Theories of
International Relations and
European Integration.
An introductory summary.
Lebenslauf – Kurzfassung
Reinhard Meyers, Jahrgang 1947, studierte
Politikwissenschaft, Anglistik, und Geschichte an der
Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität 1966 – 1970 mit
dem Abschluß Magister Artium. Forschungsstipendiat der
Wiener Library, London, an der Graduate School of
Contemporary European Studies, University of Reading
1970 – 1972 mit dem Abschluß Master of Philosophy.
Wissenschaftlicher Assistent bei Hans-Adolf Jacobsen und KarlDietrich Bracher am Seminar für Politikwissenschaft der
Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität 1972 – 1984. Promotion
zum Dr.phil. 1974; Habilitation im Fach Politikwissenschaft 1986;
seit 1987 Professor für Internationale Politik und Außenpolitik an der
Westfälischen Wilhelms - Universität.
Die Forschungsinteressen galten ursprünglich der
Geschichte der internationalen Beziehungen und der
Sicherheitspolitik im 20. Jahrhundert; daneben trat aber
schon vor der Habilitation die Wissenschaftsgeschichte
der Lehre von den Internationalen Beziehungen sowie
deren Epistemologie, Methodologie und Theorie. Seit
den achtziger Jahren wird dieser Schwerpunkt ergänzt
durch Arbeiten zur Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, seit
den neunziger Jahren auch zur Europapolitik.
Seit 1991 mehrfach Prodekan und Dekan des Fachbereichs Sozialwissenschaften der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität; 1996 – 2008
Programmbeauftragter für die internationalen Doppeldiplomstudiengänge
mit dem IEP Lille, der BBU Klausenburg (RO) und der Universiteit Twente
(NL), seit Oktober 1997 Ehrendoktor der Fakultät für Europastudien der
Babes-Bolyai Universität Klausenburg und seit Mai 2007 der Universität
Novi Sad; Mitgründer und seit 1993 Mitherausgeber der Zeitschrift für
Internationale Beziehungen.
Hobbies: Industriearchäologie des Transportwesens, italienische Küche
My email address:
• meyersr@uni-muenster.de
…whatever you do – don‘t forget the little r behind the
meyers – otherwise you‘ll end up with Silke Meyer‘s
email account (and she is often in London)
• Homepage:
• http://reinhardmeyers.unimuenster.de
Contents:
1) What are and why do we deal with
theories?
2) Grand Theories and Theoretical
Debates in International Relations
and European Integration - a birds‘
eye view
3) Consequences of different international and integration theories:
differences of scientific world views
Times & Places
• Mondays 14.00 – 17.00, starting
Monday April 12, 2010
• Room 103, Scharnhorststrasse 100
(main building, 1st floor)
• Course number WWU 065660
Subjects and Dates
Monday, April 12, 2010:
Introductory Hints, Semester Subjects, Credit
Requirements, Required and Recommended Reading,
How to Write your Seminar Paper
Set Semester Texts:
Antje Wiener(Thomas Diez (eds.): European Integration Theory. 2nd ed.
Oxford: Oxford University Press 2009
Tim Dunne/Milja Kurki/Steve Smith (eds.): International Relations
Theories. Discipline and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford
University Press 2010
Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater et al.: Theories of International
Relations. 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave – Macmillan 2009
Useful websites
• Dunne/Kurki/Smith 2nd ed.:
• http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199298334/
• with downloadable chapters on Structural Realism and Green
Theory
• Wiener/Diez 2nd ed.:
• http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199226092.do?keywor
d=European+Integration+Theory&sortby=bestMatches
• Burchill et al.:
• http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=309515
• with downloadable introduction
Subjects & Dates (2)
Monday, April 19, 2010
• Concepts and Functions of „Theory“: can there be
theory-free knowledge ?
