Global Politics & Economics: Unit 3

Theory

A simplifying device that allows us to decide which facts are important and which are less important. They're also a tool to analyze global issues and propose an explanation of an event or the behavior of an actor (individual, organization, government, corporation) in the real world.

Theories in Social Science

They try to understand the Independent Variable - if X then Y. Social scientists attempt to explain and predict possible actions of actors based on the independent variables.

Theory

A simplifying device that allows us to decide which facts are important and which are less important. They're also a tool to analyze global issues and propose an explanation of an event or the behavior of an actor (individual, organization, government, corporation) in the real world.

Theories in Social Science

They try to understand the Independent Variable - if X then Y. Social scientists attempt to explain and predict possible actions of actors based on the independent variables.

Realism Theory

The independent variable is the distribution of power within the international system. Scholars then explain the actions of states or propose foreign policy based on analyzing the distribution of power among states.

Classical Realism

Human Nature.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Key Thinker for - Classical Realism; Key Text - The Prince 1517; Big Idea - The ultimate skill of the state leader is to accept, and adapt to, the changing power-political configurations in global politics.

Thomas Hobbes

Key Thinker for - Classical Realism; Key Text - Leviathan 1651; Big Idea - Human nature is brutish and violent, so humans need a strong central state to provide security internally and from external threats.

Structural Realism

International System.

Interstate Conflict

Is due to a lack of authority and relative power.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Key Thinker for - Structural Realism; Key Text - The State of War 1750; Big Idea - It is not human nature but the anarchical system that fosters fear, jealousy, suspicion, and insecurity.

Kenneth Waltz

Key Thinker for - Structural Realism; Key Text - Theory of International Relations 1979; Big Idea - Anarchy causes the logic of self-help, in which states seek to maximize their security. Bipolarity is the most stable structure.

Realism

(Power Politics) A theoretical approach that analyzes all international relations as the relation of states engaged in the pursuit of national power (economic, political, cultural).

3 Assumptions or Givens of Realism

1) States are the actors in international relations that matter most.

2) A policymaker's most important responsibility is to create, maintain, and increase national power. (Power Politics)

3) No central authority stands above the state. (Anarchy)

Realists

They see the international system as anarchic, or without a world government/power, and they believe conflict is endemic in the international system as states compete with each other.

The Realist Worldview

When states (countries) are engaging in negotiations or diplomacy, each state tries to negotiate from strength and must be prepared to use force or the threat of force when dealing with rogue states (states that do not follow international rules).

Statism

The state is the main actor, and sovereignty is its distinguishing trait.

Survival

In global politics, the most important goal is survival.

The Three Essential Elements of Realism

Statism, Survival, & Self-Help.

International Politics

Is driven by the struggle for power caused by human nature.

Anarchic System

A realist description of the international system that suggests there is no common power or central governing structure.

Sovereignty

The condition of a state having control and authority over its own territory and being free from any higher legal authority.

Civil Society

The totality of individuals and groups in a society who are not part of any government institution or acting in the interests of commercial companies.

Ethic of Responsibility

For realists, it is the limit of ethics in international politics; it involves the weighing up of consequences and the realization that positive outcomes may result from amoral actions.

Ethics

The identification, illumination, and application of relevant moral norms to the conduct of foreign policy and assessing the moral architecture of the international system.

Self-help

In realist theory, in an anarchic system, states cannot assume other states will come to their defense even if they are allies. Each state must take care of itself.

Security dilemma

In an anarchical system (no central power), when one state seeks to improve its security, it creates insecurity in other states.

Comparative Advantage

An economic theory stating that two countries will both gain from trade if they have different relative costs for producing the same goods.

Protectionist

An economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" among imports and goods produced domestically.

Absolute Advantage

The ability to produce a good using fewer inputs (labor, capital, costs) than another producer.

Opportunity Cost

Whatever must be given up to obtain some item.

Comparative Advantage

The ability to produce a good at a lower opportunity cost than another producer.

Imports

Goods produced abroad (outside of a country) and sold domestically.

Exports

Goods produced domestically and sold abroad.

Comparative Advantage and Trade

The gains from specialization and trade are based on comparative advantage. When each person specializes in producing the good in which they have a comparative advantage, total production in the economy also rises.

Multilateralism

The process by which states work together to solve a common problem.

Liberal Internationalism

A perspective that seeks to transform international relations to emphasize peace, individual freedom, and prosperity and to replicate domestic models of liberal democracy (within states) at the international level.

Imperialism

The practice of foreign conquest and rule in the context of global relations of hierarchy and subordination. It can lead to the establishment of an empire, or the subordination of one state to another.

