Paradigm Shifts and 9/11: International Relations After the Twin Towers – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

The author examines whether the 9/11 attacks necessitate a paradigm shift in international relations theory, arguing that while existing theories like neorealism and constructivism remain viable, the event should prompt IR scholars to prioritize previously neglected areas such as international terrorism, US foreign policy, and the transatlantic relationship.

• The author references Barry Buzan's argument that the September 11 attacks are unlikely to be revolutionary for intellectual theory, suggesting the event is more akin to the Cuban Missile Crisis—a 'short sharp' event rather than a transformative one—and that major theoretical perspectives like neorealism, globalism, regionalism, and constructivism can still account for the event.
• The author argues that IR should expand its research focus to include political phenomena previously ignored or marginalized, specifically international terrorism, messianic religion, and pre-modern opposition to modernity, to better understand future attacks.
• The document asserts that the United States and its foreign policy are too critical to be analyzed solely by Americans, suggesting that European scholars should provide external critical perspectives on US actions.
• The author identifies the transatlantic relationship as a vital area for future research, noting that 9/11 intensified existing tensions regarding the gap in capabilities between Europe and the US and the rise of US unilateralism.
• While acknowledging the immediate intellectual focus on the Middle East and South Asia (specifically the nuclear relationship between India and Pakistan), the author warns against neglecting security implications in Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and sub-Saharan Africa.
• The author cautions against the over-reliance on simplistic historical analogies to explain 9/11, arguing that the choice of analogy (such as Pearl Harbor or the Cold War) often reflects the writer's desired conclusion rather than historical accuracy.

APA

Cox, M. (2002). Paradigm Shifts and 9/11: International Relations After the Twin Towers – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://www.prio.org/publications/2780

Chicago

Cox, Michael. Paradigm Shifts and 9/11: International Relations After the Twin Towers – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2002. https://www.prio.org/publications/2780.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cox |first1=Michael |title=Paradigm Shifts and 9/11: International Relations After the Twin Towers – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=1 June 2002 |url=https://www.prio.org/publications/2780 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cox2002paradigm, author = {Cox, Michael}, title = {{Paradigm Shifts and 9/11: International Relations After the Twin Towers – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2002}, month = jun, url = {https://www.prio.org/publications/2780}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }