[Studyguide for Agents, Structures and International Relations: Politics as Ontology by Wight, Colin, ISBN 9780521857529] (By: Cram101 Textbook Reviews) [published: April, 2011]

The agent-structure problem is a much discussed issue in the field of international relations. In his comprehensive 2006 analysis of this problem, Colin Wight deconstructs the accounts of structure and agency embedded within differing IR theories and, on the basis of this analysis, explores the implications of ontology - the metaphysical study of existence and reality. Wight argues that there are many gaps in IR theory that can only be understood by focusing on the ontological differences that construct the theoretical landscape. By integrating the treatment of the agent-structure problem in IR theory with that in social theory, Wight makes a positive contribution to the problem as an issue of concern to the wider human sciences. At the most fundamental level politics is concerned with competing visions of how the world is and how it should be, thus politics is ontology. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Figures......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Introduction......Page 15 The plan of the book......Page 22 1 IR: a science without positivism?......Page 28 Positivism......Page 29 The approach to philosophy......Page 37 Ontological realism......Page 40 Epistemological relativism and judgemental rationalism......Page 51 From science to social science......Page 59 Social knowledge and the limits of naturalism......Page 65 2 The agent–structure problem: from social theory to IR theory......Page 76 Warring gods: Weber versus Durkheim......Page 78 Analysing IR phenomena: individual choices or structural forces?......Page 86 3 The agent–structure problem in IR theory: preliminary issues......Page 104 Waltz: reductionist or not?......Page 105 Explaining social outcomes: agents or structures and modes of analysis......Page 113 The agent–structure, levels-of-analysis and macro–micro problem(s): one or many problems?......Page 116 4 Structure......Page 135 Structure: two traditions and five models......Page 137 Structure as patterns of aggregate behaviour that are stable over time......Page 141 Structure as law-like regularities that govern the behaviour of social facts......Page 143 Structure as relations of difference that constitute and define the properties of elements......Page 145 Structure as rules and resources......Page 151 Structure as intersubjectively negotiated meanings......Page 169 Structure as social relations......Page 177 Structure: some final comments......Page 188 5 Agency......Page 191 Agential stories......Page 194 Social action......Page 213 Rethinking agency......Page 219 Rethinking state agency......Page 229 6 The agent–structure problem: epistemology......Page 240 Epistemology......Page 245 The agent–structure debate: the epistemological thicket......Page 257 7 The agent–structure problem: methodology......Page 269 Methodology......Page 271 Linking social methodology to social ontology......Page 275 Social causation as an ontologically grounded methodological problem......Page 286 Methodology and the agent–structure relationship......Page 293 8 Conclusion......Page 304 References......Page 314 Index......Page 344 CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS......Page 355 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 5 Title 7 Copyright 8 Dedication 9 Contents 11 Figures 12 Acknowledgements 13 Introduction 15 The plan of the book 22 1 IR: a science without positivism? 28 Positivism 29 Scientific realism 37 The approach to philosophy 37 Ontological realism 40 Epistemological relativism and judgemental rationalism 51 From science to social science 59 Social knowledge and the limits of naturalism 65 2 The agent–structure problem: from social theory to IR theory 76 Warring gods: Weber versus Durkheim 78 Analysing IR phenomena: individual choices or structural forces? 86 3 The agent–structure problem in IR theory: preliminary issues 104 Waltz: reductionist or not? 105 Explaining social outcomes: agents or structures and modes of analysis 113 The agent–structure, levels-of-analysis and macro–micro problem(s): one or many problems? 116 4 Structure 135 Structure: two traditions and five models 137 Structure as patterns of aggregate behaviour that are stable over time 141 Structure as law-like regularities that govern the behaviour of social facts 143 Structure as relations of difference that constitute and define the properties of elements 145 Structure as rules and resources 151 Structure as intersubjectively negotiated meanings 169 Structure as social relations 177 Structure: some final comments 188 5 Agency 191 Agential stories 194 Social action 213 Rethinking agency 219 Rethinking state agency 229 6 The agent–structure problem: epistemology 240 Epistemology 245 The agent–structure debate: the epistemological thicket 257 7 The agent–structure problem: methodology 269 Methodology 271 Linking social methodology to social ontology 275 Social causation as an ontologically grounded methodological problem 286 Methodology and the agent–structure relationship 293 8 Conclusion 304 References 314 Index 344 CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 355 Wight analyses the agent-structure problem and argues there are many gaps in IR theory that can only be understood through ontology - the metaphysical study of existence and reality. He integrates international relations theory with social theory, stressing the problem is an issue of concern to the wider human sciences At the most fundamental level politics is concerned with competing visions of how the world is and how it should be; thus politics is ontology."--Jacket