• Set Reading:
• R.Meyers: The role of theory in the study of international
politics – PDF file supplied on my website
• R.Meyers: Contemporary developments in international
relations theory – PDF file supplied on my website
• Highly recommended: Milja Kurki/Colin Wight: International
Relations and Social Science, Ch. 1 in Dunne/Kurki/Smith
Subjects and Dates (3)
Monday, April 26, 2010
• A traditional look at the development of IR theory –
paradigmatic revolution, paradigmatic coexistence,
or just a succession of debates ?
• Set text: article on Thomas Kuhn in: Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/
Subjects & Dates (4)
Monday, May 3, 2010
• Different World Views of IR – A scientific ontology case study: The first Great Debate between Idealism
and Realism
• Recommended Reading:
• Jack Donnelly, Realism, Scott Burchill, Liberalism, both in
Burchill et.al, op.cit.
• Richard N. Lebow, Classical Realism, Bruce Russett,
Liberalism, both in Dunne/Kurki/Smith, op.cit.
• L.M.Ashworth: Did the Realist-Idealist Great Debate Really
Happen? a Revisionist History of International Relations – PDF
supplied
Subjects & Dates(5)
Monday, May 10, 2010
•
Different Methodologies of IR – A Scientific
Epistemology – Case Study: The second Great
Debate between Traditionalism and Scientism
•
•
Recommended Reading:
Morton A.Kaplan: The New Great Debate. Traditionalism vs.
Science in International Relations – PDF supplied
Friedrich Kratochwil: History, Action, and Identity… PDF
supplied
Article on „Behaviorism“ in Stanford Encyclopedia… at
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/
•
•
Subjects and Dates (6)
Monday, May 17, 2010
• From the Third to the Nth Debate in IR Theory – let
1000 flowers bloom – or more of the same?
• Recommended Reading:
• Peter M.E. Volten and Arjan van de Assem: Transcending
Paradigm Bashing: Realism and Idealism in International
Politics – PDF supplied
• Richard Little: The English School‘s Contribution to the Study
of International Relations – PDF supplied
• Tim Dunne,: The English School, in Dunne/Kurki/Smith, op.cit.
• Andrew Linklater: The English School, in: Burchill et al., op.cit.
Subjects and Dates (7)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Whitsun Holiday – no seminar
Monday, May 31, 2010
Grand Oral at Lille – no seminar
Monday, June 7, 2010
• Cooperation and Integration Theories: Functional
Necessities versus the Shadow of the Future – or
back to the Realist/Idealist Roots ?
• Recommended Reading: Wiener/Diez, op.cit., ch. 1
• Further material supplied as PDF
Subjects & Dates (8)
Monday, June 14, 2010
• Classical approaches to European integration:
Functionalism, Federalism, Neofunctionalism
• Recommended Reading:
• Articles by Michael Burgess on Federalism, Niemann/Schmitter
on Neofunctionalism in Wiener/Diez, op.cit.
Monday, June 21, 2010
• Governance and Policy Network Approaches to
European integration: brilliant analysis, predictive
deficit ?
• Recommended Reading:
• Articles by Peters/Pierre on Governance Approaches, and
Peterson on Policy Networks, in Wiener/Diez, op.cit.
Subjects & Dates (9)
Monday, June 28, 2010
• Social Constructivism in IR and Integration Theory:
How can we know what we mean to know ?
• Recommended Reading:
• K.M.Fierke: Constructivism, in Dunne/Kurki/Smith op.cit.
• Thomas Risse: Social Constructivism and European
Integration, in Wiener/Diez, op.cit.
• Stefano Guzzini: A Reconstruction of Constructivism in
International Relations – PDF supplied
Subjects & Dates (10)
Monday, July 5, 2010
• The fairer sex in theory – gender approaches in IR
and integration studies
•
•
•
•
Recommended reading:
J.A.Tickner/L.Sjoberg, Feminism, in Dunne/Kurki/Smith op.cit.
J.True, Feminism, in Burchill et al, op.cit.
B.Locher/E.Prügl: Gender and European Integration, in
Wiener/Diez, op.cit.
