Critical Analysis of Post-Structuralism as a Theory of International Relations

Abstract

Post-structuralism introduces philosophical ideas and concepts in order to understand and study world politics. Focusing on high politics, poststructuralists expose the world politics to new knowledge era using the concepts of discourse, deconstruction and inter-textuality. They are of the view that language is set of codes which is essential to make sense of the world. According to the concept of inter-textuality, world is made of texts. Poststructuralists and realists are at the same page on the concept that state has central role in world politics, but both differ as well. This approach also deals with the formulation and understanding of foreign policy.

Keywords: Post-structuralism, Inter-textuality, Discourse, Deconstruction, Plurality