*Theory Section

 

Theory Section Charter

Charter of the Theory Section (TS)  of the International Studies Association (ISA)

Article I: Name
This Section shall be known as the Theory Section (TS) of the International Studies Association (ISA).

Article II: Affiliation
The TS is one of the Sections of the ISA and as such subscribes to its purposes and activities.

Article III: Purposes
The aim of the TS is to encourage and promote theoretical debates in the study of international politics. As such, it provides a platform for scholars to interrogate the meaning and purpose of theory in the field of International Relations (IR), to engage the task of theory building, to explore the relationship between theory and history, and the impact of theories on policymaking.

To accomplish these purposes, TS shall:
1. facilitate networking among IR scholars of different regional or topical expertise and across the theoretical spectrum;
2. encourage research and debates on theory, including by enhancing dialogue and collaboration between IR scholars and scholars of Political Theory;
3. disseminate information on theoretical research by sponsoring or organising workshops, symposia, and professional and other appropriate meetings;
4. seek ways to further the teaching of theory in the field of International Relations.

Article IV: Relationships
The TS will encourage cooperative relations with other organizations within or outside the ISA which share its interests.

Article V: Membership
1. Any ISA member sharing the purposes of this section may become a member of the TS upon payment of whatever dues shall be established.
2. Members are entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting, are eligible for nomination to elective office, may nominate and vote for officers, sponsor and vote on amendments to this charter, participate in TS activities, and receive copies of the TS newsletter via e-mail.

Article VI: Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of section members shall be held in conjunction with the ISA annual convention. The meeting shall conduct the business of the section, as well as carrying any other activity consistent with the purposes of the section.

Article VII: Officers
The officers of the TS shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, and Publicity Officer.
1. The Chairperson shall call meetings and preside at them, coordinate section activities, act as liaison with the ISA and shall be the official spokesperson of the TS unless the Executive Committee determines otherwise. The Chairperson shall be responsible for preparing and presenting the annual report at the AGM in collaboration with the other officers.
2. The Vice-chairperson shall be responsible for organizing the TS-sponsored panels at the ISA annual convention in collaboration with the chairperson.
3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for raising funds and approving their expenditure in consultation with the chairperson, keeping accurate financial records, and for drawing up an annual balance sheet to be presented at the AGM.
4. The Publicity Officer shall be responsible for outreach, such as through preparation and circulation of a Section Newsletter at least once a year, in collaboration with other officers.

Article VIII: Elections to Office
1. Officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
2. Nominations for office shall come from members following the call for nominations by the Executive Committee and can be submitted via e-mail to the Executive Committee.
3. The Executive Committee shall present to the membership by e-mail the names of one or more nominees for each vacant position at least two weeks prior to the AGM.
4. Additional nominations sponsored by at least five (5) members may be made at the AGM and shall be eligible for election.
5. Elections will be held at the AGM. Members will be able to vote (i) by email, received by the Executive Committee at least five (5) days prior to the AGM and (ii) in person, given by members present at the AGM.
5. Officers shall serve for a term of two years in their designated positions and may be re-elected once.
6. If one of the officers resigns or is indisposed before the end of his or her term of office, the other officers shall designate a replacement to act until the next AGM, when an election for that office will take place.
 
Article IX: Executive Committee
The officers of the TS shall form and be called the Executive Committee.
1. The Executive Committee shall meet at the ISA annual convention and at such other reasonable times and places designated by the chairperson.
2. The Executive Committee shall set rules and agenda for the AGM and conduct the business of the section at times between the AGMs. Its duties are to review the annual budget, set membership dues, and consider the overall policy of the Section, including ideas for panels and other relevant activities.
3. The Executive Committee shall appoint from within itself the office of webmaster.
4. The Executive Committee recognizes that the Section has a responsibility to prepare an annual report for the ISA Governing Council and a review document in the fifth (5) year of the Section’s existence for the purpose of re-chartering.

Article X: Advisory Board
The TS shall have an Advisory Board comprised of about fifteen (15) senior scholars in the field with a recognized expertise in the realm of theory.
1. The Advisory Board shall be a resource for the Executive Committee seeking support and advice in developing and promoting section activities.
2. Members of the Advisory Board may propose section activities and are invited to participate in workshops organised by the section.
3. Members of the Advisory Board shall be invited by the Executive Committee to serve for a period of initially three (3) years, after which composition of the Board shall be reviewed by the Executive Committee.

Article XI: Amendments
1. Amendments to this charter may be proposed by the Executive Committee, or by petition of at least ten (10) members of the TS. Members shall be informed of proposed amendments either through the Section Newsletter or by special email.
2. Amendments shall be considered at the AGM and adopted if approved by two-thirds of the members present and voting.

