International relations theory in France

Friedrichs, Jörg (author)

The French International Relations (IR) discipline has for a long time existed at the margins of the Anglo-American mainstream. Most of its contributions are hardly connected with the theoretical debate s that have intrigued, and still intrigue, IR scholars elsewhere. As a narrative device, a more detailed account of the three generations of French IR theory - a theoretical scholarship, social theory and post-theory - is presented. Diplomatic History and International Public Law were the two principal sources of the first generation of IR scholarship, supplemented by geopolitics, strategic studies, war studies and area studies. Since Raymond Aron's work and his influence on the second generation of French IR, the quest for a social theory of international relations has become the most characteristic feature of the French IR community. Moreover, the sociology of international relations can be seen as the specifically French answer to the Anglo-American quest for general theory, developed in new veins by the third generation's contribution to the post-theory of international relations. Thus, after two generations of self-chosen isolation, French IR is finally beginning to become connected to the international debate, although it remains to be seen whether this translates into a new theoretical takeoff.

• Language: English
• Keywords: international relations, theory of international relations, sociology of international relations, France
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2001
• Number of pages: Str. 118-137, 186-187, 189-190
• Numbering: Vol. 4, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135765
• UDC: 327(44)
• ISSN on article: 1408-6980
• COBISS.SI-ID: 20632669
• Publication date in RUL: 30.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of international relations and development
• Shortened title: J. int. relat. & dev.
• Publisher: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre of International Relations
• ISSN: 1408-6980
• COBISS.SI-ID: 76065792

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Teorija mednarodnih odnosov v Franciji

Abstract

Francoska znanstvena disciplina o mednarodnih odnosih je dolgo časa obstajala na obrobju anglo-ameriškega mainstreama. Večino njenih prispevkov je le stežka mogoče povezati s teoretskimi razpravami, ki so in še vzbujajo zanimanje med proučevalci mednarodnih odnosov drugod po svetu. Avtor podrobneje predstavi in analizira tri generacije francoske teorije mednarodnih odnosov: generacije neteoretičnega proučevanja, družbene teorije in 'post-teorije'. Diplomatska zgodovina in mednarodno javno pravo sta bila poleg geopolitike, strateških študij, polemologije in področnih študij glavni izvor proučevanja mednarodnih odnosov v prvi generaciji. Zaradi dela Raymonda Arona in njegovega vpliva na drugo generacijo francoskega proučevanja mednarodnih odnosov je postalo prizadevanje za družbeno teorijo mednarodnih odnosov najbolj prepoznavna značilnost francoske znanstvene skupnosti. Še več, sociologijo mednarodnih odnosov je mogoče razumeti kot specifičen francoski odgovor na anglo-ameriško iskanje splošne teorije. Prispevek tretje generacije proučevanja k 'post-teoriji' mednarodnih odnosov jo je na nove načine le še dodatno razvil. Tako se je po dveh generacijah samoizbrane izolacije francosko proučevanje mednarodnih odnosov končno pričelo vključevati v mednarodno razpravo. Ostaja pa vprašljivo, če bo to vključevanje hkrati privedlo tudi do novega teoretičnega zagona.

• Keywords: mednarodni odnosi, teorija mednarodnih odnosov, sociologija mednarodnih odnosov, Francija