Abstract
This book critically assesses the role of normative theory in the study of international relations, and as an initial premise, it characterises this role as a central one: the attendance to essential questions of values. How and why it plays a central role, and what this role amounts to, are the questions this book seeks to answer. Values are considered in juxtaposition to interests or facts, although their intimate relationship is an important issue, and the importance is twofold: distinguishing values brings this latter variable into focus, but has also permitted its marginalisation in the study of international relations. The argument develops amidst conflicting attitudes to norms, since what is largely a philosophical sociology of international relations, exposing underlying theoretical assumptions and claims, is at some points an applied sociology of international relations indicating agreed norms in practice (such as inform the idea of ‘international society’) which inevitably imposes some limitations on the philosophical sociology because of the relation between theory and practice. Therefore, the use of the term ‘normative’ here does not mean simply ‘prescriptive’, but is used more generally to mean ‘of or having to do with norms’.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
Chandran Kukathas and Philip Pettit, Rawls: A Theory of Justice and its Critics ( Cambridge: Polity Press, 1990 ), pp. 1–2.
Seyla Benhabib, Critique, Norm, and Utopia: A Study of the Foundations of Critical Theory ( New York: Columbia University Press, 1986 ), p. 5.
See, Jerzy Wróblewski, ‘Cognition of Norms and Cognition Through Norms’, in di Bernardo (ed), Normative Structures of the Social World (Amsterdam: Editions Rodopi, 1988), especially p. 244.
Mervyn Frost, Towards a Normative Theory of International Relations ( Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986 ), p. 2.
Chris Brown, International Relations Theory: New Normative Approaches ( London: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992 ), p. 3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1997 Hugh C. Dyer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dyer, H.C. (1997). Introduction. In: Moral Order/World Order. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230376625_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230376625_1
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-40101-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-37662-5
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)