Western IR Theories : analytical patterns

This chapter aims at a brief description of main theoretical paradigms in Western International Relations scholarship. Five dominant theories were selected, namely realism, constructivism, liberalism, the English School (international society theory) and critical theory (Marxism), with short introduction to foreign policy analysis (FPA). In each case, the main assumptions, historical developments and selected particular theories within a given paradigm are discussed in this text. All these paradigms were used as analytical patterns in case studies presented in this volume, and focusing on Asian and African problems of international relations in the 21st century.