Robert Jackson's response to Martin Wight and International Theory
...hing to do with mere survival, one will have to look within the domestic political realm to see real progress occurring. Jackson’s critique of Wight is basically about perspective and emphasis. The reason I say this is because despite their differences, we must not forget that both are agreed upon certain things. For example, Jackson states early on in his essay that “survival may be threatened by internal war. The good life may be fostered by external aid.” (261). This isn’t essentially different from when Wight said: “What for political theory is the extreme case (as revolution, or civil war) is for international theory the regular case.” Eventhough Wight would like to characterize international political theory as a realm of survival, he did not ignore the truth that there would be occasions whereby domestic political situations called for a preoccupation in thinking and acting to attain survival – ignoring, at least for a moment, the more progressive thoughts about the good life. In this area, both would agree that the domestic and international political realm consists of the unprogressive form of survival mentality. The only difference here is Wight’s belief that the International political realm consists of more of, or only, these kind of ‘fighting for survival’ activities. One could even argue that Wight’s characterization of the international political realm was so negative because he was writing at a time before the great ameliorating effects of the process of globalization and integration of the political, social and economic realm had occurred; Jackson’s response benefited from and reflected the current international political trend, perhaps especially the recent fall of communism. While Wight sees “survival” of the state as something good but yet not positive enough, Jackson views “survival” in a more positive light. For Wight, “survival” is a precondition for the real work of states – a precondition that needs to be fulfilled so that the real act of providing a good life could be focused on by, and within, the state. Jackson wants us to realize that being a precondition does not make the international political focus on seeking “survival” any less important to the seeking of a good life. Indeed, pursuing survival of a state is a very important element in the seeking to increase the level of good life for one’s citizens. A precondition is after all still a condition; seeking survival is still an important means of seeking the good life. Therefore, International and Political theory are both understood to be concerned ultimately with the good life. Both authors would in a sense agree with such a statement. However, Wight tends to emphasize that Political theory is more directly associated with the good life and in doing so he perhaps has a more narrow view of what activities are involved in promoting the good life. Jackson, on the other ...