Rhetoric of Inquiry in International Relations

<p>This book argues that our current lack of recognising and understanding the different forms meta-theorising takes hampers the ways in which fruitful engagement between meta-theories can be conducted. </p><p>It proposes a radical break with the ways in which meta-theorising in International Relations (IR) has so far been understood, and instead suggests a dyadic approach: a rhetoric of inquiry that investigates the diverging forms of argumentation currently present in IR meta-theorising and a conversational ethic that can help steer meta-theoretical engagements across existing divides in more productive ways. The central questions are as follows: where meta-theorising should go from here in order to contribute to the analysis of an ever more complex world? Can we develop ways that allow the practice of meta-theorising to channel and consolidate the multiplicity of its debates and contentions to strengthen our understanding of world politics, and if so, how?</p><p>It will be of general interest in all theory and methodology courses offered at undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as to academics working in the area of meta-theory, international political thought, normative theory as well as IR theory in its various manifestations.</p> <p>Introduction Chapter 1 – Three Images of Meta-Theory in International Relations: Reflexive Engagement, Scholasticism, and Paradigmatism Chapter 2 – The Rhetoric of Inquiry: On the Relation Between Form and Content in IR Meta-Theory Chapter 3 – Logics of Argumentation: Monism, Pluralism, Displacement and Diversity Chapter 4 – Styles of Argumentation: Dogmatism, Pragmatics, Deconstruction and Hermeneutics Chapter 5 – Meta-Theorising and Competing Conceptions Of ‘The Real’ Chapter 6 – understanding and the ethos of conversation Conclusion</p>