Critique of Barry Buzan - Essay Example

Barry Buzan Barry Buzan, born on April 28, 1946, is an Emeritus of International Relations, located at the London School of Economics. He attributes his interest in International Relations to his childhood. As a child, he was interested in war and weapons, and later on become a fanatic of history. Mark Zacher encouraged him to study International Relations, and he even realized that he could make a career out of it. According to the Professor, International Relations is not a discipline, but rather it is a cross-disciplinary field. This helps the reader or learner to study different disciplines at the same time and understand how they relate (Albert, Buzan & Zurn 2013). This, therefore, shows that International Relations cannot stand on its own, but instead needs to borrow ideas from different disciplines. This helps the students gain diverse knowledge about different aspects of the society that they did not know were interlinked. Its study also helps the student understand the different activities and practices that people undertake (Buzan 2015). Professor Buzan has written numerous books, and he has not shied away from writing his books with other authors. He understands that it is important to seek the help of others when writing, especially on diverse topics such as International Relations, because people have different experiences and knowledge about the topic and it is important to learn from each other. This will expand his knowledge and understand areas of study that he has not researched on. In this case, it is arguable that the work done by Buzan has earned him a lot of admiration. This is because a large number of authors have built their careers on the work initialized by Buzan. Further, many of her books have been written as collaborative efforts with other writers. Hobson and Hobden (2002) declares that Buzan did not co-write books with other writers because of inadequacies but as a matter of giving other scholars a clear roadmap of becoming excellent in their various fields. In his books, the Professor aims at making his learners understand different roots that will help understand different people and culture. He also teaches about the current practices and gives a history of how they have developed over a period of time. He also identifies the future avenues of development of the society and how they can be developed. His books have been widely used by scholars and students across the world as a point of reference for their studies. Other authors have also critiqued his books and pointed out areas that he has failed to study. Adrian Gallagher for instance, stated that the Professor’s books such as An Introduction to the English School of International Relations formed a great reading for scholars that focus on critiquing and using the ES approach (Buzan, 2014). According to Adrian, this book has an easy introduction that is clear to understand and also helps the learner understand complicated information by providing a step by step guide. The book is said to help trigger rethink and redevelop the English School project (Buzan 2004). The structure of the books which includes the introduction, body, and conclusion helps the reader have a smooth reading as the ideas are written in a manner that flows and is easy to understand. This form of writing helps the reader shift his reading from one point to the next without being confused by what the writer aimed at discussing. In the body of the book, the author includes the key points that his readers need to learn, and he starts this by giving the most important points priority. The conclusion also is also clear and concise as the author captures all the points that were discussed in the book. This acts as a reminder or a summary to the reader on what he has read. The price of the book is easily affordable by the readers and most readers agree that the book is helpful as it gives a clear understanding of how the ES is related to other approaches. Chapter 3 for instance which covers the theories and methodologies discusses the differences between the ES and regime theory. This is done by use of simple language, and this makes reading of the book very easy. These theories help to give a clear understanding of the topic, and also show how situations have evolved over time (Acharya & Buzan 2010). The Professor takes times to write his books because he understands that many people look up to him for knowledge. It is hardly possible to have a conversation about International Relations without mentioning the ways that Professor Buzan has contributed to the study. He researches and consults widely to gain more knowledge on his topics of interest. As a result, his books end up being well detailed and appealing to the readers. His fellow Professors also agree that his work can relate to various aspects of teaching as they are very diverse but do not deviate to other areas. If that occurs, his books may confuse the readers as it would be hard to understand the topic that the Professor wants to study. His age can also be attributed to his clear writing and diverse ideas. This is because, through the years, he has witnessed many changes in the environment he lives in and he has identified areas that need improvement and how others can be improved. Some of his books are also praised for being among the best books that help readers understand the evolution of man and various activities, as well as the current state of the world (Buzan & Little 2000). An example of the book that he has successfully managed to explain this is International Systems in the World which he co-authored with Richard Little. Because of his experience in writing and teaching International Relations, the Professor finds it easy to explain events that have happened, and how places and people have developed to make the world a great place. Through the books, he also gives his opinion of what can be done to make the world even better and how humans should contribute to see that this happens. This can, for instance, be related to his books about international security. He shows how security is important and why it needs to be upheld. He also makes it clear on ways that it can be practiced. The Professor has noted that it is not possible to exhaust the study of International Relations because it is a huge field comprised of different subjects (Hobson & Hobden 2002). To study International Relations, a student, therefore, has to focus on a specific aspect that he feels comfortable with and study it well. International Relations is linked to world history and this, therefore, makes it harder to study it completely. This is because it may take many years to complete the study. As a person studies, the world keeps changing. What people learned 10 years ago is different from what people are studying today and this makes it hard to study the topic without having a specific topic in mind. One can choose a topic and focus on the history behind it, the current studies about it, and what is expected in the future (Buzan & Waever 2003). Barry Buzan has made significant contribution to various fields of study, though his main focus has been on international relations. Through his various books, Barry Buzan has made his intentions clear that the society needs to change their attitude toward various aspects of globalization. His work has served as an appraisal for researchers to take on the topic for further study and analysis. With the current trend in globalization, everybody should appreciate the work done by Barry Buzan in laying groundwork for a better relationship for individuals who are engaged in the international affairs. Moreover, Barry Buzan work has been credited for predicting various arrangements and formulae that are achievable to obtain more cohesive international affairs. As such, his work is very important in obtaining complete integration, both politically and socioeconomic. Another aspect that is quite noteworthy is the fact that Barry Buzan’s love for international relationship is inbuilt: it is intrinsically motivated and hence he does not pick on political attitude when developing his outlines. Buzan and Little (2000) assert that the work done by Barry Buzan is not politically oriented and hence the work forms a neutral ground on which international crisis can be settled. His work is , therefore, very reliable and can form a bases for further research and development to cater for the new trends in international. He has been credited as a revolutionist who aimed at writing the correct information, unbiased and non-inclined so as to allow the reader to make his or her own judgment concerning issues affecting international business, politics, cultural and religion among other diversities exhibited in the world, (Hobson & Hobden 2002). Therefore, Barry Buzan has earned his place in history as far as international relations is concerned. References Acharya, A & Buzan, B. Non-western International Theories. Abindgon, Oxon: Routledge. Albert, M, Buzan, B,& Zurn, M., 2013. Bringing Sociology to International Relations. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Buzan, B., 2014. An Introduction to the English School of International Relations. USA, Polity Press. Buzan, B., 2015. The Global Transformation. United Kingdom: The Cambridge University Press. Buzan, B., 2004. From International to World Society? United Kingdom: The Cambridge University Press. Buzan, B & Waever, O., 2003. Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security. United Kingdom: The Cambridge University Press. Buzan, B & Little, R., 2000. International Systems in World History. New York: Oxford Press. Hobson, J & Hobden, S., 2002. Historical Sociology of International Relations. United Kingdom: Cambridge Press. Read More