The concept of change and James N. Rosenau: Still international relations?

Abstract

This article aims to study issue of ‘change and continuity’ in the field of international relations and the
capability of mainstream approaches of international relations and history to cover the issue of change from
perspective of James N. Rosenau. The dynamics of change and statics of continuity, at micro and macro levels
and interaction between two levels will be analyzed, with the aim of designing a theoretical framework for the
issue of ‘change and continuity’. Methodologically, conceptual framework Rosenau uses to explain dynamics
of change will be given priority and primacy he attaches to improvement in micro phenomena will be explained.
It is argued in this article that even it is far from clear whether global turbulence is a temporary or a permanent
condition, change is in progress and is altering the parameters of world politics. Thus, the mainstream
conceptual framework and history understanding is incapable to approach the issue of change and there is the
need of a jail-breaking process that is to consider new concepts, new actors and new types of relationships.