The limitations of ir theory regarding the environment: lessons from the anthropocene

Abstract Despite its relevance in the global arena, the environment does not receive the attention that it deserves within the discipline of International Relations (IR). An analysis of all of the articles published in 20 journals of relevance in IR between 2004 and 2014 supports that environmental issues have largely been disregarded. This article traces IR’s distant attitude towards the environment to its conventional disciplinary structures, arguing that the planet’s new conditions challenge the discipline’s dominant theory. It is suggested that, by rewriting itself and embracing the Anthropocene concept, IR may enhance its relevance and strengthen its impact. Recognizing uncertainty, abandoning the nature-society dichotomy and adopting a post-anthropocentric perspective are some of the possible pathways presented for the future of IR.

摘要 尽管环境问题在全球舞台上具有重要意义，但在国际关系（International Relations, IR）学科领域中并未获得应有的关注。通过对2004年至2014年间20种IR相关期刊发表的全部论文进行系统分析，结果证实环境问题在很大程度上遭到忽视。本文将IR对环境的疏离态度归因于其传统的学科架构，提出地球当前的新境况正对该学科的主流理论构成挑战。本文认为，若IR能够进行自我革新并接纳人类世（Anthropocene）概念，或可提升其学科关联性与影响力。承认不确定性、摒弃自然-社会二元对立范式，并采用后人类中心主义视角，是为IR学科未来提出的若干可行发展路径。