Cross-paradigmatic Contexts of the International Relations Theory: Instrumentalization of the “Democratic Peace” Theory for the Needs of Political Realism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/mhpi2022.46.101-108Keywords:
theory of International Relations, paradigm, realism, idealism, concept, power, democratic peace, deterrence theoryAbstract
Attempts to deconstruct or to “revise” numerous concepts and theories of the International Relations (IR) theory are seen as useful for examination of dominant ideas that no longer provide an acceptable explanation for international processes and phenomena. Hence, the purpose of this article is to demonstrate the possibilities of operationalization of concepts and theories in the study of IR in cross-paradigm context by taking into account the performative effects of power that they make. Despite the existence of a certain “core” of a concept, which is not subject to change due to the interaction with certain objective reality, its socio-contextual and discursive superstructure serves to different performative purposes. The latter can be both quite obvious and latent, but in both cases their achievement is a function of power. We consider this aspect using two theories: the theory of democratic peace and the theory of deterrence, which are parts of competing paradigms - idealism and realism, respectively. Modern research of deterring in IR inspires to recheck not only the theory of democratic peace regarding its actuality and basic assumptions, but also to exam the cumulative effect of interaction of democracies in the context of resource mobilization, which can be used as realistic power politics. We argue, that democratic states are able to use all the power they have, as far the joint actions are convincingly proving their effectiveness nowadays. It is precisely the effect of power - the exercise of (collective) power and containment politics derived from it - that makes the theory of democratic peace useful for realistic point of view. Therefore, there are not only discrete concepts, as “democratic peace” or “deterrence”, but also theoretical constructions, integrated in those concepts, which can function in cross-paradigm contexts of the theory of IR.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Rostyslav Romaniuk, Nataliya Romaniuk
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