 

Theory Advisory Board

TS Advisory Board

Chris Brown (London School of Economics)
Stefano Guzzini (Danish Institute for International Studies)
Kimberly Hutchings (London School of Economics)
Beate Jahn (University of Sussex)
Friedrich Kratochwil (European University Institute)
Richard Ned Lebow (Dartmouth College)
John Mearsheimer (University of Chicago)
Jonathan Mercer (University of Washington)
Terry Nardin (National University of Singapore)
Christian Reus-Smit (European University Institute)
Duncan Snidal (University of Oxford)
John A. Vasquez (University of Illinois)
Ole Waever (University of Copenhagen)
R. B. J. Walker (University of Victoria)
Alexander Wendt (Ohio State University)
Antje Wiener (University of Hamburg)
William Wohlforth (Dartmouth College)

 

Theory Section Rationale

 

Proposal for establishing a Theory Section (TS)  of the International Studies Association (ISA)

Accepted by the ISA Governing Council Meeting on March 15, 2011

Rationale
The main reason for establishing a section dedicated to theory is to fill a gap created by the absence of such a section within ISA. This absence is quite remarkable, as theory is the basis on which arguments about world politics are built. It permeates academic research, plays an important role in teaching and informs the decisions of policymakers. The emergence of new journals dedicated to theory, strong representation of theorists among editors in established journals and the emergence of ‘International Political Theory’ in Europe as a distinct field indicate the popularity and importance of theory in the IR discipline.

One might argue that precisely because everybody ‘does’ theory, it is an integral part of work in all existing ISA sections and makes a new section dedicated to theory redundant. Yet the latter does not follow from the former. Each section may have a particular understanding of theory formed in support of a particular topical agenda without paying greater attention to fundamental questions about the nature of theory and theorizing itself.

There is no consensus among IR scholars what qualifies as a (good) theory, what distinguishes it from a ‘framework’ or a ‘perspective’, and, related, what theorizing entails. At one end of the spectrum, the influence of logical positivism and the virtue of parsimony reduced theory to a hypothesis, a causal statement of the sort ‘If A then B’. At the other end, scholars inspired by the postmodern Zeitgeist question theory as an explanatory device altogether and consider theorizing a political act. In between one finds a range of views on the purpose of theory (heuristic, explanatory, critical, normative) and its relationship to empirical reality, including whether theory is aimed at the past (making sense of history), the present (supporting or questioning existing conditions), or the future (generating predictions). Furthermore, dominant theoretical approaches to international politics generated within the American academy are being joined and at times challenged by perspectives from other parts of the world.

One might expect this pluralism to be expressed in lively debates among IR scholars surrounding the nature and practice of theorizing, yet exceptions aside this is not the case. Indeed, if anything the study of international politics is characterised by the absence of such debates on a wider scale. The various ‘turns’ (linguistic, sociological, psychological, historical, etc) and topical specialisations have lead to a compartmentalisation of the discipline; a discipline which due to its emphasis on the application of theories leaves little space for the creative development of theories themselves, and where meta-theoretical questions tend to be reduced to the question whether IR can be a ‘science’. Yet we need more discussion on what it takes to theorize the world of politics, how we deploy our core concepts and for what purpose. We need a section dedicated to giving IR scholars the opportunity to develop and debate theory itself.

Against this backdrop, the main aims of the Theory section are three:

First, the section will promote the importance of theory in IR scholarship and encourage scholars to focus on questions surrounding it. It will provide an intellectual home at ISA for scholars wishing to interrogate the meaning and purpose of theory, how theories emerge, how they relate to history and their impact on policymaking.

Second, it will allow the creation of new research networks and opportunities for collaboration and exchange. Because questions concerning theory are relevant to scholars regardless of regional/topical expertise or location on the theoretical spectrum, the section will have an integrative, or ‘bridging’, function for the IR community.

Third, the section aims to enhance the dialogue between IR and Political Theory and to challenge the prevailing view that substantial theory is limited to the latter. In other words, the hope is that, over the long term, the section will play a part in furthering the status of IR scholars as political theorists.

We believe a Theory section has significant potential. By its very nature, and as indicated by the signatures below collected within a short span of time, such a section will enjoy (already enjoys) wide support among IR scholars. Indeed, when mentioning the idea of a Theory section to colleagues at conferences and other occasions we often encountered surprise that it does not already exist. While a Theory Section will inevitably overlap with other ISA sections, its agenda is sufficiently distinct and has received support from a number of section chairs.

