怎样认识国际关系大理论研究?

How to Understand the Study on Macro Theories of International Relations?

国际关系大理论作为对国际互动的结构、趋势和要素的宏观解释,在议题设置和专业教育中都发挥着向导作用,因而常被称为"范式"。由于国际关系研究中不存在单一范式,因此"大争论"构成了学科叙事的主线,学派的不适当划分和知识霸权的竞争也造成了一些弊端。多元主义的大理论格局,导致人们始终面对着是追求范式一体化还是接受多元理论的困惑。本文认为,多元范式的存在决定于国际结构的现状。行为体基于多元的利益和意图实施对外政策,必然会造成具有不同问题领域的多元体系。这种多元体系的不同属性需要不同的大理论加以解释,因此"范式战争"没有意义。作为理论家基于灵感构想出来的解释工具,大理论都有特定的解释范围和局限性,并不是需要信仰的教条。要解释具有复杂属性的世界,需要综合运用多元理论的要素。国际体系所具有的稳定性和惯性,决定大理论研究在一定时期会处于沉寂状态。作为国际关系知识体系中不可缺少的组成部分,大理论研究还需要发展。除了对体系单一属性的继续探索,从整体上研究因不同要素共同起作用而形成的系统效应,也是可选择的研究方向。

As macro interpretations of the structures,trends,and elements of international interaction,the macro theories of international relations play a guiding role in setting up topics and professional education,therefore,they are often referred as the"paradigms".Because there is no single paradigm in the study of international relations,"great debates"constitute the main line of academic narrative.The inappropriate division of schools and the competition for knowledge hegemony also cause some drawbacks.The pluralistic pattern of macro theories leads people to always face the confusion about pursuing paradigm integration or accepting pluralistic theories.This paper argues that the existence of a pluralistic paradigm is determined by the status quo of the international structure.Foreign policies implemented by the actors of diversified interests and intentions will inevitably create multiple systems with different problems.The different attributes of the pluralistic system require different macro theories to explain,so the"paradigm warfare"is meaningless.As interpretive tools conceived by the theoreticians out of inspiration,the macro theories have their specific ranges of interpretation and limitations,and they are not the dogmas of faith.To explain the world with complex attributes,we need to use the elements of pluralistic theories with a better integration.The stability and inertia of the international system have determined that the study on macro theories will be in dreariness during a certain period of time.As an indispensable part of the knowledge system of international relations,the study on macro theories also needs to be developed.