ABSTRACT
In the field of international relations, there is now a growing recognition that what passes for “theory” has been, and continues to be, shaped mainly by the Western ideas, experiences, and practices. Stanley Hoffmann once famously described the field of international relations as an “American social science.” 2 If this is true of the entire field, it is even more so of its theory, although the latter is more accurately characterized as “Western,” rather than merely “American,” despite the latter’s greater claim to “social scientifism.” International relations as a field of study is no longer the exclusive preserve of either American or Western universities. Some of the fastest growth in the discipline are taking place in non-Western countries, especially China, India and even Indonesia. In China, for example, some four dozen universities are now conferring bachelor degree in international studies. Yet, IR theory remains stubbornly Western, incorporating relatively few insights and voices from the non-West.
