SARI, Buğra İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University - FEASS - Department of International Relations, Turkey

AN ANALYSIS ON ROBERT COX’S ARGUMENT “THEORY IS ALWAYS FOR SOMEONE AND FOR SOME PURPOSE”: ITS IMPLICATIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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Robert Cox’s argument, “theory is always for someone and for some purpose”, constitutes a great significance for the study of International Relations. For, this argument asserts that all theories are value laden and serve to some specific purpose; thus, there is no and cannot be an objective theory. As Cox’s explains his argument through problem-solving theory and critical theory dichotomy, this paper conducts its analysis through the same way. This study consists of three sections. These are ‘relations with existing structure’, ‘meta-theoretical aspect’ and ‘theory and practice nexus’. Each section analyzes the differences and similarities of ‘problem-solving theory’ and ‘critical theory’. Building upon the differences and similarities, this study examines the meaning of the Cox’s argument. By doing so, this study, also, emphasizes the overlapping features of Frankfurt School approach and Coxian theoretical perspective.

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problem , solving theory , critical theory , Coxian approach , Frankfurt School , positivism , post , positivism

Journal Of Economics an‎d Administrative Sciences

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