Devaluing diplomacy? : a critique of Alexander Wendt's conception of progress and politics

Sárváry, Katalin (author)

The article offers a critique of Wendt's conception of progress in history. It argues that Wendt arrives at his conception of historical progress from his meta-theory and his progressive view of science. For those not accepting Wendt's mera-theory, interpretation of historical progress is less convincing. Wendt's conception of progress leads to a devaluation of diplomacy for it prevents us seeing that only successful diplomacy can make change appear progressive, fostering a reading of the past through the lenses of political legitimacy. If the existing conception of political legitimacy makes it difficult for us to read our own past without prejudice, diplomacy across cultures is all the more difficult. The conclusion is that a thicker constructivism is more helpful in helping communication across cultures which, however, leads to a more limited conception of progress.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Alexander Wendt, diplomacy, constructivism, legitimacy, power ideas, progress in politics, progress in science
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2001
• Number of pages: Str. 380-402, 438, 441
• Numbering: Vol. 4, no. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135787
• UDC: 327
• ISSN on article: 1408-6980
• COBISS.SI-ID: 117061632
• 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: Razvrednotenje diplomacije?

Abstract

Članek je kritika Wendtovega pojmovanja napredka v zgodovini. Trdi, da Wendt pojmovanje zgodovinskega napredka uvaja na podlagi svoje metateorije in progresivističnega videnja znanosti. Za tiste, ki Wendtove metateorije ne sprejemajo, je razumevanje zgodovine kot napredka manj prepričljivo. Njegovo pojmovanje napredka tako na primer vodi k razvrednotenju diplomacije, saj nam onemogoča videti, da le uspešna diplomacija vodi k občutenju sprememb kot progresivnih, in tako spodbuja tolmačenje preteklosti skozi prizmo politične legitimnosti. Če nam pojmovanje diplomacije otežuje, da bi že lastno preteklost razlagali brez predsodkov, potem je vodenje čezkulturne diplomacije še toliko težje. Avtorica sklepa, da nam t. i. poglobljeni konstruktivizem olajša komuniciranje med kulturami, toda po drugi strani vodi do bolj omejenega pojmovanja napredka.

• Keywords: Alexander Wendt, diplomacija, konstruktivizem, legitimnost, moč idej, politični razvoj, znanstveni razvoj