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R. B. J. Walker

May 02, 2024

R. B. J. "Rob" Walker (born 1947) is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Victoria, Canada, and PUC-Rio. He is the founding co-editor, with Didier Bigo, of the journal International Political Sociology, and long-term editor of the journal Alternatives: Global, Local, Political. With his colleague Warren Magnusson, he is a founding member of UVIC's interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Cultural, Social and Political Thought. His work, while critical of international relations and political theory disciplines, addresses a broad range of problematics bound up with practices and theories of spatiotemporality, boundaries, and sovereignties.

R. B. J. Walker
Born1947
Reading, Berkshire, UK
CitizenshipBritish & Canadian
Academic background
Alma materQueen's University (MA & Ph.D)
University of Wales, Swansea (B.A.)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Victoria & Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
Main interestsPolitical theory, global politics, concepts of space/time, principles and practices of sovereignty, and early modern political thought
Notable worksInside/Outside: International Relations as Political Theory

Borders and boundaries edit

Walker has written extensively on the logic of "inside/outside", a dichotomy which enables and frames international relations and its theorizations.[1] For Walker, border practices and boundary discourses, spatial demarcations and conceptualizations of here/there and us/them, operate as important sites for understanding these "inside/outside" logics. Vaughan-Williams, assessing the study of borders within international relations disciplines, praises Walker's work for "offering the most sustained engagement with the problem of borders, especially the relationship between the concept of the border of the state and sovereignty, at the intersection of IR and political theory."[2]

State sovereignty edit

Perhaps Walker's largest body of work is on the topic of state sovereignty. Because modern theories of international relations were created in a time when state sovereignty was a given cornerstone of political theorizing, modernist theorists continue this trend, despite it becoming increasingly less apparent. Though Walker denies cosmopolitanism and the assumption that state sovereignty will eventually be a thing of the past, he stresses the importance of Modern theorists to acknowledge the decline of a states ability to act autonomously within its own fixed borders. The European Union is an excellent example of states that are slowly losing sovereignty in a way many traditional IR theorists fail to realize.[3]

Political theory edit

One of Walker's biggest contributions to international relations discourse is his analysis of theories. Walker rejects the dichotomy between theory and practice, where epistemology is favoured over ontology. Practice is "theory-laden", inseparable, and a different theoretical approach will reveal different practical outcomes.[4] It is no small wonder that Walker describes Realism and its tenancies (often afflicted by a negative perception of mankind) in a negative light: "As it informs a rather large and influential literature on geopolitics and military affairs, realism has often degenerated into little more than an antipolitical apology for cynicism and physical force."[5] For Walker, the use of such a theory leads to increasingly negative and cynical practice.

Postmodernism edit

Walker is often cited as being a postmodernist thinker,[6][7] bringing postmodernism into the eye of scholars alongside Richard Ashley.[8] Despite countless theorists and scholars saying otherwise, Walker himself does not claim to be a postmodernist, but rather rejects this principal. Walker, being more concerned with theories themselves and the spatial-temporal factors of their creation, sees postmodernism not as theory separate from modern theories, but simply a product of its own inception. In this sense postmodernism is not the answer to modernism, but the continuation thereof.[9]

Bibliography edit

  • Inside/Outside: International Relations as Political Theory (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993).
  • One World, Many Worlds: Struggles For A Just World Peace (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner; London: Zed Books, 1988).
  • Out of Line: Boundaries, Borders, Limits (London: Routledge, forthcoming July 2015).
  • Europe’s 21st Century Challenge (London: Ashgate, in press for 2010). Coauthored with Didier Bigo, Elspeth Guild and Serge Carerra.
  • After the Globe/Before the World (London: Routledge, 2010).

References edit

  1. ^ Nick Vaughan-Williams. (2009) Border Politics: The Limits of Sovereign Power. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
  2. ^ Nick Vaughan-Williams. (2009) Border Politics: The Limits of Sovereign Power. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press., p. 51
  3. ^ Walker, RBJ (1993) "Inside/Outside: International Relations as Political Theory", Cambridge University Press, p. 159-179
  4. ^ Walker, RBJ (1993) "Inside/Outside: International Relations as Political Theory", Cambridge University Press, p. 8
  5. ^ Walker, RBJ (1987) "Realism, Change and International Political Theory", International Studies Quarterly31, 1: 65-86
  6. ^ Woods, T. (1999) "Beginning postmodernism", Manchester: Manchester University Press, p. 250
  7. ^ Griffiths, M et al (1999) "Fifty Key Thinkers in International Relations", New York: Routledge p. 274
  8. ^ Gibbs, D. (2000) "Is There Room for the Real World in the Postmodernist Universe?" [1] p. 6
  9. ^ Walker, RBJ (1993) Inside/Outside: International Relations as Political Theory, Cambridge University Press, p. 10

Further reading edit

  • Hansen, Lene (2005). "R.B.J. Walker and International Relations: deconstructing a discipline". In Neumann, Iver B.; Waever, Ole (eds.). The Future of International Relations: Masters in the Making?. London: Routledge. pp. 339–360. ISBN 978-1-134-76220-0.
  • Prokhovnik, Raia (2012), "The political theory of boundaries and the boundaries of political theory: an interview with R.B.J. Walker.", in Browning, Gary; Dimova-Cookson, Maria; Prokhovnik, Raia (eds.), Dialogues with contemporary political theorists, Houndsmill, Basingstoke, Hampshire New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 196–216, ISBN 9780230303058

