Abstract

International relations theory is witnessing a veritable explosion of works within the areas of modernism and postmodernism, yet there has been no attempt to compare these theories and their sources according to a common criterion or logical form. This author argues that while these pioneering, imaginative and exciting theoretical works are disparate, they also share a common thread that seeks to express emancipatory goals for international relations. This book provides an in-depth critical study of this genre of theorizing that he names 'Emancipatory International Relations'. Spegele develops a framework to help the reader understand both the differences and commonalities in modernist and postmodernist emancipatory thinking in International Relations. He critically analyzes modernist theories, discourses, narratives and postmodernist theory and practice, feminist emancipatory discourses and postmodernist international discourse and concludes by examining the coherence, viability and plausibility of emancipatory discourses in international relations whether modernist or postmodernist. This challenging and innovative volume will be of interest to students and researchers of international relations.