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Politics and Society
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Gudalov N.N. To the question of similarities between the political realism and postpositivism within the theory of international relations

Abstract:   The subject of this research is the features of political realism in the history of international relations, which demonstrate its similarities with postpositivism. The goal of this work is to determine and emphasize these similarities, but at the same time considering the differences between them. The author carefully examines the logical resemblances of realism and postpositivism, their common historical origins associated with the creative works of the same thinkers. The article also analyzes the approaches of the realists and positivists towards the fundamental issues of political knowledge, reality, values, as well as rationality. The author conducts a comparative analysis of the theoretical views of the realists and positivists, and bases himself upon their classical and contemporary works, alongside the critical research of other scholars. This work makes a new contribution into the research of the already existing similarities between realism and postpositivism within the theory of international relations. These common features are very deep, however there not enough studied and “violate” the accepted within the theory of international relations theoretical demarcations. The article complements and generalizes the arguments of Nicolas Guillot who pointed out at the correlation between realism with Thomas Kuhn’s philosophy of science, as well as with the theories that emphasize historicism, but deny progressivism and rationalism. The author determines that such connections confirm the existence of the significant similarities between realism and postpositivism. It is proven that for realism it is characteristic to have a narrow instrumental understanding of rationality; while postpositivism, in turn, limits or denies the notion of rationality.  A generalizing conclusion is made that namely such attitude towards rationality lies in the foundation of other similarities between realism ad postpositivism – their accent upon pluralism and relativity of knowledge, reality, and values in politics.  

Keywords:

Thomas Kuhn, paradigm, historicism, rationalism, epistemology, political philosophy, postpositivism, political realism, theory of international relations, structural realism

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