沟通行动理论与国际关系研究

哈贝马斯的沟通行动理论是一种社会批判理论,属于德国法兰克福学派,其理论基于人类解放的认知旨趣,蕴含着丰富的人文传统。20世纪90年代以来,从国际关系批判理论中产生了不仅注重批判,更加注重建设的建构主义理论。应用沟通行动理论研究国际关系成为欧洲建构主义的特色,这种以理解具体行动意义为目的的阐释学方法不同于美国建构主义对行为的实证研究。沟通行动的应用研究解决了结构与行为体互构机制的难题,避免了建构主义经验研究中的结构偏向,使行为体的施动性重回研究视野,奠定了规范内化的微观基础,从而回归了建构主义的实践本体论。国际文化的制度化,国际制度的合法化以及国家的社会化都离不开国家间的沟通行动。另外,国际关系中公共领域和生活世界的存在也使得国家间沟通行动成为可能。但是,虽然沟通行动理论在国际关系中的应用研究在某种程度上实现了科学传统与人文精神的融合,但是对于国际体系中的突现现象,仍无法予以有力的解释,这也显示了沟通行动理论应用研究的局限性。

Theory of Communicative Action and Study of International Relations

Theory of communicative action(CA) by Habermas is a kind of critical social theory,which is a branch of Frankfurt School.This branch is based on the cognitive interests of human emancipation and full of the tradition of Humanism.The 1990s saw the rise of constructive theories from critical international theories and the application of theory of communicative action in the study of I.R.characterized European constructivism.This interpretive approach is different from the positive studies of American constructivism.The application of CA in I.R.solved the puzzle of the mechanism of interaction between agent and structure,avoided the structure bias in the empirical studies,brought the agency of actor back in,established the Microfourdation of the internalization of international norms and returned to the practical ontology of constructivism.The lifeworld and public sphere in international relations make CA possible among nation-states.The institutionalization of international culture,legitimization of international institutions and socialization of nation-states can all be integrated into CA.However,this application of CA can't explain the emergency in international system despite its wonderful integration of scientific tradition and humanistic spirit,which indicates the limitation of this application in the study of I.R.