探索國際關係理論研究領域中有關不同理論群島(Islands of Theories)之間的建橋計畫(bridge-building project),也就是建立不同理論之間的溝通橋樑,包括以建構主義在理性主義(實證主義)與反思主義(後實證主義)之間建立溝通橋樑,建構主義內各種不同建構主義之間建立橋樑,以及建構主義與理性主義之間建立橋樑,進而產生理論綜合(synthesis)的效果。國際關係理論的建橋計畫正隨著國際關係理論第四次大辯論而聚焦於理性主義與建構主義之間,然而在建橋計畫發展的過程中,也有幾項議題影響到其未來能否順利地發展與完成。包括建橋計畫都是以單線道或一道橋方式進行,並未以建立多線道或多道橋的溝通橋樑為目標;建構主義藉由多元的知識論豐富其理論效度;建橋計畫哲學基礎的爭論,有助於理解哲學論述對國際關係理論發展的影響;經驗研究的個案成為溝通的橋樑與檢視理論效度的判準;理論對話與綜合的可能性,根本思考建橋計畫的可能性;甚至建橋計畫對國際關係理論研究的影響。
Exploring the bridge-building projects between the islands of theories in International Relations research is to build a communicative and dialectic dialogue bridge among these international relations theories. Since the Third Great Debate, the bridge-building projects have become trendy; there were three bridge-building projects: a bridge between rationalism and reflectivism, a bridge among constructivisms, and a bridge between rationalism and constructivism. Along with the Fourth Great Debate, the Rationalism-Constructivism debate, a bridge is being built to synthesise them all. There still remain some injunctions that push in the direction of bridge-building projections: one lane or multi-lane bridges; one or more bridges and constructivism's epistemological pluralism; the debate is in its philosophical ground, and empirical research for the theoretical validity, and the possibility of theoretic dialogue and synthesis.