1. Theory of International Relations: Marxism and Constructivism
In-young Hwang
Jeong-won Yoon
September 27, 2010

2. Contents – Marxism & Constructivism
Marxism-the essential elements
How the theory is related to our world
World system theory
Gramscianism
Constructivism
Examples
Discussion question

3. Marxism

4. Marxism Realism Liberalism Marxism
Why Marxism has the continuing relevance
analyses of international relations
portray politics- newspaper, magazine
Realism
international relations
Liberalism
Something deeper, and hidden truth
Marxism

5. Materialistic conception of history
Marxism
totality
Materialistic conception of history
class
The essential elements of Marxist theories in world politics

6. The essential elements
Materialistic conception of history
Economic development is the motor of history

7. How the theory is related to the world
World inequality
Education: important process for economic development.
The percentage of educated people
Developed countries: most people
Developing countries: 71%
Undeveloped countries: 51%
Vicious circle of exploitation and poverty
Inequality in world trade
Child labor

8. Wallerstein’s World-system theory
Core:
Democratic governments, high wages, high investment, high GDP
Semi-periphery:
Authoritarian governments, low wages, low welfare services
Periphery:
non-democratic governments,
below subsistence wages, no welfare services.

9. Antonio Gramsci: an Italian Marxist
Granscianism
Antonio Gramsci: an Italian Marxist
Why had it proven to be so difficult to promote revolution in Western Europe?
Hegemony- his conceptualization of power
Example) the media, the education system, churches, etc.
important implications
Historic bloc: Marxist theory needs to take superstructural phenomena more seriously
Counter-hegemony

10. Constructivism

11. Territory Population Economic power
Constructivism -①
<Material>
Territory Population Economic power
<Ideational>
Culture Custom, Idea
Positivism
Constructivism

12. Constructivism -② Institution The concept of Self-help
Interests
Identities
The concept of Self-help
Three different Security systems by Wendt
Competitive
Individualistic
Cooperative

13. Example 1-Nuclear Weapon
Korea
<America>
Alliance Relationship
<North Korea>
Armistice Country
There is a different significance

14. Example 2 -NATO
Expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

15. Discussion Questions
Do you agree with Marxist theory which argues that the social gap between rich countries and poor countries are getting larger?
Do you think “anarchy is what states make of it?”as Wendt argued?
Of all 4 theories (liberalism, realism, marxism, constructivism) we have studied, which one(or more) theory do you think can explain the best about the contemporary society?

16. Bibliography International Relations of East Asia
Anthony Giddens. 『 Sociology 』. 서울: 을유문화사, 2009
한국산업사회학회 .『 Sociology 』. 서울:한울아카데미,2004
유현석. 『국제정세의 이해』. 서울: 한울아카데미, 2006
이무성 외 4 명저. 국제정치의 신패러다임 : 높이깊이
박재영. 국제정치 패러다임 : 법문사

17. Thank you 