1. Marxist Theory Of International Relations

2. Introduction The Great Experiment had failed….
Bolshevik Revolution = Creation of USSR
Cold War = End of USSR
Marxist Theory = Dustbin of History
World = Liberal Democracy and Capitalist
But… Marxist Thought refuses to go away
Two reasons for renaissance
Failure of USSR embarrassment to Marxist
USSR = Didn’t truly follow Marx
Marxist now can promote communism without having to defend USSR Behavior
Marxist Theory becoming more relevant in the world of Globalization
All events take place in and are a consequence of the Global Capital System
Many of Marx predictions of GCS are coming true

3. Elements of Marxism Karl Marx Communist Manifesto
Outlined and provided critical critique of Capitalism
Prophesized rise of working class socialist societies
Never discussed international relations
Schools of Thought emerged inspired by Marx
Four Major Strands have Developed that share Key Marxist Ideology
Social World (Sciences) Should be viewed as a Totality
Non can be understood without the knowledge of others
Materialist Conception of History
Historical change reflection of the economic development of society
Means of Production conflict with Relations of Production and forms Economic Base which will determine the Superstructure of Society

4. Continue Means of Production
The elements that combine in the production process (Labor, tools, technology, etc…)
Relations of Production
Link and organize the Means of Production
Technical and institutional relationships that allow production process
Structure that govern process and control end products
Economic Base
Economic system of a society = power and control
When one changes (MoP or RoP) then EB will be forced to change
Superstructure
Political, legal, cultural, etc… norms and institutions grow out of and reflect and reinforce the power and control of the economy

5. Continue Class Structure Society is prone to class conflict
Bourgeoisie = The Capitalist
Proletariat = The Workers
Emancipation
Marx thought philosophers should be actors in creating change
Overthrow the existing/prevailing order and replace it with a communist society
Replace wage labor and private property with a new social order
The definition and terminology of emancipation is debated among contemporary Marxist

6. Four Marxist Theories World-System Theory Developed in response to…
Imperialism
Monopoly Capitalism = capital becoming consolidated in the hands of wealthy nations
Core
Periphery
Harmony of Interests = pacifying the working class in the core with economic gain from the Periphery
Declining Terms of Trade
Price of Manufactured goods increased more rapidly than that of raw materials
Periphery become poorer relative to the core
Takes more coffee grown to buy a refrigerator

7. Continue Key Features of World-System Theory
Prominent Protagonist = Immanuel Wallerstein
History = rise and fall of a series of WS
Current System Formed in 16th Century
Birth of Age of Discovery (Globalization)
Catalyst = Capitalism
Interrelationships in the World Economy
Core
Democratic, welfare state, and high standard of living
Imports = raw materials, Exports = manufactures
Semi-Periphery
Provides home for this industries that con no longer function in profitably in the Core
Stabilizing factor of WST
Authoritarian, low welfare services and standard of living
Imports and exports both
Periphery
Non-Democratic Gov and no welfare services
Imports = manufactures, Exports = raw materials

8. Continue Three zones are linked in exploitive relationship
Wealth is drained form the Periphery to the core
Temporal Dimensions of world-economy
Cyclical Rhythms
Capitalism goes through series of expansions (booms) and contractions (busts) over time
Secular Trends
Long-term growth of world economy in association with cyclical rhythms
Each cycle starts/stops at different places
Contradictions
Makes one set of behavior optimal for the long run, while another set of behaviors are optimal for the short run…
Often not possible to follow both
Crisis
Cyclical Rhythms, Secular Trends, and contradictions counter act and bring end to world system and replaced by a new world system

9. Continue Gramscianism Named after Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci
Important contributions to the study of International Political Economy
Founded Italian Communist party and jailed in 1926 for beliefs, spent rest of life in jail
Wrote Prison Notebooks
Key Questions
Why had it proven to be so difficult to promote revolution in Western Europe?
Marx predicted revolution would take place in most industrialized societies, but reality revolution took place in underdeveloped societies
Capitalist Society -> Revolution -> Socialist Society

10. Continue Robert Cox Answer = Hegemony Modern proponent of Gramscianism
Coercion and consent
Coercion = fear of… keeps the exploited and alienated majority in society from rising up and over throwing the system that is the cause of their suffering
Laws, norms, regulations, etc…
Consent = allows the moral, political, and cultural values of the dominant group to become dispersed to the subordinate groups and classes
Media, education, religion, etc…
Society can only be changed through Counter-Hegemonic struggle
Robert Cox
Modern proponent of Gramscianism
Knowledge cannot be objective and timeless

11. Continue
Ideas and Values are reflection of social relations and are transformed by those social relations means all knowledge must reflect a certain, context, time, and space
All Theorist inevitable bring their values to bear on their analysis
No separation of facts and values
Theories are for and serve the interest of those who prosper under the prevailing order
Consent and coercion and Harmony of Interest
Reinforcing the ruling hegemony
Hegemony is important for maintaining stability and continuity
Dominant powers have to shape a world order that suits their interest
Free Trade – promoted by hegemony and accepted by masses, though it does not benefit the masses

12. Continue Critical Theory
Challenges the prevailing order by seeking out, analyzing, and where possible, assisting social processes that can potentially lead to emancipatory change
Born from Frankfurt School
Left-Wing German Jews
Nazism forced into exile, worked in the US
Focuses almost entirely on Superstructural aspects of society
Cultural, bureaucracy, politics, family structure, etc…
Argue working class has been absorbed by the system and no longer is a treat to it
Results from rise of Mass Media and mass culture

13. Continue Explores the meaning of Emancipation
Barbaric and Immoral behavior conducted in the name of Emancipation
Stalinism and Imperialism
Domination of nature and humanity to common
Seeks reconciliation with nature and humanity
Radical Democracy
Widest possible participation in democracy by eliminating barriers (social, economic, or cultural)
Should extend beyond state
Andrew Linklater – main contemporary Critical Theory
Borders of the sovereign sates have lost their ethical and moral significance
European Union

14. Continue New Marxism Justin Rosenberg – main contemporary
Return to the fundamental tenets of Marxist thought
Critical of stands that distort or neglect original intent
Focuses on International Relations where Marx was vague
Justin Rosenberg – main contemporary
International System changes with each new period of time and Relations of Production
Relations of Production impact state society
State society interacts globally
Relations of Production impact global society
Change in Relation of Production in state will impact international society

15. Continue Benno Teschke – Other Main Contemporary
Social Property Relations
Examines the way in which class relations, forms of exploitation, and control of the means of production have changed in different historical epochs
Two major transformations in IR
Feudal System -> Early Modern (Monarchies)
Early Modern -> Modern (Capitalist States)

16. Globalization and Marxism
Marxism v. Globalization
Marxist don’t deny the relevance and importance of Globalization
Do deny that it is new or novel
Just latest phase of Capitalist expansion and exploitation of non-capitalist or semi-capitalist nations
The Globe is dominate by capitalism, all people and institutions are by capitalism through globalization, as integration and interdependence increase the trend will continue to grow
Boarders may become obsolete, but capitalism is still king