POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture

Hobbes’ Leviathan

Questions?  What ’ s the point of the authors ’ discussion about Hobbes?  Why are the authors bothering us with a centuries old story? What does it have to do with understanding global politics today?  What ’ s the point of the authors ’ discussion about Hobbes?  Why are the authors bothering us with a centuries old story? What does it have to do with understanding global politics today?

The Importance of Agency: A Definition  Purposeful action. This term implies that actors have the freedom to create, change and influence events. [Tony Bilton et al., Introductory Sociology. 3rd edition. London: Macmillan, 1996:654]

Who are the key Agents in Global Politics?  “Individuals” (But not the liberal individual)  States or National Governments (traditionally, the only important agent in IR)  “Individuals” (But not the liberal individual)  States or National Governments (traditionally, the only important agent in IR)

Key Actors in Global Politics  Authors challenge the traditional “ realist ” image of states, which is based on the idea that states are all basically alike in how they act towards other states

Are States Agents?  Some scholars believe that states--and their leaders--have little room to make choices. Instead, they see states as operating, in essence, on AUTO-PILOT.

States and Agency: The Authors’ View Key point: Authors see states as “ agents in structures ” Key point: Authors see states as “agents in structures”

The Argument So Far …  To sum up the story so far, the authors ’ primary objective is to get us to understand that the world we live in is, in part, of our making (i.e., reflects agency) and is, in part, made for us (i.e., reflects structure)

Key Points  Another major point in the authors argument is that, as individuals, we are social beings. This means, in part, that how we think, how we act, how we perceive the world is a product of many factors and forces that exist outside of ourselves and …  … some of the most important of these factors are institutions  Another major point in the authors argument is that, as individuals, we are social beings. This means, in part, that how we think, how we act, how we perceive the world is a product of many factors and forces that exist outside of ourselves and …  … some of the most important of these factors are institutions

Institutions  Institutions are everywhere in modern society, with the “ state ” being the most prominent, but …  … there are many things we don ’ t normally think of as institutions, such as the household  Institutions are everywhere in modern society, with the “ state ” being the most prominent, but …  … there are many things we don ’ t normally think of as institutions, such as the household

Institutions: A Definition  A set of roles graded in authority that have been embodied in consistent patterns of actions that have been legitimated and sanctioned by society or segments of that society; whose purpose is to carry out certain activities or prescribed needs of that society or segments of that society. - C. Wright Mills, The Sociological Imagination (New York: Oxford University Press, 1959), p. 30.

Connecting the Dots What has any of this got to do with global politics?  The main reasons is this: the major problems faced in the world today have exactly to do with questions of identity (shaped through institutions), and while this problem has been around for a very long time, they have become more intense, more complicated, and perhaps more deadly in an era of “ globalization. ”  Second, the authors suggest that fundamental change to world politics needs to begin in the process of socialization, that is, in the creation of social individuals  Third, the existence of multiple identities means that we, as human beings, have not only built our own institutions, but have built them to suit a wide variety of needs and desires. This implies that we have the potential to build “ better ” institutions  The main reasons is this: the major problems faced in the world today have exactly to do with questions of identity (shaped through institutions), and while this problem has been around for a very long time, they have become more intense, more complicated, and perhaps more deadly in an era of “ globalization. ”  Second, the authors suggest that fundamental change to world politics needs to begin in the process of socialization, that is, in the creation of social individuals  Third, the existence of multiple identities means that we, as human beings, have not only built our own institutions, but have built them to suit a wide variety of needs and desires. This implies that we have the potential to build “ better ” institutions