International Relations Defined Study of the interactions among various actors that participate in international politics Who are international actors?

Studying International Relations How does international relations affect you every day? What questions does the study of international relations seek to answer? What tools and methods do we use to study international relations? What theoretical approaches do we use to study international relations?

Foundational Questions of International Relations How can human nature be characterized? What is the relationship between the individual and society? What is the relationship between societies? What are the characteristics and role of the state?

Foundational Questions of International Relations How is the international system organized? How might international society be structured to obtain and maintain peace? How do individuals, states, and various international organizations impact international relations?

Answering the Foundational Questions Using history to observe patterns of past behavior Using theory to explain patterns of behavior and their causes What is a theory? Deduction (theory to evidence): syllogisms Induction (evidence to theory)

History and the Study of International Relations Knowing history is fundamental for explaining patterns and background… BUT history may be a poor guide for predicting contemporary policy choices. History “lessons” are not clear-cut or simple. Example: compare Vietnam and Iraq War “lessons” Careful with analogies!!! Reconstruction of Germany after WWII and Iraq

Contributions of the Philosophers Socrates: citizenship and obedience Plato: society should submit to philosopher kings Aristotle: use comparative method to discern the ideal political order Hobbes: society can escape from brutish “state of nature” in unitary state with centralized power Kant: democracy + institutions + respect for individual = perpetual peace

Functions of International Relations Theory To describe what is happening To explain why events are occurring, who key actors are, and which choices have been made To explain what choices should be made To predict what will happen in the future Theories are limited in scope and focus: there is no one theory that is designed to explain it all Theories are to be used as tools

Contending Theories: the Basics Liberalist approach: positive view of human nature attempts to explain cooperation not to be confused with liberalism in domestic application

Contending Theories: the Basics Realist approach: negative view of human nature attempts to explain conflict not to be confused with “being realistic”

Contending Theories: the Basics Radical theory ─ State is agent of international capitalism ─ International system is stratified between haves and have-nots ─ Haves dominate international relations Terminology!!! Normative or Critical or Post-positivist

Contending Theories: the Basics Constructivism Deconstructs the background Examines the ideas and their creation Everything is subjective

Contending Theories the Basics Marxism Normative theory Looks at economic inequalities in the world Basis for Dependency Theory and Systems Theory