By Ivan Gomez Fernandez
Both Neoliberalism and Neorealism provide a structured macro view of how International Relations work, which is widely accepted. Despite this fact, there are several issues fully recognized by mainstream theories.
However, they are unable to provide a sound argument on how history, sociological issues, postmodern thought, or gender relations influence international relations.
Ever since the 1970s, the rise of Quantum physics and the study of the “micro world” have been at stake. Several scholars coming from diverse schools of thought International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, History, and Law have been trying to construct new models that encapsulate non holistic approaches to IR discipline.
As much as in Quantum physics, social scientists have been rehearsing with micro concepts. In the field of International Relations, the principal concepts put into question have been the concept of nation-state in terms of the unit of analysis vis a vis the deconstruction of the concept itself.
What are the original characteristics that account to determine what a state is in front of what is not? Why and how do nation-states cope differently with given conditions of the interstate system such as sovereignty, self-determination, non interference in domestic affairs? Are power and order categorical or inconclusive? How do elements such as historical, societal, economic, gender, environmental arrangements affect the functioning of the international system?
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International relations theory: looking underneath general approach