1. World Politics Under a system of Anarchy
International Relations Theory
World Politics Under a system of Anarchy

2. International Political Order
The Treaty of Westphalia first inaugurated the state as the primary unit of modern international relations
International order regards all states as legal equals with the same rights and duties within the international (aka Westphalian) system
No state is to demand the subordination of others, nor interfere in their domestic affairs
The system is therefore anarchic (order arises from mutual coordination, not from a central authority)
More powerful states have limited instruments (e.g. force) to exerting their influence when deciding how to resolve global issues

3. Instruments used in the Management of International Relations
International Law: body of rules that states observe among themselves through the negotiation and signing of treaties - states enforce law themselves. (*development of individual human rights in the 20th century and their violation is putting into question the policy of non-intervention in a state’s domestic affairs)
Diplomacy: a system of formal and regularized communication among states that allows them to conduct their business with each other more readily
International Organizations and Regimes: formal body based on a founding charter signed by member states given authority to act in specific issue areas (e.g. UN, WTO, EU, ICJ, IAEA, NPT)

4. International Relations (IR) Theory
scholars use three principle theories to describe, explain, predict, and prescribe the behaviour of states in the context of world politics:
REALISM
LIBERALISM
STRUCTURALISM
the first two are discussed here

5. Realism: world politics is about a struggle for power among states and trying to prevent any one state from gaining dominance over all others
Roots in Thucydides’ Account of the Peloponnesian War ( BC)
Modern Origins in 17th and 18th Century Political Theory
Hobbes (1651), Machiavelli
Draws a Very Sharp Distinction Between the Ordered Nature of Politics within Nations and the Dis-ordered Nature of Politics Between Nations
Very Pessimistic Perspective on International Politics
Interaction under Anarchy is Equivalent to Life in a State of Nature
Resulting International State System is a War of All Against All.
International Politics is Dominated by Fighting or Preparing to Fight Wars

6. Liberalism: world politics is about emphasizing order and peace by protecting human rights, promoting trade and investment, and spreading democracy
Has its Origins in Late 18th Century Enlightenment Thought
John Locke; Immanuel Kant; J.J. Rousseau
Inspired by Modern Notion of Progress and Human Ability to Control Nature
Draws a Less-Sharp Distinction Between Domestic and International Politics
Relatively Hopeful (if not optimistic) Perspective on International Politics.
Fear Will Cause Governments to Combine Independent Nations into Larger Political Units.
Process of Political Integration Will Be Reinforced By International Economic Interdependence

7. Realism Vs. Liberalism
Realism is pessimistic: emphasizing enduring nature of anarchy that cannot be altered because countries act out of self-interest.
Liberalism is hopeful and believes cooperation is possible: emphasizing human ability to alter its environment by creating new political institutions.
more than a sterile debate among political theorists – one can see the interplay between realism and liberalism in the real world.

8. Realism and State Behavior
Realism has been used to explain why there is sometimes war and sometimes peace among the Great Powers.
Realist explanations of war and peace focus on the balance of power.
How do changes in the balance of power affect the probability of war and peace?

9. Power Power as Influence.
Power as Capability (having the financial, economic, and military resources to act)

10. Great Powers by GDP (2011) United States $15.1 trillion China
Japan
$5.8 trillion
Germany
$3.5 trillion
France
$2.7 trillion
Russia
$2.5 trillion
United Kingdom
$2.4 trillion
Italy
$1.8 trillion
Canada
$1.4 trillion

11. Military Expenditures
Military Spending (2012)
Military Expenditures
(Billions)
Soldiers
(Millions)
United States
$711
2.9
China
$143
4.5
Russia
$72
France
$63
0.5
U.K.
0.4
Japan
$60
0.2
Germany
$47
% of World
65 percent
30 percent

14. World Spending

15. The Nuclear Balance Great Powers Smaller Countries Country Warheads
U.S
12,070
India
45-95
Russia
22,500
Pakistan
35-50
China
450
Israel
100
France
Britain
260