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4 J. Pol. & L. 181 (2011)
The Africanist Delusion: In Defence of the Realist Tradition and the Neo-Neo Synthesis

handle is hein.journals/jpola4 and id is 183 raw text is: The Africanist Delusion: In Defence of the Realist Tradition and the Neo-Neo Synthesis Casper Hendrik Claassen Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa 27-82-551-2722 E-mail: ch.claassen ttgmail.com Abstract In this essay, the Africanist critique of mainstream International Relations (IR) theory and the neo-neo synthesis, and in particular the realist tradition, is critically analysed. It is argued that although the Africanist critique does highlight some pertinent issues, it ultimately fails to be convincing due to, firstly, its misunderstanding of the neo-neo synthesis and the realist tradition in particular; secondly, its disregard for human nature; and thirdly, its promotion of a stance that would lead to further marginalization. It is posited that although Africanists perceive globalisation as Westernisation - and Americanisation to be more specific - and interpret the aforementioned as essentially echoing the Foucauldian notion of a power-knowledge nexus, their interpretation does not necessarily undermine the realist tradition, but rather substantiates it. It is concluded that the realist tradition, specifically, has not led to Africa's marginalization - rather it is something which has been the result of mostly internal dynamics which have created external vulnerabilities. Keywords: Africanist delusion, Sub-Saharan Africa, Neo-neo synthesis 1. Introduction A thesis that has enjoyed growing popularity, and one primarily posited by Africanists, has been that traditional adherence to mainstream International Relations (IR) theory - neo-realism, neo-liberalism(both positivist) and, to a lesser extent, Marxism and critical theory (both post-positivist) - has led to the marginalization of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in world politics, and hence the global economy, by being Eurocentric and thus not considering the unique socio-cultural and socio-economic characteristics of SSA. This argument is based on either the Coxian and Carrian assumption (Acharya & Buzan, 2007: 300; Hobson, 2007: 92), as well as the ancient Greek concept of Phronesis, depending on who is asked. This assumption is that social theory is always generated and employed for the benefit of someone or some group, the spread of certain values, or for the achievement of some goal, such as von Bismarck's neo-mercantilism and the British Empire's use of liberalism, making it an inherently political activity, or the arguments of post-modernists who argue that theory is inadvertently created based on a certain Weltanschauung, so as to benefit someone, spread certain values, or to achieve some goal. To elaborate on the latter contention, it is argued that approaches to IR such as realism, liberalism, Marxism, the English School, constructivism, and postmodernism, et cetera all originated in the West, and are hence unavoidably Eurocentric (Acharya & Buzan, 2007: 299-300; Hobson, 2007: 93). Both strands essentially postulate that there is a nexus between author and theory, a constitutive assertion, and that the West has gained intellectual hegemony in the Gramscian sense (Hobson, 2007: 93), as shown by the understanding of globalisation as Westernisation, and Americanisation to be more specific. The aforementioned essentially echoes Foucault's notion of a power-knowledge nexus. Africanists have thus sought an intellectual revolution which might lead to the creation of a truly African theory of IR that would allow for the proper explanation and understanding of key problems and issues central to the international relations and politics of SSA and would perhaps also allow for the gradual placement of SSA at the centre of world politics, and perhaps the global economy by, for instance, adopting the correct policies (Dunn, 2000: 89-91). The purpose of this essay will be to evaluate the Africanist critique of mainstream IR theory and the Africanist dream of a truly African IR theory and, if any credibility is found then a solution will be sought. 2. The Africanist critique and Neo-neo synthesis Before elaborating on the Africanist critique - a mostly, but not exclusively, reflectivist movement - of the neo-neo synthesis, perhaps its critique of critical theory should be considered first. Africanists, in general, argue that the neo-neo synthesis is essentially Eurocentric in that it glorifies Western civilization via its identification of structures of exploitation (Hobson, 2007: 91-92). Moreover, by identifying structures of exploitation it essentially condones these structures by not offering a solution and consigning non-Western groups, or groups or persons who do not conform to traditional Western culture, to the periphery (Hobson, 2007: 93). This assertion can be interpreted as being a misunderstanding of the nature of critical theory. The value of critical theory lies in its attempt to explain, or expose, structures of exploitation, and via this uncovering act as the foundation for emancipatory theories or Published by Canadian Center ofScience and Education www.ccsenet.org/jpl Journal of Politics and Law Vol. 4, No. 1; March 20 11 181

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