ABSTRACT
The early 1980s saw the emergence of critical theories of international relations. A small but significant number of scholars published work that challenged fundamental premises of orthodox theories by reflecting on the relationship between knowledge and values and championing the ideals of change and emancipation. Among the seminal contributions to the development of critical theories of international relations are Cox's 1981 Millennium article, Ashley's 1981 International Studies Quarterly article, Walker's 1981 Alternatives article, and Linklater's 1982 Men and Citizens in the Theory of International Relations (hereafter referred to as Men and Citizens). 2 In addition to using the term ‘critical theory’, these contributions sought to transform the discipline of International Relations (IR) by setting out ambitious normative theory programmes capable of challenging the intellectual hegemony of realism and liberalism and their disavowal of normative political philosophy and philosophical history in favour of more empirical and functional forms of ‘problem-solving’ theory. 3
