Postmodernism and IR Theory

Abstract

IR Theory underwent tremendous contestation within itself since the end of the Cold War. Divergent voices from several theoretical vantage points began to register their strong presence in one of the most fertile areas of social inquiry. Under the influence of Post positivism conventional understanding of IR Theory dominated by Realism and Neorealism and Idealism and Neo liberal Institutionalism has undergone serious disciplinary scrutiny. Critical Theory, Postmodernism, Constructivism, Feminism, Postcolonialism and Environmentalism completely and radically transformed the agenda of IR Theory. This short essay is a modest attempt to explore the role Postmodernism played in the transformation of the theoretical understanding of IR. Before addressing the main issue at hand, it is in order to mention the main tenets of Positivist Philosophy which has left formative influence on the nature of human/cultural/social sciences at least since the Enlightenment against the background of which Postmodernism not only asserted itself after the Second World War but also designed its agenda to be implemented in the theoretical lore of human sciences in general and IR Theory in particular. Let me begin with the definition of Positivism.