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The birth of International Relations as a discipline
Aberystwyth University in Wales opened the first ever International Relations department. This was classed as the birth of the discipline as it was now a recognised discipline. The inspiration to study International Relations as a separate discipline came from the economic collapse, damage and disaster after World War 1. -
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The First Great Debate
The First Great Debate was between the two theoretical schools of Liberalism and Realism.
This was an ontological debate.
The main line of thinking was that of classical diplomacy and balance of power.
Woodrow Wilson was one of the main speakers from the liberalist school.
Edward Hallett Carr was one of the main speakers from the realist School.
Liberals wanted to understand what can be done to avoid war whilst the realists wanted to understand the nature of power politics. -
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The Second Great Debate
The Second Great Debate was between behaviourism and traditionalism.
It was an epistemological debate.
This debate wanted to discover the most appropriate way of pursuing and acquiring knowledge of International Relations. -
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Disciplinary Debate
A scientific turn led to a major disciplinary debate in the 1950's.
Scholars argued that international politics were not susceptible to scientific enquiry. -
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Development of International Relations
There was a rapid development of the study of International Relations. -
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Rise of study of International Interdependence
rise of study of international interdependence -
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The Third Great Debate
The Third Great Debate was between Neorealism and Neoliberalism. This was an ontological debate.
Kenneth N Waltz was a neo-realist. He maintained that theory must abstract from the numerous different forces at work in international
politics.
The main speakers from the neoliberalist approach were Robert O. Keohane, John Burton, Ernst Haas. -
The Fourth Great Debate
The fourth Great Debate was a Post Positive approach.
It was an epistemological debate between constructivism and it's counterparts.
The main theorist from this approach was Alexander Wendt
