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A Disabling Discipline? | The Oxford Handbook of International Relations | Oxford Academic
Source: academic.oup.com
Article summary:
1. The concept of international relations has expanded its purview, bringing in new fields of study ranging from culture to ecology.
2. There is anxiety about the discipline's explanatory capacity due to the failure to predict the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and the disorder and violence that has erupted within and between successor states of empire.
3. International relations has been criticized for being wedded to a colonial world-view that distorts its understanding of what is happening in the South and skews its normative horizons.
Article analysis:
The article “A Disabling Discipline?” by Phillip Darby provides an analysis of international relations as a discipline, focusing on its failure to engage with non-European countries except as an appendage to Western thought. The article is well-researched and provides a comprehensive overview of how colonialism has shaped modern sovereignty and economy, as well as how it has had damaging consequences for both victims and victors. However, there are some potential biases in the article that should be noted.
First, there is a lack of exploration into counterarguments or alternative perspectives on colonialism and its effects on international relations. While Darby does provide some insight into how colonialism has shaped modern sovereignty and economy, he does not explore any other possible explanations or theories for these phenomena. Additionally, while he does mention strategies employed by Third World leaders such as nonalignment and agitational diplomacy, he does not provide any evidence or examples to support his claims about their effectiveness or impact on international relations.
Second, there is a lack of discussion regarding possible risks associated with colonialism or alternative approaches to addressing them. While Darby does discuss some potential benefits from engaging with colonial archives, he fails to mention any potential risks associated with this approach or any other alternatives for addressing them. This could lead readers to believe that engaging with colonial archives is without risk when this may not be true in all cases.
Finally, there is a lack of discussion regarding current events related to international relations which could provide further insight into the topic at hand. While Darby does discuss some historical events related to colonialism and international relations, he fails to mention any current events which could provide further context for his argument or shed light on how colonialism continues to shape modern international relations today.
In conclusion, while “A Disabling Discipline?” by Phillip Darby provides an insightful analysis into how colonialism has shaped modern sovereignty and economy as well as strategies employed by Third World leaders in response, there are some potential biases present in the article which should be noted including a lack of exploration into counterarguments or alternative perspectives on colonialism; a lack of discussion regarding possible risks associated with colonialism; and a lack of discussion regarding current events related to international relations which could provide further insight into the topic at hand.