The Concept of Autonomy as an Epistemic Foundation?: Many Paths, Many Turns

Abstract

Autonomy is a critical aspect of GIR. This chapter seeks to carry out a twofold exercise regarding the concept of autonomy in International Relations (IR) in Latin America. Firstly, it brings a historic view of these debates to reflect on their content and future in order to, secondly, determine their validity and scope, since it will allow us to interpret existing conflicts in countries that are not global powers, that is to say, the vast majority. In this regard, autonomy stands at the center of the debate, not only as a contribution to the GIR project but also to think beyond Latin America and apply it to other latitudes. Why do scholars in Latin America keep debating autonomy? Sohail Tahir Inayat- ullah (1996) posed a similar question, claiming that strong countries such as the United States inherently enjoy their autonomy as a matter of fact, and, therefore, they need not ponder on how to gain it. This is why in mainstream IR thinking this is not even discussed. Major world powers continue to exert effective control over the fundamental factors of their economy and their po- litical decision-making mechanisms, even in a globalized world. In this sense, autonomy brings to the GIR research agenda a core debate within southern countries reflecting the voices, experiences and knowledge of generally silenced areas of the world, in order to build a truly inclusive discipline (Achayra, 2014).