On Robert Gilpin's International Political Economy Theory

The notable peculiarity of traditional international relations theory is focus on "high politics", such as military and political security. The reason why theories of international relations present such characteristics is correlated with the temporal practice of international relations. However, since the1970s, with the development of international economy and multinational relations, the exchanges among the countries have breached the previous fields of military and security, the importance of economy (or international economy) has toned up, at the same time, the interaction or intercommunication between politics and economy (or international politics and international economy) have become the nature of international relations. Thus, a new subject--International Political Economy (IPE) has born.Robert Gilpin (Gilpin) has played an important role in the development of IPE. His theoretical research has just caught the historical opportunity of the important changes on the practice of international relations. He has keenly captured the tremendous changes on the practice of international relations, and recognized that the existing blind spot of explanation for international relations theory, and tried to study international relations theory from the dynamic perspective of interaction between international political system and international economic system. Thus, Robert Gilpin has pioneered a new analysis perspective, and constructed IPE, and has also been the inaugurator and founder of the IPE. Because of uphold to studying IPE, Robert Gilpin become one of the most important Western thinker of IPE. Viewing on the value of IPE and the unique contribution of Gilpin, this dissertation study the theory of Gilpin's IPE, which includes that exploring his theoretical origin, summing up his theory content, comparing this theory with his other theories, analyzing the theoretical impact.This dissertation includes the following parts.Introduction. This part mainly descripts the major expositions of full text, introduces the originof this study, generalizes and analyses the research status quo in china and abroad, explains theresearch meaning and value, designs the overall layout and structure of the article, and points out theresearch methods.Chapter I, explores the theoretical background, origins and development of Gilpin's IPE theory. Firstly, on the theoretical background, Gilpin raises his IPE theory based on the following background: the gradual decline of American hegemony, the up-forwarding role of international economic elements, and the increasing importance of transnational relations. Secondly, on the theoretical origins, from different angles to interpret the three major academic thought tradition—liberalism, mercantilism and Marxist—enclosing the state and the market and their mutual relations, Gilpin's IPE theory is develop based on the critical of the three traditional thought. Thirdly, any theory's construction not be accomplished at one stroke, Gilpin's IPE theory has experienced stages of start, formation, development and improvement, and become increasingly mature.Chapter II, analyzes state and market and their interaction relation, which are the basic elements of Gilpin's IPE theory. To construct a theory, its fundament variables are the basis and primary condition. To analyze and interpret the theory, its fundament variables are the basis for understanding the theory of Gilpin's IPE. Therefore, this chapter particularly analyzes Gilpin's interpretation of the basic variables.Chapter III, synthesizes and summarizes the theoretical system, main contents, and research methods of Gilpin's IPE theory, which is the main part of the dissertation. Specifically, it includes the following aspects: Firstly, the analysis of the Gilpin's IPE theory analytical framework--State-centric realism; Secondly, the explanation of the research program, which is hegemonic stability theory; Thirdly, the generalization and summarization of Gilpin's IPE theoretical characteristics from the theory perspective; Fourthly, the exploration of Gilpin's IPE methodological characteristics from the view of paradigm,.Chapter IV, from the comparative perspective, analyzes Gilpin's IPE theory. State-centric realism and hegemonic stability theory is the core of Gilpin's IPE theory, therefore, comparative studies are also concentrated in these two parts. Through vertical and horizontal comparison, we can see clearly the uniqueness characteristics of Gilpin's IPE theory.Chapter V, critically assesses Gilpin's IPE theory. Writing purpose of this chapter is an objective reflection and evaluation Gilpin's IPE theory. This chapter includes two parts: firstly, the positive side, pointing out the theoretical contributions and value of Gilpin's IPE theory; secondly, the negative side, pointing out the defects and deficiencies of Gilpin's IPE theory. In which, it needs to be explained that the criticism of this paper is not comprehensive attack from all aspects, but the key breakthroughs to hegemonic stability theory for the critical focus point.