1. Chapter 2: Theories of World Politics1

2. Concepts
Paradigm: Dominant way of looking at a particular subject; structured patterns of inquiry and interpretation
Theory: Set of hypotheses postulating relationships between variables; used to describe, explain, and predict; must be falsifiable and stand the test of time
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3. Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Crackdown
Click the icon to open the movie
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4. Questions
In your opinion, are sanctions the most effective way to handle a rogue state?
Will North Korea be more secure if it obtains a useable weapons arsenal?
Consider the dilemma: if North Korea does not build weapons it might be attacked, or threatened, by more powerful states. But if it does, it might face additional hostile powers and increase US incentives to attack. Is there any way out of this dilemma?
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5. The Philosophical Underpinnings of Realism
Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War (5th Century BC)
“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
“Of gods we trust and of men we know, it is in their nature to rule whenever they can.”
“What made war inevitable was the growth of the Athenian power and the fear that this caused in Sparta.”
“So far as right and wrong are concerned…there is no difference between the two…”
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6. (Classical) Liberalism
Thomas Hobbes
(Classical) Liberalism
Thomas Hobbes ( )
Leviathan (1651)
State of Nature:
Humans live in a perfect state of liberty
Humans live in a perfect state of equality
Humans are essentially self-interested
Humans, therefore, are born into a natural state of war
with one another…..chaos and conflict
The only law of nature is that of survival of the fittest, each
person striving after that which will maximize his/her own
chances at survival
The only real public good that can be conceived of is order….
and so individuals will give their consent to be governed by a force
with ultimate and sovereign power: an absolute monarch

7. Central Assumptions of Realism
Anarchy
States as the main actors
States as unitary actors
States as rational actors
“Realpolitik”—states should be prepared for war in order to preserve peace
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8. Realism’s Tenets (1 of 2)
People are selfish and ethically flawed and compete for self-advantage
People have an instinctive lust for power
Eradicating this instinct is not possible
International politics is a “a war of all against all”
The prime obligation of the state is promoting the national interest
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9. Realism’s Tenets (2 of 2)
Anarchical international system requires states to acquire military power
Military power is more important than economics
Do not trust allies
Resist international efforts to control state protection and institute global governance
Seek flexible alliances to maintain a balance of power
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10. The Security Dilemma
Insecurity leads states to arm, but arms create more insecurity.
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11. The Prisoner’s Dilemma
Defect
Cooperate
What are the payoffs?
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12. The Evolution of Realist Thought
World War II
East–West rivalry of the Cold War
Structural realism or “neo-realism”
Used global level of analysis
Focus on anarchy
Kenneth Waltz “Defensive Realism”
International Anarchy vs. Human Nature
John Mearsheimer “Offensive Realism”: States seek to maximize their own security by maximizing their power
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13. Variants of Realism Balance of Power Theory Hegemonic Stability Theory
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14. Criticism of Realism
Could not explain increased cooperation after World War II
Many of its propositions not easily testable: criticized by behavioral scientists
Lacks precision in defining key terms
Disregards ethical principals
Focuses on military might at economic and social expense of states
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15. Other Criticisms: Defining Power in a Meaningful Way is Difficult (1 of 2)
What factors make a state powerful? The three tables above list the top 10 states (including the EU as a single state) in three different categories that might be used to assess power.
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16. Other Criticisms: Defining Power in a Meaningful Way is Difficult (2 of 2)
The Venn diagram shows which states are in the top ten in one, two and three categories. What does this kind of analysis show us? What does it obscure? What other categories might be used to assess power? Are the different categories of equal importance? All these questions complicate efforts to assess the role of power in international politics.
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17. Political Ideologies Liberalism (cont.) Jonathan Locke
Second Treatise on Government (1689)
State of Nature:
Humans are born into a natural state of liberty
Humans are born into a natural state of equality
Humans are self-interested and struggle to maximize their chances for survival
Humans must acquire (through their own labor) personal property in order to survive; therefore, the right to personal property is an immutable law of nature, as are the rights to life, liberty and health.
All humans are born with the capacity to reason, and therefore, have the capacity to conceive of the law of nature (they will acknowledge every individual’s right to property based on labor)
Any who would violate the law of nature enter into an unnatural state of war with other individuals in society
Peace and order are maintained by a government that enjoys the consent of the governed so long as it upholds the law of nature and respects the natural rights of its citizens 17

