Role Theory as a third way in International Relations

Abstract

This paper reflects on Role Theory (RT) and its development in International Relations through a literature review of works published in recent decades. It seeks to analyze the combination of the International Politics (IP) and Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) as envisioned through RT. Understanding the process of changing state behavior in different areas requires the consideration of structural, institutional and identity factors of the international system and the domestic environment, and RT seems to be able to unite the different levels of analysis adequately. The confluence of IR and FPA theories through RT is only possible due to particularities of this theory, so understanding how RT dialogues with each of these fields is relevant. Thus, this article will discuss the origins of RT in the humanities and IR, some of its dialogues with other theories, its relationship with the FPA, and its main concepts. RT literature on Brazilian foreign policy will be explored briefly. Another reason for discussing RT’s history and conceptual framework comes from the need to unify concepts exposed in recent RT manuals and articles, which may be useful for future analyses that intend to use RT as a theoretical model. Greater emphasis is given to two concepts: National Role Conception (NRC) and Domestic Role Contestation (DRC). NRC can be defined as policymakers’ perceptions of their nations' position in the international system and are, at least in theory, domestically shared views of what the state's role in the international system should be; they are the basis of Role Theory in IR.

Keywords

• role theory. national role conception. domestic role contestation.