How was it for you? The oligarchic structure of international relations and feminist theory.

Abstract

It is my purpose to show that radical humanist and feminist theorising have much to offer each other. Central to this article's thesis is the oligarchic structure of international relations; that is, a small, oligarchic clique of states exercising power in its own interests to the detriment of the overwhelming majority of the world's population. The core position and borders of radical humanist theorising are examined, along with an assessment of some of the major the theoretical divergences between radical humanist and feminist theorising. Areas for theoretical alliance are also located which indicate the necessity of an inter-disciplinary approach that takes into account Third World liberation and the Green movement. A review of world government literature is noted, along with a review of contemporary examples of mainstream International Relations publications--which continue to avoid the feminist standpoint, or relegate feminism to a subsidiary position--and the faulty theoretical positions of Anthony Giddens and the pro-polyarchy perspective. The conclusion considers the benefits of cross-theoretical dialogue between feminist theory and radical humanist theory.

Key Words: Oligarchy, Humanism, Feminism.

Introduction

 
   You may find that you believe in the theory of feminism, but you do 
   not see yourself fitting into the branches of feminism ... You can 
   believe that women and men should be politically, economically and 
   socially equal for your own reasons and hold your own ideas 
   pertaining how you can make that happen. If that is the case, then 
   generally you can consider yourself a feminist"--Feminism Theories 
   Defined. (1) 
 
   "Humanism believes in a far-reaching program that stands for the 
   establishment throughout the world of democracy, peace, and a high 
   standard of living on the foundations of a flourishing economic 
   order, both national and international"--Humanism Defined. (2) 

An emancipatory discourse on international politics, rather than a rationalising one, critically analyses the conservative stance of foundational International Relations (IR) theories such as realism (the politics of power) and international liberalism and in particular their lack of theoretical focus on the oligarchic structure of international relations. With regard to the global, anti-democratic nature of the prevailing system of international relations, emancipatory discourses such as feminism, Marxism and radical humanism differ, for example, on the fundamental global strategy of how to replace the present (oligarchic) structure with a more democratic system; they differ over the fundamental democratic units that are to be set in place.

The proclivity of the world system of politics to incline towards oligarchy rather than democracy remains of paramount importance in the radical humanist perspective. In practice this means that a clique of states--The West (Britain, France, and the USA) along with China and Russia--"lord it over", politically, the other 180 or so nation-states (recognised by the United Nations (UN)) which make up the formal world system of states.