Payne (2007) Neorealists as Critical Theorists: The Purpose of Foreign Policy Debate

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Neorealists as Critical Theorists: The Purpose of Foreign Policy Debate

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Author:

Payne, Rodger A. (University of Louisville)

JOURNAL:

Perspectives on Politics, 5(3), 503 - 514.

YEAR:

2007

PUB TYPE:

Journal Article

SUBJECT(S):

International relations theory, critical theory, communicative action, Habermas, neorealism

DISCIPLINE:

Political Science

HTTP:

LANGUAGE:

English

PUB ID:

103-437-151 (Last edited on 2008/01/15 13:09:18 US/Mountain)

SPONSOR(S):

ABSTRACT:
The international relations field has recently taken a communicative turn. Social constructivists, for instance, regularly examine frames, persuasion, and other discursive mechanisms by which actors reach intersubjective agreement. Critical theorists add an overtly normative dimension by embracing the transformative potential of public deliberation. In contrast, realists and neorealists claim that outcomes are determined by the distribution of material power—political communication and discursive ideals are virtually meaningless elements in international politics. Put simply, talk is cheap. Given this view, it is puzzling that many prominent realists participate actively in national foreign policy debates and in that context both implicitly and explicitly embrace views about political discourse that are remarkably consistent with those held by constructivists and critical theorists. In the recent Iraq debate, the realists reveal lies, political spin, and other distortions of the debate promulgated by government elites and their allies. They challenge the legitimacy of established policies and critique excessive secrecy. Most importantly, these neorealists seek to transform public and elite consciousness so as to produce social pressures for alternative outcomes. Realists have apparently rejected their own theoretical presuppositions about the meaning and role of political communication, which has important implications for both policy debate and IR theorizing.

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