The distinction between problem-solving and critical theory was made by Cox(1981: 128) in conjunction with his much-quoted remark that knowledge is always for someone and for some purpose'. Put another way, political inquiry is never objective and value-free but supports, however unintentionally, particular conceptions of society which favour identifiable sectional interests. Cox argued that neo-realism is a version of problem-solving theory which takes the existing international order for granted and asks how it can be made to function more smoothly'.