18. Liberalism
Holds that reason and ethics can overcome international anarchy to create a more orderly and cooperative world
Optimistic about the prospects of cooperation
Emphasizes establishing stable democracies as a way to reduce conflict
Politics is not seen as zero-sum
Emphasizes free trade because it helps prevent disputes from escalating into war
Stresses the importance of international institutions
Also called “idealism”
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19. Three Strands of Liberal Theory
Variant of Liberalism
Level of Analysis
Departure from Realism
Liberal Institutionalism
System. Retains basic assumption of balance of power theory.
Anarchy does not necessarily lead to conflict. Cooperation is possible.
Complex Interdependence Theory
Sub-state, but not exclusively. Focuses on individuals, firms, NGOs, and organizations within governments as key actors.
States are not the only important actors. Actors have diverse interests in international politics. Much of IR has little to do with military security.
Democratic Peace Theory
State. Focuses on what kind of government the state has.
States are not all essentially the same. Liberal (democratic) states can solve disputes without war.
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20. The Evolution of Liberal Thought
World War I
Collective security
International law
Disarmament
Complex interdependence
International regimes
Neoliberalism
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21. The Limitations of Liberalism
Realists argue that institutions actually exert minimal influence on state behavior.
The prospects for cooperation are more likely in issues of low politics than of high politics.
Realists also argue that liberals tend to turn foreign policy into a moral crusade.
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22. Neorealism Accepts much of realism
States’ behavior determined by differences in relative power
All states have same objectives, but different capacities to realize them
Distribution of capacities determines structure of the international system
Global level of analysis
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23. Neoliberalism Developed by critics of realism/neorealism
Focuses on how IGOs and other nonstate actors promote cooperation and peace
Examines how states cooperate with each other and de-emphasize conflict
Points to regional integration, especially the European Union
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24. Economic Structuralism
Also known as Marxism
Focuses on the distribution of wealth
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25. Assumptions of Economic Structuralism
Economic determinism
Class system (bourgeoisie and the proletariat)
Surplus value
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26. Constructivism Focus on the impact of ideas
World politics is socially constructed
Focus on the role of norms as constitutive, constraining, or enabling
Power in international relations revolves around actors’ ability to persuade others to accept their ideas
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27. Important Constructivist Terms
Identity
Norms
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28. The Limitations of Constructivism
Inability to explain why and how ideas change over time
Privileging of structures over agents in understanding international events
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29. The Radical Critique Socialists focus on class conflict
Dependency theory: Poverty in the Third World stemmed from the exploitative structure of the capitalist world economy
World-system theory: Views the world capitalist system as consisting of a core, periphery and semi-periphery; the core shifts over time from one area to another
Radical critiques tend to overemphasize economic interpretations of international events
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30. The Feminist Critique
Examines the exclusion of women in discussions about international affairs and the injustice and unequal treatment of women this prejudice caused
Explores how gender identity shapes foreign policy decision making and how gendered hierarchies reinforced practices that perpetuated inequalities between men and women
Feminists differ in the importance they place on the inherent differences between men and women
Need to focus on the role of women as a whole, not just female leaders
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31. Schools of Thought in Feminist Theory
Feminist Empiricism
Feminist Standpoint Theory
Feminist Postmodernism
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32. Lost Girls—The New Slave Trade… Prostitution
Click the icon to open the movie
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33. Questions
What factors have contributed to the increase in sex trafficking in Albania?
Explain how each of the three schools of feminist theory (feminist empiricism, feminist standpoint theory, and feminist postmodernism) would approach the problem of sex trafficking and prostitution as described in the video.
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35. Theorizing about Theory
Deconstructivism
Epistemology
Behavioralism
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36. Questions for Critical Thinking (1 of 2)
What are the strong and weak aspects of realism?
In the liberal paradigm, how does anarchy create incentives to cooperate?
How does neoliberalism differ from liberalism?
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37. Questions for Critical Thinking (2 of 2)
Which theory has the best explanatory and predictive power regarding the 2003 confrontation between the United States and Iraq?
Which theory has the best explanatory and predictive power for world politics in general?
Does the nature of the international system change over time?
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38. Web Links
Contemporary Philosophy, Critical Theory, and Postmodern Thought
Data on the Net
Feminist Theory Website
Niccolò Machiavelli
President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Contemporary Philosophy, Critical Theory, and Postmodern Thought Data on the Net: The University at Denver’s School of Education has created a Web site that helps students understand the ideas behind critical theory and postmodern thought. Read about the main authors of postmodern thought and then access their work.
Data on the Net: The University of California at San Diego has created a gateway Web site from which you can browse the collection of several hundred Internet sites of social science statistical data.
Feminist Theory Website: The Center for Digital Discourse and Culture at Virginia Tech University hosts this website, which provides links to 593 Internet sites related to women’s conditions and struggles around the world. The site also provides 5,425 bibliographical entries.
Niccolò Machiavelli: The writings of Niccolò Machiavelli are often cited as the base of realist thinking in international relations. The site also provides a link to his book, The Prince.
President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points: Woodrow Wilson’s celebrated Fourteen Points speech before a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918 “expressed the sentiments of the liberal world view and program.”
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