Does ‘Culture’ explain international relations? A critical perspective

Culture it is argued influences values, world-view, and the structures of human relationships. To quote Hudson (1997 b, p.8), ‘culture tells us what to want, to prefer, to desire, and thus to value.’ Culture as an explanatory variable is gaining wider appeal among the International Relations scholars. It acquired plausibility especially in the post- Cold War period. The post- positivist critiques or Alternative theories (as Robert Cox dubs them) emphasize the role of “culture” in comprehending International Relations more strenuously in the last fifteen years. Culture has also become the focus of foreign policy scholars who try to grasp the cultural influences on the decisions of leaders of various states. With globalization's flexing arms compressing the world into a “global village” (as is often presented by its proponents), scholars increasingly attribute rise of a global culture, which renders enquiry and explanation revolving around “culture” necessary. Social Constructivism has reached its pinnacle with cultural explanation of international relations in Richard Ned Lebow's book, A Cultural Theory of International Relations. Interest in studying culture has also increased after works like Clash of Civilizations and Soft Power gained popularity. This makes us infer culture is a relevant field of inquiry in International Relations. The unanswered question is whether culture can explain or predict actions/decisions/policies of states in the international system. This paper will attempt to critically reflect on culture and its role or otherwise in international relations.