Thesis (DPhil))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The post-Cold War era has witnessed a renewed interest in global political transformation and
the possibility of the emergence of a new global order. There are, however, widespread
disagreements within the field of International Relations (IR) about the significance of the
discontinuities of our age, which include the emergence of centres of economic and political
power that erode state autonomy and sovereignty. While some theorists argue that these
changes are largely insignificant, others regard them as potential harbingers of a
fundamentally different future political system. The study of change in IR is thus marked by
considerable confusion and hampered by a number of shortcomings.
One of the main deficiencies in the existing transformnation literature has been the mainstream
approaches' reluctance to concede that the study of change is an unavoidably nonnative
endeavour. Additionally, much work on change has focused on the role that material factors
play in facilitating change, while the role of ideational factors has been disregarded. This has
lead to an incomplete and distorted view of the process of change. Lastly, guidelines by
which one might evaluate and choose between contending approaches to change are sorely
lacking. These issues are addressed in this study by means of an evaluation of the work of
three selected authors (Alexander Wendt, John Ruggie and Robert Cox) whose combined
contributions can assist us in developing a more comprehensive theory of global political
transformnation.
It is contended that, in order for the study of change in IR to progress, scholars need to
recognise the inherently nonnative nature of the undertaking, and be explicit about their
nonnative assumptions. Furthermore, clarity needs to be reached with regard to the
materialism-idealism debate. The argument made is that a middle ground approach, which
aims to transcend the false dichotomy between material and ideational factors, is required. In
fact, it is maintained that not only is a conciliatory approach conducive to progressing the study of change in terms of the materialism-idealism debate, but that such an approach of
theoretical engagement and bridge building will also contribute generally to developing a
more thorough understanding of global change.
Finally, if we want to make progress in IR thinking about change, we need to develop some
criteria to determine which authors can assist us best. Subsequently it is proposed that a
satisfactory approach to the study of change in IR should, at a minimum, fulfil the following
requirements. It should (I) aim to transcend the false dichotomy between materialism and
idealism; (2) be explicit about its nonnative position; (3) limit nonnative visions to what
constitutes viable alternatives global political systems; and (4) identify sources of change and
include a proposed plan.of action of how to achieve nonnative goals. In light of the above
criteria, it is also contended that progressive global political transformation does not, as some
transformative authors suggest, have to entail the demise of the state. It is quite possible that
emancipatory change can take place within the confines of the Westphalian system.
In summary, this study hopes to make some contribution to what is a vastly complex topic that
of change in and of the global political system - by addressing three shortcomings
identified in the existing change literature: the fact that the role of ideas and the nonnative
implications of change have been sorely neglected, and the need for criteria by which one
might choose between contending nonnative projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:In die post-Koue Oorlogera het daar 'n hernieude belangstelling in globale politieke
transformasie en die moontlikheid van die totstandkoming van 'n nuwe globale orde ontstaan.
Daar is egter gewigtige verskille binne die veld van Internasionale Betrekkinge (IB) oor die
belang van huidige veranderings soos die ontstaan van sentra van ekonomiese en politieke
mag, wat state se outonomiteit en soewereiniteit bedreig. Terwyl sommige skrywers beweer
dat hierdie veranderings grootliks onbeduidend is, sien ander hulle as potensiële aanduidings
van 'n fundamenteel nuwe politieke stelsel. Die studie van verandering in IB word dus
gekenmerk deur aansienlike verwarring en word belemmer deur 'n aantal tekortkominge.
Een van die vernaamste gebreke in die bestaande transformasie literatuur is die hoofstroom
benaderings se onwilligheid om toe te staan dat die studie van verandering 'n onvermydelik
normatiewe paoing oor verandering gedoen is op
die rol wat materiële faktore speel in die fasilitering van verandering, terwyl die rol van idees
en norme verontagsaam word. Dit het gelei tot 'n onvolledige en verwronge beeld van die
veranderingsproses. Laastens is riglyne waarvolgens wedywerende benaderings tot
verandering geëvalueer sou kon word, afwesig. Die kwessies word in hierdie studie
aangespreek deur middel van 'n evaluering van die werk van drie geselekteerde outeurs
(Alexander Wendt, John Ruggie en Robert Cox) wie se gesamentlike bydraes 'n beduidende
bydrae kan lewer tot die ontwikkeling van 'n meer omvattende teorie van globale politieke
transformasie.
Daar word beweer dat, ten einde vordering in die studie van verandering te bewerkstellig,
teoretici die inherent normatiewe aard van die poging moet herken, en eksplisiet moet wees
oor hul normatiewe aannames. Verder moet daar duidelikheid bereik word ten opsigte van
die materialisme-idealisme debat. Die argument wat gemaak word is dat 'n middeweg
benadering, wat ten doel stel om die valse digotomie tussen die materiële en die ideële te
oorkom, benodig word. Daar word verder geargumenteer dat so 'n konsilierende benadering
nie net bevorderlik is vir vooruitgang in die studie van verandering in terme van die
materialisme-idealisme debat nie, maar dat 'n benadering wat gegrond is op teoretiese
bemiddeling ook in 'n algemene sin voordelig is vir 'n meer deeglike begrip van globale
verandering. Laastens, indien vooruitgang in huidige denke oor verandering bewerkstellig
wil word, is dit noodsaaklik om kriteria te ontwikkel ten einde te bepaal watter outeurs se
werk as grondslag vir verdere teoretisering moet dien. Op grand hiervan word voorgestel dat
'n bevredigende benadering tot die studie van verandering in IB ten minste aan die volgende
voorwaardes moet voldoen: dit behoort (I) daarna te streef om die valse digotomie tussen
materialisme en idealisme te oorbrug; (2) eksplisiet te wees oor die normatiewe aannames wat
gemaak word; (3) normatiewe visies te beperk tot lewensvatbare alternatiewe globale
politieke stelsels; en (4) bronne van verandering te identifiseer en 'n voorgestelde plan van
aksie in te sluit oao hoe normatiewe doelwitte bereik kan word. In die lig van bogenoemde
kriteria word daar ook geargumenteer dat progressiewe globale politieke transformasie nie,
soos wat sommige transformasie skrywers suggereer, noodwendig die ondergang van die staat
behels nie. Dit is moontlik dat emansiperende verandering binne die beperkings van die
statestelsel kan plaasvind.
Opsommend stel hierdie studie ten doel om 'n bydrae te lewer tot 'n uiters komplekse tema-naamlik
verandering in en van die globale politieke stelsel - deur drie tekortkominge wat in
die bestaande literatuur geïdentifiseer is, aan te spreek: die feit dat die rol van idees en die
normatiewe implikasies van verandering grootliks verwaarloos is, en die behoefte aan kriteria
waarvolgens daar tussen wedywerende normatiewe projekte gekies kan word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17368 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Smith, Karen Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Nel, Philip, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 206 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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