Critical response to the works of Richard Ashley

Alexander Holeša

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Richard Ashley, post-štrukturálny mysliteľ medzinárodných vzťahov odmieta mož-nosť objektívneho poznania reality, a dominantné prúdy myslenia v rámci IR vidí, ako mocenské konštrukty. Jeho hlavné diela nesú disidentský nádych a emancipačné úsilie kriticky preskúmať dominantné naratívy, za účelom vytvorenia priestoru pre myslenie a prijatie alternatívnych a marginalizovaných hlasov. Táto bakalárska práca sa snaží určiť nakoľko sú jeho závery opodstatnené. Práca na to využíva auto-reflexívnu evaluáciu, kde Ashleyho závery sú aplikované na jeho premisy s cieľom určiť ich kon-zistentnosť. Výsledky práce ukázali logické rozpory a nedostatky v Ashleyho argumentácii, ktoré odhaľujú, že Ashleyho diela kopírujú tie isté mocenské praktiky, ako tie, ktoré sa Ashley snaží pripísať iným autorom.

Abstract:

Richard Ashley, a post-structuralist thinker of international relations, rejects the possibility of objective knowledge of reality, seeing dominant currents of thought within IR as power constructs. His main articles are written in a dissident spirit, with an emancipatory effort. His main aim is to critically examine dominant narratives to create a space for thinking and for accepting alternative and marginalized voices. This bachelor's thesis seeks to determine the extent to which his conclusions are justified. The thesis employs self-reflexive evaluation, in which Ashley's conclusions are applied to his premises to determine their consistency. The results of the thesis have shown logical contradictions and shortcomings in Ashley's argumentation, revealing that Ashley's works replicate the same power practices that Ashley attempts to impose on other authors.

Keywords

Richard Ashley, epistemology, post-structuralism, self-reflective evaluation, postmodernism, relativism, anti-foundationalism, knowledge construction

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 16. 12. 2025

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 21. 1. 2026
• Supervisor: Mgr. Kateřina Fridrichová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Vladan Hodulák, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Bachelor programme / field:
International Relations / International Relations