Enlightenment

A movement of rationalist thinkers of the 18th century. Key ideas include secularism, progress, reason, science, and freedom. The motto of the Enlightenment is "Sapere aude!" - Have the courage to know!

Democratic Peace Thesis

A central plank of liberal-internationalist thought - liberal democracies will avoid war with other liberal democracies, but will go to war with authoritarian states.

Free Trade

An essential element of capitalism that argues for no barriers or minimal barriers to the exchange of goods, services, and investments among states.

Collective Security

An arrangement in which each state in the system accepts that the security of one is the concern of all, and agrees to join in a collective response to aggression.

Integration

A process of ever-closer union between states in a regional or international context. The process often begins with cooperation to solve technical problems and then grows to solve more complex ones.

Functionalism

Integration should begin with efforts to resolve specific regional or transnational problems. It is assumed that resolution of these problems will lead to cooperation into other policy areas.

Power

The capacity to do things and to affect others to get the outcome one wants.

Hard Power

The material threats and inducements leaders use to achieve the goals of their state. Typically using military and/or economic threats (sanctions) or incentives (benefits) to get your preferred outcome.

Soft Power

The level of influence and persuasion a country has to get others to want the same outcomes. This influence comes from the level of attraction a state's political, economic and social beliefs, values and practices has on other states.

Smart Power

The strategic use of a combination of hard and soft power. An approach that underscores the necessity of a strong military, but also the need to invest in alliances, partnerships, and institutions of all levels to expand one's influence

John Locke

(Liberalism Major Thinker) English writer and philosopher who wrote Two Treatises of Government in 1689. The State of Nature provides for the equality and freedom of every man before the law, as well as the right to own property. Influential to the founding documents of the United States and the French Republic.

Immanuel Kant

(Liberalism Major Thinker) German philosopher and thinker important during the Enlightenment. Published Perpetual Peace in 1795. Peace is to be secured by the abolition of standing armies, the proliferation of democratic states, and respect for state sovereignty.

Hedley Bull

(Liberalism Major Thinker) Australian scholar of International Affairs that published The Anarchical Society in 1977. The state has control over its people and a certain territory and advocates a "society of states" bound by common rules and interests - pluralism.

Four Dimensions of International Liberalism

1) Democratic values (political liberalism)

2) Free Trade Markets (economic liberalism)

3) Multilateral Cooperation (multilateralism)

4) Rules-based international society that respects sovereignty and human rights.

Liberalism

A theoretical approach that argues for human rights, representative democracy, and free trade - while also maintaining that these goals must begin within a state and cannot be imposed.

Neoliberalism

The international system is anarchic but can be managed by the establishment of international regimes and institutions. Neoliberalism believes actors with common interests will try and maximize absolute gains.

Absolute Gains

Refers to the total effect of a decision. Neoliberalism/Neoliberal Institutionism emphasizes cooperation based on absolute gains.

Relative Gains

Refers to the individual gains in relation to others. Structural realism highlights conflict based on relative gains.

Fourteen Points

Called for free trade and national self-determination.

League of Nations

Imagined as a peacekeeper organization as a collective security organization. In the event of war: All member states must cease normal relations with the offending state, Impose economic sanctions, & If necessary commit their armed forces to re-establishing the status quo.

Bretton Woods 1944

An agreement and system that created a collective international currency exchange regime that lasted from the mid-1940s to the early 1970s. It had a lasting influence on international currency exchange and trade through the development of the Bank for International Settlements, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

NATO 1949

Is a collective security system. Its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties.

Problem-solving Theory

Realism and Liberalism are problem solving theories that address issues and questions within the present system. How can we fix capitalism? How can we make society more democratic? These are questions that seek to improve the current system and assume nothing is wrong with the core elements of the system.

Critical Theory

Theories that are critical of the status quo and reject the idea that things can be fixed under the present system. These theories challenge the dominant paradigm and argue for transformation not just reform.

Marxism

A theory critical of the status quo, or dominant capitalist paradigm. It is a critique of the capitalist political economy from the view of the revolutionary proletariat (workers). Marxists' ideal is a stateless and classless society.

Economic Base

For Marxists, the substructure of the society is the relationship between owners and workers. Capitalists own the means of production and control technology and resources. The workers are employed by the capitalists, and they are alienated, exploited, and estranged from their work and their society.

Superstructure

The government or political structure that is controlled by those who own the means of production.

Class

A social group that in marxism is identified by its relationship with the means of production and distribution of societal resources. Thus, we have the owners or upper classes (bourgeoisie) and the workers (proletariat).

Four Strands of Contemporary Marxism

1) The social, political, and economic world should be analyzed as a whole in totality.

2) A materialist conception of history.

3) "The mode of production of material life conditions the social, political, and intellectual life process in general."

4) Class