IR Theory's 21st Century Experiential Evolution

Abstract

Twenty-first century scholarship within international relations illuminates a sea-change away from the primacy of the state and second order analyses toward the relationship that individuals have within the international system, linking first- and third-order analyses together. This intellectual movement reflects experiences in international history that diminish the role of the state and reinforce the humans and humanity into the heart of a discipline whose origins lie not only in what has been done (international history) but also in the motivation for action. This change is a 21st century phenomenon with experiential roots in the terror attacks of 9/11, the Global Financial Crisis, the resultant uprisings such as Arab Spring and Occupy, and the rise of hacktivism. These global, historical experiences are fostering the rise of cutting-edge and revolutionary IR theory that embraces complexity and multidisciplinarity rather than paying homage to self-absorbed philosophical traditions.

Keywords: IR Theory, Existentialism, Human Revolution, Dignity