1. Theories of International Relations

2. Three main theories of I.R.
Realism
Liberalism
Constructivism

3. Theory 1: Realism Who contributed to it? So, what’s the theory?
Thucydides
460 – 395 BC
Niccolò Machiavelli
1469 – 1527
Thomas Hobbes
1588 – 1679

4. Theory 1: Realism Core Concern:
War and security; how vulnerable, self-interested states survive in an environment where they are uncertain
about the intentions and capabilities of other states.
Key Actors:
States
Central Concepts:
Anarchy, self-help, national interest, relative gains, B of P
Approach to Peace:
Protect sovereign autonomy and deter rivals through military preparedness and alliances.
Global Outlook:
Pessimistic; great powers are locked in a relentless security competition.

5. Theory 1: Realism Politics is a zero-sum game: So, what’s the theory?
a situation in which a participant's gain (or loss) is exactly balanced by the losses (or gains) of the other participant(s).
If the total gains of the participants are added up and the total losses are subtracted, they will sum to zero.
There will be winners and losers.
So, what’s the theory?

6. Theory 2: Liberalism Who contributed to it? So… what’s the theory?
John Locke
1632 – 1704
Immanuel Kant
1724 – 1804
Adam Smith
1723 – 1790
Woodrow Wilson

7. Theory 2: Liberalism Core Concern:
Institutionalized peace and prosperity: how self-serving actors learn to see the advantages of coordinating behavior through rules / organizations in order to achieve collective gains.
Key Actors:
States, international institutions, global corporations
Central Concepts:
Collective security, international regimes, complex interdependence, transnational relations.
Approach to Peace:
Institutional reform through democratization, open markets, and international law and organization.
Global Outlook:
Optimistic: cooperative view of human nature and a belief in progress.

8. Theory 2: Liberalism Politics is a non-zero-sum game:
A situation where one participant’s gain (or loss) does not necessarily result in the other participants' loss (or gain).
In other words, where the winnings and losses of all players do not add up to zero and everyone can gain.
A win-win game.

9. What’s the Realist explanation and response?
What’s the Liberal explanation and response?
What are the shortcomings of Liberalism?
What are the shortcomings of Realism?
What’s the Realist explanation and response?

10. Theory 3: Constructivism
Who contributed to it?
So… what’s the theory?
Alexander Wendt
1958 -
Friedrich Kratochwil
1944 -
Nicholas Onuf
1941 -

11. Theory 3: Constructivism
Core Concern:
Social groups’ shared meanings and images: how ideas, images, and identities develop, change, and shape world politics.
Key Actors:
Individuals, non-governmental organizations, transnational networks.
Central Concepts:
Ideas, images, shared knowledge, identities, discourses, and persuasion leading to new understandings and normative change.
Approach to Peace:
Activists who promote progressive ideas and encourage states to adhere to norms for appropriate behavior.
Global Outlook:
Agnostic: global prospect hinges on the content of prevailing ideas and values.

12. Theory 3: Constructivism
IF Politics is a game, the rules could / should be changed in order to turn it in to a non-zero-sum, or win-win game.

13. What’s the Constructivist explanation and response?
What are the shortcomings of Constructivism?

14. The Feminist Critique
In its simplest terms, the “feminist critique” argues that everything about the study and implementation International Relations (concepts of power, state, interests, security, etc.) is based on male perspectives / definitions and needs to incorporate female views.

15. The Marxist Critique Consistent with Marx’s view of everything,
the “Marxist Critique” argues that
International Relations really isn’t about
power, security, spreading freedom or any of
that stuff.
It’s about class conflict and the effects of global capitalism… imperialism and dependency theory: less-developed countries are exploited because global capitalism makes them dependent on rich countries.