英国学派的方法论立场及其意义

The Methodological Standpoint and Its Significance of the English School

英国学派是一个不同于美国主流学派的国际关系理论流派,它有独特的方法论和理论视野,其本体论的多元主义是与他们主张的方法论多元主义紧密相关的,因此,把握英国学派的方法论立场是理解其本体论多元主义的关键所在。英国学派采取多元主义方法论立场的结果,使他们能将国际体系、国际社会和世界社会的理论主张结合起来,对国际关系进行多层次、多维度的考察。英国学派的多元主义方法论不仅为综合各种各样的国际关系理论及其观点提供了一个一致的框架,而且为它们之间的对话架设了一个理想的平台。不过,英国学派方法论的多元主义也造成了其理论的内在矛盾和紧张。

The English School is an important theoretical one in the field of international relations that has its special research methodology and theoretical vision. For a long time, the academic community in international relations has been of the opinion that the English School holds to the traditional methodology of humanities while opposing “ scientific” methodology of natural science, which is actually sheer misunderstanding. A comprehensive survey of the works by the English School shows that although the English School insists on adopting the methods of humanities to study international relations, they do not reject any other “scientific” methods. Instead, they employ positivism, hermeneutics and critical theory. In other words, they actually adopt pluralism in methodology. The reasons that the English School adopts the their understanding of the complexity of international pluralistic stand in methodology are closely related with relations. They believe that the activities in the world political arena are both complicated and uncertain. Apart from international society, there exist other two conflicting elements： war and transnational unity or conflict. These different elements all exist in international society at the same time. Therefore, it is wrong to put excessive emphasis on the first element while denying the other two. Out of such a methodological stand, they hold that it is unnecessary to concretize the international system, international society and world society. methodological convenience. It is obvious, therefore, that the They have made such a division just for English School gives priority to methodology instead of the division. Out of such a consideration, they survey the international system, international society and world society from different analytical perspectives. The pluralistic methodological stands the English School has taken have laid a foundation for a ontological research into issues of wide scope, which and pluralistic dimensions by combining society. enables them to survey international theories of international system, relations from pluralistic levels international society and world The pluralism of the English School has not only offers a consistent framework for summing up various theories of international relations, but set up an ideal bridge for their dialogue. Nevertheless, the pluralism has also brought about inner contradictions and tensions among their theories. For this reason, the theoretical framework of the English School is still imperfect, and needs to be improved.