国际关系的理论回归与基础路径——以国际制度理论为例

国际关系理论衰落的论调和担忧激励了理论创新。在诸多创新方式中,理论综合是重要的一种,具体包含了理论折中和理论合成,且主要发生在宏观范式之间或内部,由此形成了四种主要的理论综合方式:范式间折中或合成、范式内折中或合成。理论合成的严格理论与理论折中的实用性分析框架之间,还存在较多模糊地带。更多的研究既没有清晰的理论创造或运用,亦没有明确的折中分析框架。但是,这并不意味着国际关系"理论已逝"的论断已成事实。在理论合成与理论折中之间还存在一种理论综合的方式——理论回归,即从相关的多层次和多学科理论中拟合出简约且共性最大(或平均差异最小)的基础路径。所谓"基础路径"即介于宏观哲学元理论或思想传统与具体学科内理论之间的、若干相邻学科或理论共享的、具有一定范围内共识性的研究议题及解答思路。以国际制度研究为例,大量的经验研究虽然时常没有明确的理论地位,但并未完全脱离多层次的理论基础,而是逐渐形成超越具体学科及/或理论的五大基础路径:权力—结构、理性—功能、文化—建构、历史—阶级、反思—批判。

Theoretical Regression and Foundational Pathways in International Relations:A Case Study of International Institutionalism

The recent concerns over the decline of international relations(IR) theory has encouraged much theoretical innovation. Among the many routes to innovation, a significant approach is bridging existing theories which includes theoretical eclecticism and synthesis between or within the paradigms. Thus, there can be four major forms: intra-paradigm theoretical eclecticism and synthesis, and inter-paradigm theoretical eclecticism and synthesis. Between the neat theories pursued by theoretical synthesis and the pragmatic analytical frameworks enabled by theoretical eclecticism, there are other possibilities. Many studies neither adopt specific theories, nor establish eclectic analytical frameworks. But this does not mean that IR theory is dead. There is another way of bridging various theories, namely theoretical regression, which refers to culling the most shared elements(or the minimum average difference) – known as "foundational pathways" – from relevant theories and disciplines. These "foundational pathways" are situated between macro-philosophical meta-theories and academic traditions on the one hand and theories within specific disciplines on the other. They consist of a particular set of research agenda and solutions, which are shared by several adjacent disciplines or theories, and on which there is a certain degree of consensus. In international institutionalism for example, although many empirical studies do not explicitly address theoretical issues, they are still underpinned by various theories and converge on five paths: power-structure, rationality-function, culture-construction, history-class, and reflection-criticism.