1. Lenses – The Great Debate Unit 1 – Theories of World Politics

2. Idealism Cooperation is possible Interests can be in Harmony Nations should be governed by law, ethics, and morality Stability is gained by leadership, not force Collective goods can only be gained through cooperation Social Contract Theory - Rousseau

3. Idealism Focus on International Institutions Woodrow Wilson Focus on Prescription Strongest during interwar period

4. Realism The condition of anarchy compels states to seek power States act rationally to increase their power, behavior is amoral Behavior is explained by relative power status Strong states are necessary to survive anarchy - Hobbes

5. Realism Focus on description, not prescription Most influential after WWII George Kennan’s X Telegram Melaian Dialogue illustrates the debate

6. Interdependence - A Third option Focus on relationships between states Accepts need for cooperation as well as the need for power for effective action Deemphasize states as actors –Ideas, people, capital move across porous borders Idealism with globalization attached?

7. 3 views of diplomacy

8. Critical Theories Marxist / Materialist Feminist Ecological Eco-feminist Post-modern