Mohammad, I want to encourage you. This field -- the history of economic  
thought -- is influenced by two factors that mitigate against the kind  
of work you describe. The first, with which I am sure all HESers will  
agree, is the neglect of history. Problems that were addressed and dealt  
with superbly in the past are continually emerging again in contemporary  
literature. They are handled as if the body of economics suffers from  
chronic amnesia. 
 
The second is the desire of university sponsors to regard its professors  
as experts. It doesn't matter too much in what field or whether the  
field itself is worthy of study. 
 
As a result of these factors, most modern historians of economics  
struggle to succeed in academia by carving out a niche. For example, one  
might become an Alfred Marshall historian or an historian of early  
institutionalism. They also join together in associations like HES to  
promote their common interests. They create journals which enable the  
members to show the universities their expertise with a published paper  
and related activities. 
 
In creating associations and journals, they also become gatekeepers. In  
such an atmosphere, it is much easier to succeed in the eyes of one's  
university by finding a niche than it is to challenge existing works.  
And if a gatekeeper happens to be the one challenged, the prospects for  
succeeding in cricicism are not good. (I am not sure that I would use  
the term "realism" to describe criticism but I am not sure that I can  
think of a better term either.)  
 
To counter these developments, it helps to have a few stray,  
cantankerous cats. Of course, whether such cats "belong" is largely a  
question that only the cats can answer. The male lion only shows up at  
breeding time, as I recall; and, even then, he is not welcomed but only  
tolerated. 
 
Perhaps the stray cats can join together. I recall some efforts to start  
a "Journal of Economic Criticism" about 25 years ago with a lead article  
by Gunnar Myrdal. I also recall seeing something like this recently.  
Outside of economics, I recall that some people who did not want to be  
associated with Marxism but who did not like the mainstream either. They  
formed a new group and called it critical theory. Joining with other  
strays, thought, might lead to the same results as the community of  
domesticated cats. 
 
Yet another issue. With all there is to criticize, how do you choose  
where to begin? 
 
"Thanks for the stimulation," says one stray cat to another. 
 
 
Pat Gunning