‘Theorising the international relations of Asia: necessity or indulgence?’ Some reflections.

The study of international relations in or of Asia is no longer atheoretical, as was the case only three decades ago, when the Pacific Review was founded. But how serious are the efforts to study the international relations of Asia theoretically? Some Western scholars argue that writings on Asian In...

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Published in:Pacific Review Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 816 - 829
Main Author: Acharya, Amitav
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Nov2017
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        10.1080/09512748.2017.1318163
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        atl: ‘Theorising the international relations of Asia: necessity or indulgence?’ Some reflections.
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        au: Acharya, Amitav
        affil: School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC, USA
      su:
        International relations theory
        Diplomatic history
        History of liberalism
        Realism
        Social constructionism
        History
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          International relations theory
          Diplomatic history
          History of liberalism
          Realism
          Social constructionism
          History
      keyword:
        ASEAN
        Asian regionalism
        Chinese school of IR
        global international relations
        global IR
      ab: The study of international relations in or of Asia is no longer atheoretical, as was the case only three decades ago, when the Pacific Review was founded. But how serious are the efforts to study the international relations of Asia theoretically? Some Western scholars argue that writings on Asian International Relations (IR) are still peripheral to the major concerns and debates among IR theories such as realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The ‘indigenization’ of Asian IR theory remains limited by, among other factors, a tendency among local scholars to rely heavily on Western theories, and the close academia-officialdom nexus in the region that inhibits theoretical work. But this essay argues that Asia offers an opportunity to IR theory for broadening itself and shed its hitherto Westerncentrism, especially at a time of a ‘global’ turn in IR (global IR). Theoretical writings on Asian IR are already making a difference by exposing the limitations of mainstream IR theories in the regional context. And they have the potential to offer new and alternative concepts that are more contextually grounded and relevant for Global IR. At the same time, there remain some important conditions that must be met before theoretical writings on Asian IR can make further progress and realize their full potential.
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    language: English
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