ABSTRACT
In this essay I want to argue that the theory-building in international relations is particularly well served by adopting a “Humean” perspective. Such a perspective would enable us not only to create a research programme1 (or approach) that would allow for the systematic inquiry into some normative problems [. . .]; it would also aid in the development of criteria for judging competing approaches to international politics. Finally, the adoption of a Humean perspective seems to hold out the prospect of providing an integrative framework for various types of analysis that are currently carried out separately and in a nearly ad hoc 2 fashion.
