Why “isms” Are Evil: Theory, Epistemology, and Academic Sects as Impediments to Understanding and Progress 1

This essay probes tensions between our professional practices and the quality of our professional output in the field of international studies. We organize ourselves into academic “sects” that engage in self‐affirming research and then wage theological debates between academic religions. This occurs at both the level of theory and epistemology. Unfortunately, this academic sectarianism produces less understanding rather than more. Theoretically, we should focus on developing contingent, mid‐level theories of specific phenomena. Epistemologically, we should recognize there are multiple valid and perhaps even complementary paths to understanding.