What relations matter? This question sits at the heart of this article and addresses in a more thoroughgoing way the methodological and ethico-political problems that some relational thinkers have debated. We are interested in deep relationalism and the methodological problem of delineating which relations matter in a reality defined by an ever-unfolding web of relations. By acknowledging the relationality of critical international relations (IR) theories, this methodological puzzle is explored by recognizing the situatedness of relations that are being analyzed. Moreover, this helps us to start a conversation on the ethical and political dimensions of deeply relational approaches. By placing the ontological work of deep relationalism in dialogue with the epistemological and ethico-political aspects of critical theory, we are putting forth an account of critical relationalism. Furthermore, we are not only arguing for a critical approach to relationalism but also adding to one of the main methodological debates in relationalism that asks us to carefully consider which relations matter (for our analysis) and how we should access them? Finally, this piece advocates for more plural grounds for relationalism in IR to critically reflect on which relations our theoretical approaches can take us to and why this matters.

中文翻译：

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什么关系重要？

什么关系重要？这个问题是本文的核心，并以更彻底的方式解决了一些关系思想家争论的方法论和伦理政治问题。我们对深层关系主义和描述哪些关系在由不断展开的关系网络定义的现实中重要的方法论问题感兴趣。通过承认批判性国际关系 (IR) 理论的关系性，通过识别正在分析的关系的情境性来探索这一方法论难题。此外，这有助于我们就深度关系方法的伦理和政治层面展开对话。通过将深层关系主义的本体论工作与批判理论的认识论和伦理政治方面进行对话，我们正在提出批判关系主义的说明。此外，我们不仅主张对关系主义采取批判性方法，而且还增加了关系主义的主要方法论辩论之一，要求我们仔细考虑哪些关系很重要（对于我们的分析）以及我们应该如何访问它们？最后，这篇文章提倡在 IR 中为关系主义提供更多的多元基础，以批判性地反思我们的理论方法可以将我们带到哪些关系以及为什么这很重要。