Writing a Note on the Critical Theory of International Relations: Can Critical Theories of International Relations Theory be More Than Critical?

ABSTRACT

This study aims to propose an alternative theoretical framework prioritizing ontology over epistemology within International Political Economy (IPE). By critiquing mainstream epistemological theories, it seeks to reinterpret American hegemony to explore paths towards peace and unification amidst the conflicts between the United States and China, which are particularly pertinent to Korea. The study highlights the dissolution of boundaries between international politics and economics, illustrating hegemonys formation through their interrelation. Especially focus on the ontological turn in international political economy theories, focusing on the limitations of hegemonic stability theory and similar problem-solving theories due to their socio-political ahistoricism. It emphasizes the significance of Neo-Gramscianism, which challenges the traditional paradigms by linking state and society through the dialectical interconnection of production, power, and world order. This perspective allows for a dynamic understanding of the international system, moving beyond stability to embrace the potential for change. The document also critiques the mainstream theories for their epistemological dominance and highlights the need for an ontological shift to understand the international order more comprehensively.

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