INS 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Post-Structuralism, Critical Theory, Postcolonialism

• School: University of Miami
• Department: International Studies
• Course: INS 101
• Professor: Dr.Twichell

Document Summary

9 and additional readings questions [hw-9 due on nov. 9th (do not print): identify and de ne the major post-positivist approaches. Post-positivist approaches" is an umbrella term for three strands of contemporary ir perspectives that study of issues of international relations. Three different strands are discussed: (1) post-structuralism; reject the empiricism of positivism; empiricism is the view that science is based merely on observation of facts. Objective" observation is not possible. for post-structuralists, empirical observation requires previous ideas about what to observe and how to go about it, as emphasized by steve smith (1996). The post-structuralist critique follows that there are no world politics or global economics that operate in accordance with immutable social scienti c laws. Post-structuralists are also critical theorists (critical of existing power structures). Post-structuralism is focused on language and discourse; it adopts a critical attitude towards established approaches in that it highlights the ways in which these theories represent and discuss the world.