System Theory in International Relations: Alexander Bogdanov’s Tektology Potential

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Abstract

Modern international relations science is faced with theoretical and methodological fragmentation, determined by ontological contradictions between theories. Systems theory has the research potential to explain dynamic international political processes. However, in the practice of its application in social sciences, researchers have encountered numerous difficulties and contradictions. The hypothesis is that the tektology of Alexander Bogdanov overcomes these difficulties and allows to consider social systems in dynamics and at different levels. System theories in the social sciences are analyzed, their basic contradictions are identified. The basic concepts of tektology are described, its methodology is applied to the study of modern international relations. It is concluded that tektology provides extensive research tools for the study of international relations, allows to identify the most general patterns of development of this part of the social space, and can become the basis for long-term forecasting of international political processes.

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About the authors

Alexey A. Aleshin

Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: aleshin.a@imemo.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7872-3298

Candidate of Political Sciences, Senior Researcher of the Department of International Political Problems

Russian Federation, Moscow

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2. Figure 1. System formation process

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3. Figure 2. System collapse process

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