Fluff in the clouds

You know how it is online... one link leads to another link leads to another link.

And sometimes it's not something you're in to. If you're like me, and need to fall asleep quickly, go ahead and clicky clicky. Especially that last one, which is on International relations theory. ;P

I have to confess... this is NOT one of my strong suits. Theories. But I read it all, dutifully, and... yup. I'm sleepy now.

It's enlightening, nevertheless. Sure, I'm going to have to sit awhile as my brain digests some of them big words... but enlightening all the same.

See, we don't have all this in Singapore. We have one primary government party and that's it. Sure, we have people in opposition parties running whenever elections are called for, but a lot of Singaporeans only vote one way. Especially the older generation, when they remember a time when our politicians DID something else except talk.

But now it's a new world, eh? Talk is all that happens?

Anyhoo... International Relations Theory. I mean... International relations? Ok. But Theory? Just the introduction makes me want to reach for my bolster :

International relations theory attempts to provide a conceptual model upon which international relations can be analyzed. Each theory is reductive and essentialist to different degrees, relying on different sets of assumptions respectively. As Ole Holsti describes them, international relations theories act as a pair of coloured sunglasses, allowing the wearer to see only the salient events relevant to the theory. An adherent of realism may completely disregard an event that a constructivist might pounce upon as crucial, and vice versa.

Doh! I'm a worker bee. My hands were made to touch/feel/do. I usually need to play with something to understand the concept behind it. I could never discuss concepts. I'd be happy to discuss possibilities, but never concepts. Especially concepts that "act as a pair of coloured sunglasses, allowing the wearer to see only the salient events relevant to the theory".


I think these guys need to get a real job.....