A Comparative Attitude to «Development Studies» in the International Political Economy and International Relations Approaches

Development has always been considered as a very controversial issue in Social Science and other related academic disciplines. Even in International Relations studies due to the domination of epistemological and methodological Issues in recent decades, complexities and conceptual debate over this subject have been intensified and it has been very difficult to find a conceptual framework to deal with development issues. Furthermore Political Science and International Relations do not necessarily consider development studies as an academic priority. So development studies require an independent academic discipline in an age of globalization and in a globalized world, concentrating on most tangible issues in the realm of global politics and economics. In this regard this article has tried to reassess the position of International Political economy as an independent academic discipline mainly concerned of development issues based on this hypothesis that International political economy is yet considered the best academic discipline to deal with development issues and in comparison with international relations it is enjoying the most explanatory power. On the Other hand it is so crucial establishing the course of International political economy in Iranian academic centers and faculties given the ongoing rise of discipline worldwide and the vital importance of development studies.