External links edit

  • Full list of Walker's works on his Uvic webpage
  • International Political Sociology home page

May 02, 2024
walker, walker, born, 1947, professor, department, political, science, university, victoria, canada, founding, editor, with, didier, bigo, journal, international, political, sociology, long, term, editor, journal, alternatives, global, local, political, with, . R B J Rob Walker born 1947 is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Victoria Canada and PUC Rio He is the founding co editor with Didier Bigo of the journal International Political Sociology and long term editor of the journal Alternatives Global Local Political With his colleague Warren Magnusson he is a founding member of UVIC s interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Cultural Social and Political Thought His work while critical of international relations and political theory disciplines addresses a broad range of problematics bound up with practices and theories of spatiotemporality boundaries and sovereignties R B J WalkerBorn1947Reading Berkshire UKCitizenshipBritish amp CanadianAcademic backgroundAlma materQueen s University MA amp Ph D University of Wales Swansea B A Academic workInstitutionsUniversity of Victoria amp Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de JaneiroMain interestsPolitical theory global politics concepts of space time principles and practices of sovereignty and early modern political thoughtNotable worksInside Outside International Relations as Political Theory Contents 1 Borders and boundaries 2 State sovereignty 3 Political theory 4 Postmodernism 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksBorders and boundaries editWalker has written extensively on the logic of inside outside a dichotomy which enables and frames international relations and its theorizations 1 For Walker border practices and boundary discourses spatial demarcations and conceptualizations of here there and us them operate as important sites for understanding these inside outside logics Vaughan Williams assessing the study of borders within international relations disciplines praises Walker s work for offering the most sustained engagement with the problem of borders especially the relationship between the concept of the border of the state and sovereignty at the intersection of IR and political theory 2 State sovereignty editPerhaps Walker s largest body of work is on the topic of state sovereignty Because modern theories of international relations were created in a time when state sovereignty was a given cornerstone of political theorizing modernist theorists continue this trend despite it becoming increasingly less apparent Though Walker denies cosmopolitanism and the assumption that state sovereignty will eventually be a thing of the past he stresses the importance of Modern theorists to acknowledge the decline of a states ability to act autonomously within its own fixed borders The European Union is an excellent example of states that are slowly losing sovereignty in a way many traditional IR theorists fail to realize 3 Political theory editOne of Walker s biggest contributions to international relations discourse is his analysis of theories Walker rejects the dichotomy between theory and practice where epistemology is favoured over ontology Practice is theory laden inseparable and a different theoretical approach will reveal different practical outcomes 4 It is no small wonder that Walker describes Realism and its tenancies often afflicted by a negative perception of mankind in a negative light As it informs a rather large and influential literature on geopolitics and military affairs realism has often degenerated into little more than an antipolitical apology for cynicism and physical force 5 For Walker the use of such a theory leads to increasingly negative and cynical practice Postmodernism editWalker is often cited as being a postmodernist thinker 6 7 bringing postmodernism into the eye of scholars alongside Richard Ashley 8 Despite countless theorists and scholars saying otherwise Walker himself does not claim to be a postmodernist but rather rejects this principal Walker being more concerned with theories themselves and the spatial temporal factors of their creation sees postmodernism not as theory separate from modern theories but simply a product of its own inception In this sense postmodernism is not the answer to modernism but the continuation thereof 9 Bibliography editInside Outside International Relations as Political Theory Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1993 One World Many Worlds Struggles For A Just World Peace Boulder CO Lynne Rienner London Zed Books 1988 Out of Line Boundaries Borders Limits London Routledge forthcoming July 2015 Europe s 21st Century Challenge London Ashgate in press for 2010 Coauthored with Didier Bigo Elspeth Guild and Serge Carerra After the Globe Before the World London Routledge 2010 References edit Nick Vaughan Williams 2009 Border Politics The Limits of Sovereign Power Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press Nick Vaughan Williams 2009 Border Politics The Limits of Sovereign Power Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press p 51 Walker RBJ 1993 Inside Outside International Relations as Political Theory Cambridge University Press p 159 179 Walker RBJ 1993 Inside Outside International Relations as Political Theory Cambridge University Press p 8 Walker RBJ 1987 Realism Change and International Political Theory International Studies Quarterly31 1 65 86 Woods T 1999 Beginning postmodernism Manchester Manchester University Press p 250 Griffiths M et al 1999 Fifty Key Thinkers in International Relations New York Routledge p 274 Gibbs D 2000 Is There Room for the Real World in the Postmodernist Universe 1 p 6 Walker RBJ 1993 Inside Outside International Relations as Political Theory Cambridge University Press p 10Further reading editHansen Lene 2005 R B J Walker and International Relations deconstructing a discipline In Neumann Iver B Waever Ole eds The Future of International Relations Masters in the Making London Routledge pp 339 360 ISBN 978 1 134 76220 0 Prokhovnik Raia 2012 The political theory of boundaries and the boundaries of political theory an interview with R B J Walker in Browning Gary Dimova Cookson Maria Prokhovnik Raia eds Dialogues with contemporary political theorists Houndsmill Basingstoke Hampshire New York Palgrave Macmillan pp 196 216 ISBN 9780230303058External links editFull list of Walker s works on his Uvic webpage International Political Sociology home page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title R B J Walker amp oldid 1143983433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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