The Great Debates and their Impact on the Discipline of International Relations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 1-2024

Abstract

The discipline of International Relations has developed over a number of theoretical debates among the different paradigms and schools of thought in the field. These debates have reflected contending perceptions to the main philosophical and methodological questions within the field, including the nature of the international environment, the units of analysis, and the research methods. In this respect, this study seeks to critically analyze the most important debates that have emerged in the field of International Relations under the name of the ‘Great Debates’, and assess their implications for the development of International Relations as a theoretical discipline. The study begins by identifying the Great Debates in International Relations; it then examines the historical context for the rise of these debates; analyzes the core contending issues pertaining to each debate; and, finally, assesses the overall impact of these debates on the evolution of the discipline.

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