1. International Relations Theory
A Critical Introduction By
Cynthia Weber
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

2. Learning aims:
Recognize different understandings of culture
Understand the difference between conscious and unconscious ideologies
Understand the myth function in IR theory
See how the course works and what you have in store
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

3. Questions we ask in this course:
What makes a particular story about international politics appear to be true?
How does the “truth” function in a particular IR myth?
Is IR theory a culture?
If so, what must go without saying for IR theory as a culture to function?
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

4. What is culture? (box 1.1)
“Culture is concerned with the production and exchange of meanings – the ‘giving and taking of meaning’ – between members of a society or group” (Stuart Hall, 1997)
“The social production and reproduction of sense, meaning, and consciousness” (John Hartley, in O’Sullivan et al., 1994)
“an ensemble of stories we tell about ourselves” (Clifford Geertz, 1975)
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

5. What is ideology? (box 1.2) Conscious ideology:
“a fairly coherent and comprehensive set of ideas that explains and evaluates social conditions, helps people understand their place in society and provides a program for social and political action”
(Ball and Dagger, 1995)
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

6. Unconscious ideology:
What is ideology? (box 1.2)
Unconscious ideology:
Ideology that is not formally named and that is therefore difficult to identify. It is the common sense foundation of our worldviews that is beyond debate
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

7. Examples of conscious and unconscious ideologies (box 1.3)
Everyone I know is straight
English people are white
America has a classless society
Boys will be boys
Liberalism
Conservatism
Socialism
Feminism
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

8. What is an IR myth? (box 1.4)
An IR myth is an apparent truth, usually expressed as a slogan, that an IR theory or tradition (like realism or idealism) relies on to appear to be true
Examples:
“international anarchy is the permissive cause of war”
“there is an international society”
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

9. The IR myths 2. Realism “anarchy is the permissive cause of war”
3. Idealism
“there is an international society”
4. Constructivism
“anarchy is what states make of it”
5. Gender
“gender is a variable”
6. Globalization
“it is the end of history”
7. NeoMarxism
“Empire is the new world order”
8. Modernization and Development
“there is a clash of civilizations”
9. Environmentalism
“human-made climate change is an inconvenient truth”
10. Anarchism
“We are the 99%”
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

10. What is the myth function in IR theory? (box 1.5)
The myth function in IR theory is the transformation of what is particular, cultural and ideological (like a story told by an IR tradition) into what appears to be universal, natural and purely empirical
Cultural interpretation
Myth function
“Natural fact”
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

11. Each week we will ask: 1. What does the myth say?
Select a classic IR text that uses that myth
Situate the IR text in its particular IR tradition
Summarize the text
Explore how the IR text makes use of the IR myth
2. How does the myth function?
Select a film that illustrates the myth function in a particular IR myth
Summarize the film
Relate the film to IR myth. Ask: “how does the film make sense of the world?” and “what is typical and deviant in that world”?
3. What does this critical analysis of the myth function in IR theory tell us about IR theory culturally, ideologically and popularly?
How does IR theory make sense of the world?
What does IR theory say is typical and deviant in that world?
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

12. The theories/traditions and their films
2. Realism
Lord of the Flies (1963)
3. Idealism
Independence Day (1996)
4. Constructivism
Wag the Dog (1997)
5. Gender
Fatal Attraction (1987)
6. Globalization
The Truman Show (1998)
7. NeoMarxism
Memento (2001)
8. Modernization and Development
East is East (2000)
9. Environmentalism
WALL-E (2008)
10. Anarchism
The Hunger Games (2012)
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

13. Activity: Myth and ideology in IR and films
Aim
Reflect on the role of myths and unconscious ideologies in IR and films
Answer
Why are unconscious myths perhaps more powerful than conscious myths?
How is ideology related to culture?
How can we see culture and unconscious myths function in IR theories?
Discuss
What are the connections between “the popular” and “the political”?
Is “the popular” always already “political”?
What films have you seen lately that you think we can interrogate as having a conscious and unconscious ideology?
© 2014 Cynthia Weber

14. Next week: Realism
Is international anarchy the permissive cause of war?
Film:
Lord of the Flies
Sovereign States
International Anarchy
Fear
© 2014 Cynthia Weber