Critical Theory of Robert W. Cox

The scholarship of historian and political economist, Robert W Cox, spans some thirty to fifty years. As an outsider to the fields of IR/IPE the inspiration wellspring of his work is often misunderstood and incorrectly represented. This comprehensive overview focuses on the development of his thinking and attempts to set the record straight. The book compares Cox with the critical theory of the Frankfurt school and with scholars who have attempted to incorporate it into IR/IPE theory and finds that they are not the same. A selection of work by those who have been inspired by Coxian Critical Theory has been included to highlight some challenges and opportunities for critical political economists. It is suggested that Cox's tolerance for diversity and his eclecticism can potentially bridge the gap between rationalist and interpretative approaches to political economy by pointing us towards a critical empiricist theory of political economy. It is hoped that the volume will provide a point of entry for younger scholars and that it will refocus the attention of established scholars some 20 years after the publication of Power, Production and World Order: Social Forces in the Making of History.