According to the critical theory perspective, inequality, imperialism, and injustice occur as a result of global development; mainstream theories wrongly identify causal factors like ideas and institutions as necessary for successful development instead of looking at the totality of social, political, and economic forces. Furthermore, critical theorists argue that imperialism and colonialism, which exploit other societies, led to the development of the West. The interests of advanced countries and MNCs perpetuate the differences in development across countries. The goal of critical theory perspectives is to identify conflicts and people who are adversely affected by the political, economic, and social forces of the world economy, such as indigenous groups and women, in order to remedy their plight.

This chapter is intended to introduce you to a body of scholarship that is very critical of mainstream understandings of international politics.  Before you decide whether or not the critical perspective is right or wrong, try it on for size.  Notice what kinds of questions are raised by a critical perspective that may not seem important from other points of view.  Notice that there are some questions that the critical perspective has difficulty addressing, that may have fairly standard answers in the mainstream view.