This study has concerned itself with providing an answer to a very specific question: why is it that theory oriented toward human emancipation remains poorly developed within the discipline of International Relations? We are now in a position to provide an answer to this question, both in terms of what does explain the traditional absence of emancipatory International Relations theory as well as what does not.

This absence cannot be explained by either a lack of commitment to the improvement of human welfare on the part of International Relations theorists, or a lack of awareness by these theorists as to the nature of the threats under which our planet is living.