Subjects & Dates (11)
Monday, July 12, 2010
• The normative and constitutional turn in IR and
integration theory – back to the roots of Political
Studies ?
• Recommended reading:
• T. Erskine: Normative IR Theory, in Dunne/Kurki/Smith, op.cit.
• R. Bellami/C. Attucci: Normative Theory and the EU: Between
Contract and Community, in: Wiener/Diez op.cit.
• Cf.ibid. Wiener‘s and Diez‘s last chapter
Subjects & Dates (12)
Monday, July 19, 2010
• Recently neglected approaches in IR and integration
theory – a new outlook for a critical future ?
• Recommended reading:
• M. Rupert, Marxism and Critical Theory, in Dunne/Kurki/Smith,
op.cit.
• A. Linklater, Marx and Marxism, in Scott Burchill et al., op.cit.
• A. W. Cafruny/M. Ryner, Critical Political Economy, in
Wiener/Diez, op.cit.
Biblíography of Works to be
Reviewed – SS 2010:
 choose one, analyse the main premisses,
arguments, and conclusions of the work chosen,
inform yourself about the author, his other main
works, his reception in the field, and the effect his
writings had on the study of International Relations

Kenneth W. Thompson (ed.): Masters of
International Thought. Major Twentieth-Century
Theorists and the World Crisis. Baton Rouge:
Louisiana State UP 1980

Iver B.Neumann/Ole Waever (eds.): The Future of
International Relations. Masters in the Making ?
London: Routledge 1997
Classical Authors of International Relations
• Raymond Aron: Frieden und Krieg. Eine Theorie der
Staatenwelt. Frankfurt/Main: S. Fischer 1963 [or the French
edition: Paix et Guerre entre les nations. Paris : Calmann-Lévy
1962]
• Hedley Bull: The Anarchical Society. A Study of Order in World
Politics. 3. Aufl.Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan 2002
• Edward Hallett Carr: The Twenty Years’ Crisis 1919 – 1939. An
Introduction to the Study of International Relations. 2.Aufl.
London: Macmillan 1974
• Barry Buzan/Richard Little: International Systems in World
History. Remaking the Study of International Relations. Oxford:
Oxford University Press 2000
• F.H.Hinsley: Power and the Pursuit of Peace. Theory and
Practice in the History of Relations between States. Cambridge:
Cambridge U.P. 1967
• Stanley Hoffmann: Janus and Minerva. Essays in the Theory
and Practice of International Politics. Boulder & London:
Westview Press 1987
• Hans J. Morgenthau: Politics Among Nations. New York: Alfred
A.Knopf 1960
Classical Authors of I.R. (2)
• Edward L. Morse: Modernization and the Transformation of
International Relations. New York: Free Press 1976
• Kenneth N. Waltz: Man, the state and war. A theoretical
analysis. New York: Columbia UP 1959
• Adam Watson: The Evolution of International Society. A
comparative historical analysis. London: Routledge 1992
• Martin Wight: International Theory. The three traditions, ed.
Gabriele Wight & Brian Porter. Leicester: Leicester U.P. 1991
• Quincy Wright: The Study of International Relations. New York:
Appleton-Century Crofts 1955
•
* * *
• David A.Baldwin (ed.): Theories of International Relations.
Farnham,Surrey: Ashgate 2008
Introductions, Overviews and Critiques of IR
Theory
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
John Baylis/Steve Smith (eds.): The Globalization of World Politics.
An Introduction to International Relations. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford UP
2008 [Please buy/use ONLY the FOURTH EDITION !]
