Varieties of international pluralism. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hjorth, Ronnie
• Is Part Of: Journal of international political theory. Volume 19:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 183
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: English school -- Hannah Arendt -- international pluralism -- international theory -- Michael Oakeshott; Political science -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 320.01105
• DOI: 10.1177/17550882221115456
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-0882

Abstract

This paper shows that while there seems to be more or less a general acceptance for plurality as a condition of world politics and at least a vague commitment to a pluralist ideal, the challenge remains to formulate a fruitful account of international pluralism. While dominating approaches to international theory present international pluralism as essentially a by-product and instrumental, this paper suggest an alternative way to conceive of international pluralism when defending the ancient concept variety as a better guide to approach both the understanding of plurality as the human condition and the notion of international pluralism. The paper concludes that it is preferable to accept a variety of pluralist conceptions rather than go on searching for a theoretical conception standing above the controversy; accepting pluralism in a sense involves rejecting just one version of pluralism.