The simple title ‘Theory’ is chosen over the established labels ‘International Relations Theory’ (IR Theory) and ‘International Political Theory’ (IPT) because they stand for a distinct ‘American’ and ‘British’ approach to theorising, respectively. Specifically, the IR Theory label does not signal a fresh point of departure but risks being understood as dealing primarily with the conventional paradigms of realism, neoliberal institutionalism and social constructivism. It also (misleadingly) suggests a focus on nations while at the same time neglecting politics. The younger IPT label does open new terrain and puts politics in the foreground, yet it also has taken on a distinct meaning among British scholars, where the label came to life and is primarily associated with questions of ethics and a context-rich study of the history of ideas. The proposed section intends to be a platform for both traditions, but also for those theoretically-minded scholars who seek conversations beyond them.

Proposed Activities

• Workshops and discussion groups around themes such as the meaning and purpose of theorizing in IR; the process of theory building; the relationship between theory and methodology / history / core concepts; the question of theoretical progress; the legacy of the ‘Third Debate’ (did it ever take place?); and the impact of theory on policymaking. A first step will be to organise a workshop and a number of high-quality panels for the 2012 ISA meeting.
• Mailing list for members to share announcements, calls for papers, teaching and literature queries/tips, etc, possibly in overlap with a website.
• Bi-annual electronic newsletter (in April and in November) providing overview of activities of section and its members
• Contact and collaboration with similar groups (e.g., the ECPR standing group on International Political Theory) and ISA sections with shared aims.
• Establishing an award for best book or article published in the field of theory by an ISA member

Join Theory Section

Any member of the ISA who shares the purposes of the Theory Section may become a member upon payment of dues ($5 per year; $1 per year for students). You may add a Section membership to your ISA membership using the MyISA system and logging in with your username and password and then clicking on the Add or Renew Membership option under the My Membership tab (found on the top horizontal menu). Membership in ISA is a prerequisite for Section membership. 

Section members are entitled to attend annual business meetings, vote, nominate candidates, hold office, receive newsletters and other publications produced by the section, and participate in all activities and projects sponsored by the section.

Members are encouraged to participate in section projects, serve on committees, serve as section program chair, and help recruit new members. Tell your friends about us!

Theory Section News

Annual Section Business Meeting

For those attending the ISA 2013 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, the Theory Section Business Meeting will take place on Friday, 5 April 2013, 6:15pm in Golden Gate 3 (Hilton). The meeting will be followed by a splendid reception, held jointly with the International Ethics Section and sponsored by Cambridge University Press, at 7:15pm in Golden Gate 7&8. Please join us on those occasions! For a list of panels sponsored by the Theory Section see our Annual Newsletter posted under 'Minutes'.

Call for Nominations

[18 DEC 2012] The ISA Theory Section (TS) will soon hold elections for its new Executive Committee (all four posts: Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary) and is now seeking nominations. Candidates must be members of the Theory Section and hold a full-time academic position. Interested colleagues wishing to put forward their names are asked to send an email to Felix Berenskoetter (fb12@soas.ac.uk) and Janice Bially Mattern (jbiallymattern@nus.edu.sg) attaching a CV and providing a brief statement (300 words) explaining their interest in the post, including ideas for developing the section. Deadline for submitting nominations is 20 January 2013. A maximum of three candidates per post will be put forward for elections in February 2013. Successful candidates will serve for a period of two years starting April 2013, with turnover of responsibilities taking place at (or right after) the ISA annual meeting in San Francisco.

Newsletter Submissions

For our annual newsletter we are now finalizing a list of books authored by section members in 2012 (monograph or edited volume). We already received a number of titles; for those still wishing to send us information please do so asap.

Compendium Editors Selected

[9 SEPT 2012] We are pleased to announce that Dr Inanna Hamati-Ataya and Dr Jonathan Joseph, both based at the University of Sheffield, will be the new Theory editors for the ISA Compendium Project.

Inanna and Jonathan are accomplished scholars, passionate about theory and committed to bring in essays from across the field. Working together with the General Editors of the Compendium, Robert A. Denemark and Renee Marlin-Bennett, they will take up responsibilities in October 2012 and serve for three years. During this time they will play an important role in further strengthening the theory component of the project.

Call for Editors

[2 AUG 2012] The ISA Theory Section is looking to appoint an editorial team for the theory essays of the International Studies Compendium Project (The International Studies Encyclopedia) published by Wiley-Blackwell in association with ISA (for more information see the Compendium website).

Compendium essays are historically informed, peer reviewed literature review essays taking the reader from the earliest works in an area through the major efforts (successful and unsuccessful) and onto the more current work. They also may point to gaps and/or suggest directions for future research. The editors will work with the General Editors of the Compendium Project, Robert A. Denemark and Renee Marlin-Bennett, in choosing essay topics, commissioning essays from suitable authors and having them peer-reviewed. Interested candidates seeking further information about the tasks involved may contact Robert Denemark (denemark@udel.edu).