Scott Burchill/Andrew Linklater (eds.): Theories of International
Relations. Basingstoke: 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave/Macmillan
2009
Tim Dunne/Milja Kurki/Steve Smith (eds.): International Relations
Theories. Discipline and Diversity. Oxford: Oxford University Press
2nd.2010
James E.Dougherty/Robert L.Pfaltzgraff, Jr.: Contending Theories of
International Relations. A comprehensive survey. 5th ed. New York:
Longman 2001
Jim George: Discourses of Global Politics: A critical (re)introduction to
International Relations. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publ. 1994
Martin Hollis/Steve Smith: Explaining and Understanding International
Relations. Oxford: Clarendon Press 1990
Robert Jackson/Georg Sorensen: Introduction to International
Relations. Theories and approaches. 3.Aufl. Oxford: Oxford University
Press 2007 RECOMMENDED TEXT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Charles W.Kegley, Jr. (ed.): Controversies in International Relations
Theory. Realism and the Neoliberal Challenge. New York: St. Martin’s
Press 1996
Introductions, Overviews and Critiques of IR
Theory (2)
• Gert Krell: Weltbilder und Weltordnung. Einführung in die
Theorie der internationalen Beziehungen. 4.Aufl. Baden-Baden:
Nomos 2009
• Siegfried Schieder/Manuela Spindler (eds.): Theorien der
Internationalen Beziehungen. 2. überarb. Aufl. Opladen: Leske
& Budrich 2006
• Steve Smith/Ken Booth/Marysia Zalewski (eds.): International
theory: Positivism and beyond. Cambridge: Cambridge U.P.
1996
• Jennifer Sterling-Folker (ed.): Making Sense of International
Relations Theory. Boulder & London: Lienne Rienner 2006
RECOMMENDED TEXT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
• John A. Vasquez: The Power of Power Politics. From Classical
Realism to Neotraditionalism. Cambridge: Cambridge U.P. 1998
• Cynthia Weber: International Relations Theory. A critical
Introduction. London: Routledge 2001
• Ngaire Woods (ed.): Explaining International Relations Since
1945. Oxford: Oxford U.P. 1996
Introductions to and Overviews of Integration
Theories
• Ben Rosamond: Theories of European Integration.
Basingstoke: Macmillan 2000
• Antje Wiener/Thomas Diez: European Integration Theory. Repr.
Oxford: OUP 2005, 2nd ed. Oxford 2009
• Hans-Jürgen Bieling/Marika Lerch (eds.): Theorien der
europäischen Integration. 2. Aufl. Wiesbaden, VS-Verlag 2006
• Katharina Holzinger et al.: Die Europäische Union. Theorien
und Analysekonzepte. Paderborn: Schöningh/UTB 2005
• Andreas Grimmel/Cord Jakobeit (eds.): Politische Theorien der
Europäischen Integration. Ein Text- und Lehrbuch. Wiesbaden:
VS-Verlag 2009
• Other works recommended for occasional reading/browsing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Michael Banks (ed.): Conflict in World Society. A new perspective on international
relations. Brighton: Wheatsheaf 1984
Tim Dunne/Michael Cox/Ken Booth (eds.): The Eighty Years’ Crisis. International
Relations 1919 – 1999. Cambridge: Cambridge UP 1998
A.J.R. Groom/Margot Light (eds.): Contemporary International Relations. A Guide to
Theory. London: Pinter 1994
Margot Light/A.J.R. Groom (eds.): International Relations. A Handbook of Current
Theory. London: Pinter 1985
Andrew Linklater: Beyond Realism and Marxism. Critical Theory and International
Relations. Basingstoke: Macmillan 1990
Ulrich Menzel/Katharina Varga: Theorie und Geschichte der Lehre von den
Internationalen Beziehungen. Einführung und systematische Bibliographie. Hamburg:
Deutsches Übersee-Institut 1999
Reinhard Meyers: Die Lehre von den Internationalen Beziehungen. Ein
entwicklungsgeschichtlicher Überblick. 2.Aufl. Königstein/Ts. 1981
Mark Neufeld: The Restructuring of International Relations Theory. Cambridge:
Cambridge UP 1995
William C. Olson/A.J.R. Groom: International Relations Then And Now. Origins and
Trends in Interpretation. London: HarperCollinsAcademic 1991
Trevor Taylor (ed.): Approaches and Theory in International Relations. London:
Longman 1978
Thanx for today