Solomon M. Scott - Fifty key thinkers in international relations

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Since the publication of the first edition of Fifty Key Thinkers in International Relations, the field of international relations has undergone significant transformation. Constructivism, for instance, which was not listed as a section in the first edition, is now a fairly well established paradigm in international relations. In addition, feminism has continued to emerge as a prominent radical approach in international relations, as has postmodernism and critical theory (in the Frankfurt School tradition). Aside from these changes within the discipline, outside events have dramatically reshaped the international landscape and, in the process, inspired and encouraged international relations scholars and practitioners to rethink the issues and problems. This second edition is an attempt to showcase some of the key thinkers who have, or continue to, shed new theoretical and empirical light on international events of the past 10 years (the Kosovo War, the 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror) and on new trends within the discipline. In doing so, it treats the field of international relations theory as an engaged, yet pluralist study of the struggles for power in the international realm. However, it recognizes that international relations is a field in search of a reflexive, overarching paradigm, even a pluralist rigour that would frame the contributions of many different, competing approaches. As this apparent crisis in the discipline suggests, there are many new challengers to the existing conventional paradigms, with no one thinker standing out from the others. This second edition also reflects the need to incorporate the increasing influence of new thinkers and their attendant ideas and key theoretical approaches. Accordingly, we have added the following new sections to reflect the recent methodological developments in the field: Constructivism, the English School, and International Political Theory/International Ethics. We have also moved Theories of International Society, which appeared in the first edition, to the English School, and deleted International Organization and Theories of the Nation to make room for the three new sections. In all, we have added 14 new thinkers.

Like the first edition, this second edition seeks to capture the complexity and allure of international relations through the lenses of its most influential thinkers. There will always be some thinkers deserving some special recognition. But whether one agrees with David Helds or Andrew Linklaters cosmopolitan ethics, it is important to recognize the wide-ranging influence of their cosmopolitan models. In the same way, Alexander Wendts social theory of international politics has significantly influenced our thinking about the relationship between state power and socialization. One might also add to this list the political theorists who continue to remain important sources of thinking about the ethics and moral principles of the international system, including John Rawls and Jrgen Habermas. In formulating the criteria below, we have sought to dampen much of the controversy. Our criteria are based on two very open-ended, general questions: Which thinkers have introduced and formulated new and sustainable insights into international relations? And how have these insights generated new niches and models for constructing knowledge of international relations? In time, these questions ultimately gave way to four key criteria for selecting a key thinker: (1) depth, (2) novelty, (3) applicability and (4) imagination.