Abstract

The notion of?reflexivity? has been so intimately tied to the critique of positivism and empiricism in International Relations that the emergence of post-positivism has naturally produced the anticipation of a?reflexive turn? in IR theory. Three decades after the launch of the post-positivist critique, however, reflexive IR has failed to impose itself as either a clear or serious contender to mainstream scholarship. Reasons for this failure include: the proliferation of different understandings of?reflexivity? in IR theory that entail significantly different projects and concerns for IR scholarship; the equation of?reflexive theory? with?critical? and?emancipatory theory? and the consequent confusion of ethical/normative issues with strictly epistemic/theoretical ones; and the refusal to consider reflexive IR as a?research programme? concerned with empirical knowledge, not just meta-explanation. The development of reflexivity in IR theory as a sustainable cognitive and praxeological effort is nonetheless possible? and still needed. This article suggests what taking the?reflexive turn? would really entail for IR