The purpose of international relations EH Carr, state propaganda and an informed public opinion

This paper returns to the thought prevalent at the inception of the discipline in order to assess how those issues deemed most relevant have been addressed in contemporary scholarship. Despite EH Carr developing his Realist approach with the aim of undermining State propaganda, this problem remains as, if not more, relevant in modern society. In contrast to Carr's approach, mainstream IR scholarship within the theoretical paradigms is consistently uncritical and status-quo. Consequently, this paper revisits the critical Realism of EH Carr and his purpose for the discipline. The transformation of this Realism is then traced through Classical Realism to contemporary NeoRealism. Thereafter, the paper examines the mainstream theoretical paradigms to illustrate the prevailing approach to International Relations and establish where the critique advocated by Carr has been transposed. The final section is concerned with the purpose of International Relations, arguing that the movement away from critical thought towards an allegiance to the State, as opposed to the public, is systematic of a widespread, and dangerous, obedience to the State within the discipline. Concluding, the paper advocates the return to a critical approach to international affairs, signifying the reversion to a disciplinary obligation to the public as opposed to the State.