Grand Narratives in Critical International Theory

Critical international theory provides guidance to individuals in understanding their conditions of existence, how these conditions came to be, and what potential they have for emancipatory transformation. This book argues that grand narratives are essential for this orientation but often reproduce Eurocentric worldviews. André Saramago offers an innovative approach to grand narratives that avoids their Eurocentric shortcomings, improving critical international theory's role as a means of orientation by capturing the interweaving of human self-determination in the four key dimensions of human existence. This book appeals to students and researchers interested in interdisciplinary and critical approaches to world politics, social change, and human-nature relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 154 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Critical international theory plays a vital role in guiding human beings toward a deeper understanding of their conditions of existence, the historical factors that have shaped those conditions, and the potential for emancipatory transformation within those conditions. This theoretical framework seeks to provide an orientation that empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of the globalized world and to engage in meaningful social change.

However, the task of orientation in critical international theory is inseparable from a reliance on grand narratives that capture the main features of the long-term process of human development. These grand narratives aim to provide a framework for understanding the complex web of social, political, and economic forces that have shaped our world.

Unfortunately, many of these grand narratives also tend to reproduce Eurocentric worldviews that undermine the reliability of critical international theory as a means of orientation. Eurocentric narratives often prioritize the experiences and perspectives of Western societies, while sidelining or discounting the contributions and experiences of non-Western cultures and societies. This reproduction of Eurocentric biases can lead to a narrow understanding of the world and a failure to recognize the diverse range of human experiences and struggles.

In response to this challenge, André Saramago offers an innovative approach to the problem of orientation in critical international theory. Through an in-depth engagement with the work of Jürgen Habermas, Karl Marx, and Norbert Elias, Saramago recovers a historical-sociological approach to grand narratives that avoids the reproduction of their Eurocentric shortcomings. By drawing on the insights of these influential thinkers, Saramago develops a framework for understanding grand narratives that is more inclusive and nuanced.

Saramago's approach to grand narratives emphasizes the importance of recognizing the interconnections between different social, political, and economic systems. He argues that grand narratives should not be seen as standalone narratives that explain the past and predict the future, but rather as part of a larger historical and social context. By examining the interrelationships between these systems, Saramago seeks to identify the underlying patterns and structures that have shaped human development and to understand the potential for transformative change within those systems.

One of the key contributions of Saramago's approach is his recognition of the role of human agency in shaping historical processes. He argues that individuals and social movements have the power to challenge dominant narratives and to create new ways of understanding the world. Saramago's approach emphasizes the importance of building alliances and networks of individuals and social movements who are committed to social change and to working towards a more just and equitable world.

In addition to his engagement with the work of Habermas, Marx, and Elias, Saramago also draws on a range of other theoretical frameworks and sources to develop his approach to grand narratives. He incorporates insights from feminist theory, postcolonial theory, and environmentalism to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the complex web of social, political, and economic forces that have shaped our world.

Overall, Saramago's approach to grand narratives in critical international theory offers a valuable contribution to the field. By avoiding the reproduction of Eurocentric biases and by recognizing the interconnections between different social, political, and economic systems, Saramago provides a framework for understanding the past and predicting the future in a more inclusive and nuanced way. His approach emphasizes the importance of human agency and the need for social movements to work towards a more just and equitable world.

This book will appeal to a wide range of students and researchers interested in interdisciplinary and critical approaches to the study of world politics, long-term processes of social change, and human-nature relations. Working within or across the fields of International Relations, Sociology, Political Theory, and related areas of inquiry, this book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex web of social, political, and economic forces that have shaped our world.

In conclusion, critical international theory plays a vital role in guiding human beings toward a deeper understanding of their conditions of existence, the historical factors that have shaped those conditions, and the potential for emancipatory transformation within those conditions. However, the task of orientation in critical international theory is inseparable from a reliance on grand narratives that capture the main features of the long-term process of human development. By avoiding the reproduction of Eurocentric biases and by recognizing the interconnections between different social, political, and economic systems, Saramago's approach to grand narratives in critical international theory offers a valuable contribution to the field. This book will appeal to a wide range of students and researchers interested in interdisciplinary and critical approaches to the study of world politics, long-term processes of social change, and human-nature relations.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032118390