Is Middle East IR Unique?

BRISMES (BRITISH SOCIETY OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES) CONFERENCE, ST ANDREWS

Within IR scholarship there are two broad views about International Relations (IR) as a discipline. On one side is the idea that IR theories are universal. The accounts they offer are generalisable or abstract, in that they explain the interactions that take place between different actors at the international level, and set within certain structural constraints. Simply put, an IR theory should be able to explain all behaviour and actions anywhere and at any time.

On the other side is a more critical view, whose advocates question whether IR is as all encompassing as it seems. Among those who do point to the origins of IR. They note that its explanation of the world is rooted in a specific past, namely that of the West and in particular Europe (Buzan and Lawson 2015). For them, to apply theories and models derived from the European experience overlooks and disregards the existence of indigenous knowledge and experience (Acharya and Buzan 2010, 2019; Sune 2016).

When it comes to the Middle East, there have certainly been indigenous sources of knowledge which have been held up as a counterweight to the dominance of the West and Western-based theory. Perhaps most prominent in this regard is Ibn Khaldun, a fourteenth century writer in North Africa. However, there are limitations to his work, especially when applied to settings 700 years later than the Islamic world in which he wrote. Therefore, while it is certainly makes sense to explore the intellectual contributions that individuals like Ibn Khaldun can offer, it would be mistaken to think that they can provide a comprehensive and alternative account to the current state of IR and the various schools associated with it.

In sum then, while contemporary IR may be lacking in its awareness of its Western roots and appreciation of non-Western contributions and insights, it should be a priority for all those working on the subject to acknowledge and embrace these points and work towards improving them. the rest of this paper expands in greater detail on these points made above.

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