ESSENTIALS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Chapter 3 Contending Perspectives: How to Think about International Relations Theoretically

What Is Theory? Making Sense of International Relations Theory is a set of propositions and concepts which explains phenomena by specifying relationships among the concepts. Theory generates hypotheses Specific statements positing a relationship among variables By testing interrelated hypotheses theory is verified and refined and new relationships found

The Individual Level of Analysis Personality Perceptions Choices Activities of decision makers

The State Level of Analysis Characteristics of the state Type of government Type of economic system Interest groups

The International Level of Analysis General characteristics of the interactions among states and international organizations Includes the distribution of power among these actors

Explanations for the United States’ Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Level of Analysis Individual Level Saddam was evil leader who committed atrocities Saddam was irrational, otherwise he would have capitulated to superior capability of the U.S. and British coalition G.W. Bush and his advisers have targeted Saddam since the late 1990s

Explanations for the United States’ Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Level of Analysis (cont.) State Level U.S. must protect its national security; Iraq’s weapons threaten U.S. security Ousting Taliban from Afghanistan was first step in war on terrorism; Iraq is the second U.S. must be assured of stable oil supply; Iraq has second largest oil reserves U.S. must not permit terrorist states access to weapons U.S. national interest to build progressive Arab regime

Explanations for the United States’ Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Level of Analysis (cont.) International Level UN resolutions condemning Iraq had to be enforced to maintain UN legitimacy Unipolar international system is uniquely capable of responding to threats to stability There is international moral imperative for humanitarian intervention to oust evil leaders and install democratic regimes

Development of the Liberal Tradition 18th century Enlightenment individuals are rational people have capacity to improve their condition Kant — anarchy is overcome through collective action 19th century liberalism individual freedom and autonomy in democratic state free trade and commerce create interdependencies reducing likelihood of war 20th century idealism Wilson — war is preventable

Neoliberal Institutionalism Who do states choose to cooperate with? Prisoner’s dilemma — cooperation because in self interest Institutions may be established for cooperative purposes

Neoliberal Institutionalism Liberalism / Neoliberal Institutionalism

Realism: Basic Assumptions Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War State is principal actor State is unitary actor Decision makers are rational actors States need to protect themselves from foreign and domestic enemies

Contributions Of Other Realist Theorists St. Augustine — man is egoistic and selfish Machiavelli — promote use of alliances and defensive strategies to promote the state Hobbes — states exist in an anarchic international system

Contemporary Realism Morgenthau, authored Politics Among Nations (the realist Bible) — conflict is best managed through balance of power. Kennan — author of U.S. containment policy to prevent the spread of communism. Kissinger — practiced balance of power politics.

Not All Realists Agree On Policy Offensive realists—cannot be certain of enemy’s intentions, so improve own power position. Defensive realists—defensive postures (military, diplomatic, economic) do not directly threaten other states.

Neorealism Waltz, Theory of International Politics Structure of the international system determines state behavior System lacks an overarching authority Importance of distribution of capabilities of states Balance of power among states is determined by structure of the system International cooperation is unlikely because of possibility of cheating

Many Realisms No single tradition of realism Agree on unitary autonomous state in an international anarchic system

Realism / Neorealism

Radical Perspective Many radicalisms Core set of beliefs found in historical analysis of Marx economic determinism, an international hierarchy, and a commitment to social change Seek to explain relationship between means of production, social relations, and power

Contending Interpretations Of Radicalism Wallerstein — historical development of world-capitalist-system division into core, semi-periphery, and periphery. Hobson — explains roots of imperialism, economic expansion caused by overconsumption of goods and underconsumption in other areas of the world. Dependency theories — states are constrained by international economic system, including multinational corporations; possibility of change is slim.

Radicalism / Dependency Theory

Constructivism State behavior shaped by elite beliefs, identities, social norms Individuals forge and change culture through ideas and practices National interests are ever changing Source of power is ideas Material structures explain little; emphasis on normative structures

Theory in Action: 2003 Iraq War Liberals emphasize individual and state levels of analysis U.S. acts to eliminate threat of Saddam and his support to terrorists Goal of spreading democracy to a vital region Dismayed by the weak international coalition Realists see international anarchy Only the hegemonic U.S. can counter Iraqi threat; US seek to protect self from Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and secure oil supplies Radicals critical of U.S. need for Iraq oil

French View of U.S. Iraq Policy: Theory in Practice Liberal View: France supports multilateral solutions and international law; without UN approval, U.S. actions are illegitimate; French public opposes U.S. action Radical View: U.S. acting as imperial power; France opposes that exercise of power Realist View: French opposition is based on its own self-interest; France has become less secure after the U.S. invasion; France seeks to balance U.S. power; encourage a multipolar system

Contending Theoretical Perspectives Liberalism / Neoliberal Institutionalism Realism / Neorealism Radicalism / Dependency Theory Constructivism Key Actors States, nongovernmental groups, international organizations International system, states Social classes, transnational elites, multinational corporations Individuals, collective identities View of the Individual Basically good; capable of cooperating Power seeking; selfish; antagonistic Action determined by economic class Major unit, especially elites View of the state Not an autonomous actor; having many interests Power seeking; unitary actor; following its national interest Agent of the structure of international capitalism; executing agent of the bourgeoisie State behavior shaped by elite beliefs, collective norms, and social identity View of the international system Interdependence among actors; international society; anarchic Anarchic; reaches stability in balance-of-power system Highly stratified; dominated by international capitalist system Nothing explained by international structures alone Beliefs about change Probable; a desirable process Low change potential; slow structural change Radial change desired Belief in evolutionary change