IR Theory No Limits Debate

Definition International relations theory is the study of how the system of states could be made to Cooperate in spreading the rule of law, peacefully manage interstate relations, preserve international order and minimize the prospects of war

Many Schools of Thought: Realism Realism – Hans Morgenthou said, “International politics is struggle for power” A particular view of the world, or paradigm, defined by the following assumptions: the international world is anarchic and consists of independent political units called states; states are the primary actors and inherently possess some offensive military capability or power which makes them potentially dangerous to each other; states can never be sure about the intentions of other states; the basic motive driving states is survival or the maintenance of sovereignty; states act rational think always about how to survive.

Key Terms Paradigm Sovereignty a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a territory.

Liberalism Liberalism  political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual. It favors civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. To Liberal theorists, states are but one actor in world politics, and even states can cooperate together Does not need to be military conflict States are interdependent other actors such as Transnational Corporations, the IMF and the United Nations play a role.

Key Terms - 1 Wilsonian Idealism Idealism holds that a state should make its internal political philosophy the goal of its foreign policy. For example, an idealist might believe that ending poverty at home should be coupled with tackling poverty abroad. It particularly emphasized the ideal of American Exceptionalism.

Key Terms –2 democratic peace thesis holds that democracies, rarely go to war with one another. that democratic leaders must answer to the voters for war, and therefore have an incentive to seek alternatives; that such statesmen have practice settling matters by discussion, not by arms, and do the same in foreign policy; that democracies view non-democracies as threatening, and go to war with them over issues which would have been settled peacefully between democracies; and that democracies tend to be wealthier than other countries, and the wealthy tend to avoid war, having more to lose.

Neorealism A theory developed by Kenneth Waltz in which states seek to survive within an anarchical system. Although states may seek survival through power balancing, balancing is not the aim of that behaviour. Balancing is a product of the aim to survive. The major powers set the terms of international relations. – they are in control. These major powers are referred to as poles; hence the international system (or a regional subsystem), at a particular point in time, may be characterised as unipolar, bipolar or multipolar.

Key terms Neorealism 1 anarchical system Thus, international politics, each state presumably will behave by their own interests. 

Key Terms Neorealism: Balancing Balance of power -a balance of power exists when there is parity or stability between competing forces. Security in equilibrium

Neoliberalism 1 their approach tends to emphasize the possibility of mutual wins, they are interested in institutions which can arrange jointly profitable arrangements and compromises.

Hegemony Hegemonic Stability Theory, or HST, is a theory of international relations. HST indicates that the international system is more likely to remain stable when a single nation-state is the dominant world power, or hegemon.[1]  When a hegemon exercises leadership, either through diplomacy, coercion, or persuasion, it is actually deploying its "preponderance of power." This is called hegemony, which refers to a state's ability to "single-handedly dominate the rules and arrangements ...[of] international political and economic relations

Links/authors http://ccline.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/how-does-the-condition-of-anarchy-shape-international-politics/ Henry Kissinger Kenneth Waltzer E.H.Carr  Robert Keohane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemonic_stability_theory