8. Normative Theory PDF

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IR Theories 8. Normative Theory ‘Empirical’ vs ‘Normative’ Theory Empirical Theory:  E.H. Carr: ‘Any account of IR should take at its starting point what is rather than what ought to be’.  Empirical evidence acquired by observation and experimentation.  Seeks to discover and describe facts, the accuracy of which can be tested.  Positivist theories of IR. Normative Theory:  Focus on how things ought to be  Seeks to determine and prescribe values, evaluative standards.  Expression of a preference for a particular type of order, as dictated by a sense of duty, universal need, or commitment to a moral principle.  Making judgments about behaviors/outcomes.  Not capable of being discovered, described or verified. Normative Theory and IR Problems with mainstream IR notion that facts and values can be separated:  Restricts definition of what politics (including international political theory) is all about  supports a particular status quo  ‘All theories reflect values’ ‘Return’ of normative theory is driven by several factors:  it is more important to be relevant to contemporary needs than to be methodologically sophisticated  behavioural science conceals an ideology based upon empirical conservatism (i.e. ALL theory is normative and empirical)  behavioural research, by its focus on abstraction, loses touch with reality  the political scientist has the obligation to make knowledge available for the general benefit of society (Otherwise – what’s the point???)...