The editors should be a team composed of two International Relations scholars covering a broad range of theoretical perspectives. They are expected to serve for three years beginning 1 October 2012 (the term can be shortened or extended in agreement with the Theory Section Executive Committee and the General Editors). Junior scholars are encouraged to apply.

The editors will be selected by the Theory Section Executive Committee. Interested candidates should send a brief statement of interest and five suggested topics that have not yet been covered, along with their CV, to Felix Berenskoetter (fb12@soas.ac.uk) and Janice Bially Mattern (jbiallymattern@nus.edu.sg). Deadline for submissions is 30 August 2012.

Member Benefit: Discount Journal Subscriptions

[18 Jan 2012] We are pleased to announce that SAGE has a special subscription offer for members of the ISA Theory Section (TS) on two of its journals. TS members are now entitled to a 25% discount on a online personal subscription to European Journal of International Relations, and a 25% discount on an online personal subscription to Millennium: Journal of International Studies. To claim the discount, email SAGE customer service at subscriptions@sagepub.co.uk.

[12 Dec 2011] We are pleased to announce that Theory Section members are now entitled to a discount on a personal subscription to International Theory (IT), a journal of International Politics, Law and Philosophy from Cambridge Journals (http://journals.cambridge.org/it). Members will pay only £20 / $30 for a year's subscription in 2012. The offer includes both print and online copies of the journal.

To subscribe, simply email Cambridge University Press customer service at journals@cambridge.org and state that you are a member of the ISA Theory Section to receive the discount.

Theory Section Officers

 

Executive Committee [2011-13]

Felix Berenskoetter
Section Chair
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
University of London
fb12@soas.ac.uk
http://www.soas.ac.uk/staff/staff53269.php

 

 

Janice Bially Mattern
Section Vice-Chair
National University of Singapore
poljbm@nus.edu.sg
http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/poljbm/

 

 

 

Andrew Neal
Section Treasurer
University of Edinburgh
andrew.neal@ed.ac.uk
http://www.pol.ed.ac.uk/staff_profiles/neal_andrew

 

 

Rosemary Shinko
Section Secretary
American University
shinko@american.edu
http://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/shinko.cfm

 

Theory Section Awards

We plan to establish theory paper/publication awards for next year.

Theory Syllabi and Teaching Resources

Below are some syllabi/reading lists on international theory (broadly understood) which members have agreed to share. This list will be updated periodically. Colleagues who would like to share a reading list or other useful teaching resources should contact one of the section officers.

• Theories of International Relations - Lawson - PDF 362K Download
• Theories of International Relations - Neal - PDF 249K Download
• Critical Interventions in IR Theory and Global Political Economy - Lipschutz - PDF 666K Download
• Global Constitutionalism - Wiener - DOC 106K Download
• Norms Research in IR - Wiener - DOC 102K Download
• Theories of International Politics - Jackson - PDF 138K Download
• International Relations Theory - Tagma - PDF 239K Download
• International Relations Theory - Lebow - DOC 46K Download
• Classical Theory and IR - Jahn - DOC 148K Download
• Cultural, Social and Political Thought - Walker - PDF 65K Download
• Identity in International Relations - Berenskoetter - PDF 212K Download
• Power in World Politics - Berenskoetter - PDF 204K Download
• International Relations Theory - Steans/Vieira - PDF 255K Download
• Specialization Module International Relations - Freyberg-Inan - PDF 195K Download
• Dissident Perspectives on World Politics - Hamati-Ataya - PDF - 409K Download
• Theory and Practice of International Relations - Hamati-Ataya - PDF - 292K Download
• Boundaries, Borders, Limits - Walker - PDF - 64K Download
• Theories of Peace and Conflict - Levine - PDF 278K Download

Theory Section Links

Below are links to blogs and other sites which may be of interest to section members. If you know of a link that could be added, please contact one of the section officers.

Blogs

• Crooked Timber
• Duck of Minerva
• The Disorder of Things
• theorieblog.de

Resources

• Theory Talks
• Conversations with History
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Histories of Violence
• Centre for Advanced International Theory (CAIT)

Theory Section Mailing List

Members who wish to subscribe to the mailing list of the ISA Theory Section can sign up below. The listserv is set up through the Google Group 'ISATheory' and administered by the officers of the Theory Section. In line with the section's aim to foster research and debates on theorizing international politics, this mailing list allows all subscribers to post and respond to emails (including, but not limited to, call for papers, workshop announcements, literature queries, etc). Members are asked to use this opportunity responsibly.

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