
thinking their own is superior) and exceptionalism
6. Recognising broader concept of agency
- Discipline of IR is not fully accounted for colonialism and its legacy
- Building a Global IR involves recognising diversity, seeking common ground and
resolving conflicts
- Non-Western perspectives in international relations theory are highlighted as
important
More detailed text
Defining Global IR
● Deeply rooted to the history, traditions and agency claims of the West
● Reasons: underdevelopment of IR theories outside of West (culturally, political,
institution factors)
● Sources of non-West IR history includes, not limited to: indigenous history, ideas of
nationalist leaders, distinctive local and regional interaction patterns, writings of
scholars
● Six main dimensions of greater inclusiveness and diversity
- Pluralistic universalism, recognising and respecting diversity
- Grounded in world history, not just Roman, European or US
- Subsumes rather than supplants existing IR theories and methods
- Integrates the study of regions, regionalism and area studies
- Eschews exceptionalism
, - Recognises multiple forms of agency beyond material power, including
resistance and local constructions of global order
● Realism, somewhat ahead of liberalism in drawing insights from the non-Western
world, has added new variants: subaltern realism, neoclassical realism, and
defensive realism.
● Constructivism has been especially important in opening space for scholarship on the
non-Western world because of its stress on culture and identity
● Emerging world order should be better describes as multiplex world
What should Global IR scholars do
● Discover new patterns, theories, and methods from world histories.
● Analyze changes in the distribution of power and ideas after 200 plus years of
Western dominance.
● Explore regional worlds in their full diversity and interconnectedness.
● Engage with subjects and methods that require deep and substantive integration of
disciplinary and area studies knowledge.
● Examine how ideas and norms circulate between global and local levels.
● Investigate the mutual learning among civilizations, of which there is more historical
evidence than there is for the “clash of civilizations.”
Dutkiewics & Smolenski, ‘Epistemic superimposition: the war in
Ukraine and the poverty of expertise in International Relations
Theory’ (2023)
***Summary in two sentences:***
- This article criticizes some international relations theorists, especially realists like
John Mearsheimer, for making claims about real-world politics based on theory rather
than evidence. The authors suggest that scholars should be more reflective, test
theories with real evidence, and focus more on specific regions to improve our
understanding of international politics.
- Epistemic superimposition = this refers to a mistake in methodology where
theoretical ideas about political events are assumed to be valid without thoroughly
considering real evidence
- Mearsheimer's argument that Russia felt threatened by Ukraine's rapprochement
with the West is challenged by the fact that Ukraine was already a buffer state and
popular support for NATO accession (in Ukrainian domestic politics and public
opinion) was a response to Russia's invasion.
Main takeaways:
● The article calls for more reflexivity among scholars and emphasizes the importance
of empirical, area-specific research in shaping knowledge about international politics.
● John Mearsheimer blames the West for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, citing NATO
enlargement, EU expansion, and democracy promotion as threats to Russia's
interests.
● According to Mearsheimer, great powers seek to tilt the balance of power in their
favor and prevent competitors from entering their sphere of influence.
, ● Mearsheimer's argument that Russia felt threatened by Ukraine's rapprochement
with the West is challenged by the fact that Ukraine was already a buffer state and
popular support for NATO accession (in Ukrainian domestic politics and public
opinion) was a response to Russia's invasion.
● Realist scholars, including Mearsheimer and Walt, have blamed NATO for Russia's
aggression in Ukraine.
● Realism is seen as a conservative ideology that provides a terminology for realpolitik
and claims to expertise in providing a prescriptive program of state power.
● The nature of realist theory is highlighted as particularly susceptible to epistemic
superimposition, allowing experts to claim expertise in areas they have little
familiarity with
Introduction
This section discusses the claims made by realist scholars about the causes of Russia's
invasion of Ukraine and introduces the concept of epistemic superimposition.
● Realist scholars have claimed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022
was a preemptive strike forced by the West.
● Scholars of Ukraine have criticized this view, saying that this does not have much to
do with what Ukraine studies are saying.
● Realists haven't tried to involve themselves with area studies or the practical
knowledge of specific regions.
● The concept of epistemic superimposition is introduced to describe the process of
prioritizing theoretical assumptions over empirical evidence in analyzing political
events.
● The article calls for more reflexivity among scholars and emphasizes the importance
of empirical, area-specific research in shaping knowledge about international politics.
● Criticizes Mearsheimer for assuming that his theory holds without testing its
applicability.
Theory without the facts
John Mearsheimer blames the West for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, citing NATO
enlargement, EU expansion, and democracy promotion as threats to Russia's interests.
● Mearsheimer argues that the West's policies were seen as a threat by Russia,
leading to its invasion of Ukraine.
● He applies the analytical framework of offensive realism to explain aggressive state
behavior.
● Offensive realism = power-maximizing suggests states are inherently aggressive
and driven by an insatiable desire for power and security, leading them to seek
dominance over other states as a means to ensure their own survival in an anarchic
international system
● According to Mearsheimer, great powers seek to tilt the balance of power in their
favor and prevent competitors from entering their sphere of influence.
● He suggests that the West should have aimed to make Ukraine a neutral buffer
between NATO and Russia.
● Mearsheimer's analysis often relies on thin or selective deployment of sources and
uncritically accepts Putin's rationale for the invasion.
● He overlooks Ukrainian domestic politics and public opinion in his analysis.
● Russia's assertiveness and historical actions in the region are important factors in
understanding NATO enlargement and Ukraine's alignment with the West.
, ● Mearsheimer's argument that Russia felt threatened by Ukraine's rapprochement
with the West is challenged by the fact that Ukraine was already a buffer state and
popular support for NATO accession (in Ukrainian domestic politics and public
opinion) was a response to Russia's invasion.
Epistemic superimposition
The section discusses the problem of epistemic superimposition in Mearsheimer's analysis
of Russia and Ukraine, where theoretical assumptions are applied without empirical testing.
● Mearsheimer argues that states should always act like good offensive realists for
survival.
● The section criticizes Mearsheimer for assuming that his theory holds without testing
its applicability.
● Epistemic superimposition is the act of applying simplified theories to unique
socio-historical circumstances without questioning their applicability (=geschiktheid)
● This can result in theory guiding the selection and presentation of facts to match
expectations.
● Offensive realism may be prone to this problem due to its skew toward unfalsifiability.
● Mearsheimer's ideas have had a significant impact, with his speeches and articles
being widely viewed and cited.
● His expertise in realist international relations theory gives him a platform to opine on
Russia and Ukraine.
● The section highlights the need for empirical scrutiny and critical analysis of
Mearsheimer's analysis.
Expertise without a subject
The section discusses how realist scholars have blamed NATO and its outreach for Russia's
aggression in Ukraine, and how some realists have defended their theory in the public
arena.
● Realist scholars, including Mearsheimer and Walt, have blamed NATO for Russia's
aggression in Ukraine.
● Some realists argue that if the US and its allies had followed realist insights, the crisis
would not have occurred.
● Realists have called for Ukraine to accept neutrality and have criticized NATO's
institutional creep.
● Realists have faced critique from various quarters, questioning the foundational
precepts of their theory and their empirical evidence.
● Realists have attempted to defend and delimit realism in the public arena, as well as
within the academic field of international relations.
● The defense of realism often prioritizes theory over empirical research, creating
hierarchies within IR scholarship.
● The Western-centric nature of IR theorizing has marginalized Eastern European
knowledge and experience.
● Realism is seen as a conservative ideology that provides a terminology for realpolitik
and claims to expertise in providing a prescriptive program of state power.
