int politics

What causes war?

1. Biological, 2. Power, 3. Invented

IR Subfields

1. Development, 2. Law+Orgs, 3. Political Economy, 4. Security

Constructivism

Based on social facts, Nurture > Nature, R2P

Classical Liberalism

A political ideology emphasizing individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. It advocates for the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law.

Locke’s “Two treatises on government”

Civil society is essential for peace and prosperity (liberal)

Rousseau’s “The social contract”

Collaboration = Mutual Benefit (liberal)

Kant’s perceptual peace

Equality, federation among states (liberal)

Pluralism

a liberal idea that states and non state actors are essential in IR

Interdependence

Liberal idea that state interactions are “positive-sum” and interconnectedness is beneficial

Classical realism

A theory in international relations that emphasizes the competitive and conflictual nature of human behavior, suggesting that states act primarily in their own interest and power is the main currency in global politics.

Thucydide’s ‘melian dialogue’

Power trumps morality (realist)

Machiavelli ‘the prince’

state does what it must to survive, better to be feared than loved (realist)

Hobbe’s ‘leviathan’

Humans are inherently evil and selfish (realist)

Anarchy

absence of political authority. zero-sum game (realist)

Super structure and economic base

Marxist idea, super structure containing govt, legal, family, religion. Economic base = material foundation of society, means of production.

Dual use problem

advanced military research leading to potential malicious use

Offense defense theory

Whether offense (cannons) or defense (moats) are more effective

General principles of int. law

Sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, human rights, self determination

The security dilemma

states go back and forth increasing weaponry to feel safer

Paradoxical trinity

Policy (govt) - Chance (military) - Passion (people)

Active international conflicts

1. India China, 2. Iraq, 3. Ukraine, 4. Syria,

5 perm members

usa, uk, china, russia, france