The Role of Public Choice Theory in International Relations and European Studies

Abstract

While Marek Loužek has drawn attention to several issues important for
International Relations (IR), his conclusions are highly controversial. In his
identification of the basic theoretical approaches to international relations,
Loužek disregards liberalism and radicalism, which, alongside the realism
identified by Loužek, constitute the three basic approaches in IR. Loužek
also inaccurately defines, and rather overestimates, the general significance
of public choice theory (PCT) as a possible perspective on international
relations and European integration. In this context, the real intellectual core
of PCT does not lie in an emphasis on the role of individuals, as Loužek
claims, but on the role of social groups. Moreover, a large number of other
theories, both in IR and European Studies, emphasise the importance of
social groups. Finally, Loužek's explanation of the EU's Eastern enlargement
based on PCT lacks a well-developed methodology, has a narrow scope, and
subsequently fails to convince.