Interests, identity and nordicity explaining Norwegian mediation efforts

Abstract

If the purpose of IR theory is to aid our understanding of the major events and problems facing us today, then it is imperative that events are not simplified purely for the sake of theory. All potentially relevant resources must be considered, regardless of the theoretical tradition in which they are rooted. It is entirely possible that there are problems, which can be viewed and understood, through the lens of one school of thought alone, yet the reality of more complex problems, which do not fit into a particular box, must be acknowledged. Sil and Katzenstein, exponents of 'analytic eclecticism,' 59 acknowledge the limitations of viewing problems through a single theoretical lens. They describe analytic eclecticism as "a means for social scientists to guard against the risks of excessive reliance on a single analytic framework and the simplifying assumptions that come with it." 60 Sil and Katzenstein argue that "analytic eclecticism increases the chance that scholars and other actors will hit upon hidden connections and new insights that elude us when we simplify the world for the sole purpose of analyzing it through a single theoretical lens." 61 Fearon and Wendt reinforce this argument stating that the most interesting research is likely to be that, which cuts across the rationalist/constructivist boundary. 62 They argue that structuring IR as a "battle of analytical paradigms" can lead to scholars being method-driven rather than problem-driven in their approach which can in turn result in important questions or answers being ignored if they do not fit in with the "preferred paradigmatic fashion." 63 This is particularly pertinent in the case of the decision-making processes behind Norway's interventions in intra-state conflicts, as attempts to view this through one or other theoretical framework have failed to provide convincing explanations. The ways in which this approach will be applied in the context of this study are described in detail in the conceptual framework, laid out in Chapter Two.