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Book Reviews Globalization, State, Identity/Difference: Toward a Critical Social Theory of International Relations By E.
. The search for reality or understanding the dynamics of human interaction in an institutionalized setting has resulted in a vibrant debate in international relations (IR) theory over the metatheoretical foundations of knowledge production.
By concentrating on epistemology and ontology, critical social theorists have shown the structural weakness of positivist and realist theories.
Keyman seeks to buck this trend by providing a basis for using critical social theory not just as an epistemological critique to challenge the extant theoretical hegemony, but also to deploy it as a "first-order theorizing tool"-an ambitious goal indeed.
To accomplish his stated goals, Keyman addressees four core themes: the nature and representation of the "structure" governing interstate relations (Chapter 2), the position and role of the state in IR theory (Chapter 3), the vexing problem of reflexivity in critical social theory and its implications for rationality and hegemony (Chapter 4), and the importance of identity/difference in defining and understanding the role of the "other" in IR theory (Chapter 5).
Drawing from IR theories and comparative politics, Keyman argues that the state should be treated as a theoretical object that is a historically evolving and dynamic institution.
In addition, he argues that just because critical social theory does not follow a rationalist and empirco-positivist research agenda, this does not mean that there is no research program.
Keyman has presented a rather comprehensive theoretical framework for deploying critical social theory.