The Power of Power Politics

Introduction

The proposition

Kuhn's notion that theory construction is a paradigm-directed activity has both an analytical and an empirical meaning. Analytically, the proposition means that it is logically impossible to construct theories without the prior existence of a paradigm (Kuhn 1970a: 15–17). This aspect of Kuhn's notion is substantiated by definition, since it is impossible to have a theory that does not make certain fundamental assumptions. Empirically, the proposition means that a single specific paradigm guides theory construction (Kuhn 1970a: 10–11). It is this empirical aspect that is embodied in the proposition that will be tested in this chapter: The realist paradigm guided theory construction in the field of international relations during the 1950s and 1960s.

According to Kuhn, theory construction in normal science involves clarifying the concepts presented in the dominant paradigm and employing them in light of research to elaborate theories. Kuhn calls theory construction paradigm articulation because the process is conducted by a division of labor, with different scholars working in specialized problem areas suggested by the research agenda of the paradigm. In a sense, the paradigm provides an outline, and theory construction articulates the paradigm by filling in the details. The paradigm provides guidance in that it focuses scholars' attention on certain problems and provides them with a set of fundamental assumptions that the new theoretical work never violates.

The need for paradigm articulation presupposes that the work that originally presented the paradigm did not provide all the answers.