Ch 18, All these theories yet the bodies keep piling up theory theorists theorising, pp 340-353

Varying understandings and conceptions of theory among contributors.
Debate between 'theorists' and 'real worlders':
- Theorists: Focus on theory as critical for understanding.
- Real worlders: View theory as self-indulgent and detached from real-world events.
Central debate revolves around the purpose of theory in explaining international politics.

Are academic theories contributing to understanding or addressing real-world tragedies (e.g., the Holocaust, wars)?
The fear underlying debates reveals a struggle about the impact of theory on practical politics.

Theory as a Tool:
- Viewed as a framework for understanding global events.
- Contributors like James Rosenau see it as a way to deal with complexity in international politics.
- Key points from contributors:
  - Barry Buzan: Emphasizes understanding the real world as it is.
  - Michael Nicholson: Supports testable theories that describe reality.
  - Michael Mann stresses relevance to substantial political issues.
Theory as Critique:
- Theory goes beyond understanding to question structures of inequality and hierarchy in the world.
- Andrew Linklater advocates for Critical Theory to seek emancipation from dominant narratives.
- Highlights the role of theory in shaping understanding of power dynamics and marginalization.
Theory as Everyday Practice:
- Cynthia Enloe and Christine Sylvester emphasize theorizing as an ongoing activity in everyday life.
- Enloe's focus on marginalized groups provides deeper insights into international politics.
- Suggests that theorists can be anyone actively engaging in understanding political life, not just academics.

Distinction often made between theorists (academics) and global actors (politicians, soldiers).
Critiques of theorists often come from a place of fear about disregarding reality.
The underlying implication of this distinction can make it easier to dismiss critical theoretical work.

Separation between theory and the 'real world' is contested:
- Buzan asserts that the real world exists independently of our theories.
- Critics argue that this separation ignores how our understandings shape reality.
Enlightenment rationality represents a dominant framework for theorists who posit objective truths in politics.
Concerns highlighted about what issues are deemed substantive or trivial in international politics.

Importance of re-studying boundaries of relevance and legitimacy within the discipline.
The debate between modernists and post-modernists over method and epistemology drives tensions in international relations.
Understanding critical theory challenges prevailing ideologies and asks deeper questions about the implications of theories.

The multiplicity of theories can enhance understanding rather than detract from it.
The persistence of violence and suffering in the world should prompt revisiting how theories are constructed and applied.
A call to rethink what constitutes relevant issues in international politics and who is regarded as a theorist.