The Elusive Quest: Theory and International Politics

by Yale H. Ferguson & Richard W. Mansbach

Ferguson and Mansbach argue that international relations theory is subjective since it reflects attitudes grounded in social or political milieus.

They challenge the canons of realism and idealism and contrast normative poles such as mutability/immutability, optimism/pessimism, elitism/nonelitism, and competitiveness/community.

They also argue that conceptual inadequacy inhibits theory, while theoretical anarchy prevails among various contemporary non-rational-actor and foreign policy approaches.

ISBN: 0-87249-539-6