International Relations. A self-Study Guide to Theory

cial and political relevance for societies and the thesis that this relevance has 
historically been a driving force for theoretical reflections about international 
relations. I would like to conclude this learning unit on world views and the 
idea of science by taking up this core argument once again. The common back-
ground that unites the different strands of the current debates on the need of a 
new world view is the devastating condition of our environment, the deep cri-
ses of economics, finances, and legitimation, the tremendous social dislocations 
in our societies, and the deadlocks in almost all areas of international politics 
that require true and genuine cooperative solutions for the sake of humankind. 
This need for cooperation holds true not only for international environmental 
politics, but also for North-South relations and developmental policy, food and 
agricultural policy, and many other areas. There is an increasing awareness that 
social, political, economic action requires rethinking and constructing political 
and economic systems based on something other than the individualist rivalry 
and competition which has such devastating consequences for our natural liv-
ing conditions. For those who promote such a reevaluation and rethinking, no 
less is at stake than the future of the planet and of mankind (see for example the 

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excellent contributions of scientists in the volume of Hüther/Spannbauer 2012). 
In short, this is a debate about the very basics, the fundamental assumptions 
and orders of thought as reflected in our world view. What is the role and posi-
tion of science therein, provided the thesis holds true that a mutual linkage ex-
ists between the way we conduct science and the overarching orders of 
thought? What is the role and position of the academic discipline of Interna-
tional Relations in such a world view? What is the role of our own academic 
work, our own theoretical research? Conceptual and theoretical inquiry is a pre-
requisite for any academic research as well as for the practice of politics. As 
you have learned, all inquiries and all engagement with the “world” begin from 
certain premises. This holds true for science as well. Do we really understand 
the basis of these premises? Are we truly aware of those starting points and 
their implications for the way we do science? 
You are invited to more deeply reflect on the idea of science in IR and on 
the role and status of science in our societies more generally. For advanced 
students of IR who are already familiar with theories of International Rela-
tions, you may engage in this discussion right now by going straight to the 
end of the book, reading the questions and (after having registered) entering 
the discussions in our forum on iversity.
For all those who are not yet familiar with theories of International Rela-
tions, you are invited to learn about a selected range of IR theories first be-
fore joining the discussion. For this purpose, in the next unit we will compile 
core criteria and questions – derived from the philosophy of science discus-
sions in Units 1, 2 and 3 – that facilitate structured learning about particular 
theories of IR. These criteria and questions will also make it easier to com-
pare these theories with regard to the nature of their theoretical constructs and 
their approach to science and theory. 

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Step 3: 
Self-study and consolidation