International Relations Theories

Flashcards for review of key concepts in International Relations theories, covering various perspectives and historical debates.

What is the purpose of theory in International Relations?

To rationalize, explain, and dominate the world, providing a framework to understand and make sense of international phenomena.

According to the lecture, what are some limitations of early IR canonical stories?

They often overlooked hierarchy, economy, race, and gender, focusing primarily on anarchy, states, war, and peace.

What were the key differences between pre-WWI and post-WWI diplomacy?

Pre-WWI diplomacy was characterized by old-style techniques focused on defense of sovereign interests, while post-WWI diplomacy dealt with new elements like the modern state, nation-state, industrialization, and empires.

What is the concept of balance of power, and what role did it play after the Congress of Vienna?

Balance of power aimed to prevent any single state from becoming hegemonic and maintain the status quo, decided by elites through cooperation based on mutual interests.

How did the modern state concept contribute to rising global tensions before WWI based on the lecture?

Higher bureaucracy and state monopoly of violence increased mobilization capacity, leading to a powerful means to dominate and make war, combined with emerging nationalist sentiments.

What were the main assumptions of liberal-idealism in the context of the first debate in IR?

Liberal-idealists assumed that foreign policy should pursue interests through cost-benefit analysis, anarchy can be overcome, and the world can achieve order and peace through interconnectedness.

What are the core tenets of realism regarding anarchy, universal principles, and harmony of interests?

Realists view anarchy as inescapable, challenge universal principles and reject the idea of an underlying harmony of interests among states.

What functions do theories serve beyond rationalization, explanation, and domination?

Theories also describe, explain by identifying causal relations, understand by unveiling internal meanings, and critique by de-naturalizing reality.

What are the three main types of theory according to the lecture?

Explanatory theories (explanation), constitutive theories (understanding), and critical theories (normative theory related to critique).

What is the key implication of focusing on falsification in scientific inquiry?

A non-refutable theory is considered nonscientific, and every genuine test should attempt to falsify the theory; irrefutability is a vice, not a virtue.

How do research programs evolve, according to the lecture?

They contain an irrefutable core and a protective belt of auxiliary hypotheses and can be progressive with new additions or degenerative when solely protecting the core.

What are grand theories and middle-range theories in IR, and how do they differ?

Grand theories are broad worldviews providing overall explanations of IR, while middle-range theories are narrower, addressing specific social objects and more falsifiable.

What is the focus of the second debate in IR regarding traditionalism vs. scientism/behavioralism?

The focus is on epistemology and methodology: how to ensure the correctness of statements through either educated common sense (traditionalism) or observable behaviors and quantitative methods (behavioralism).

What characterizes the traditional approach in the second debate in IR?

It is derived from philosophy, history, and law; relies on judgment; assumes limitations in strict verification; and uses hermeneutic, descriptive, and normative analyses.

What are the key features of the behavioralist approach in the second debate in IR?

Behavioralists focus on observable behaviors, regular relationships, operational concepts, and data-driven methods, emphasizing a preoccupation with the Cartesian gap.

What are the three traditions of thought mapping post-WWI theorization in IR?

The three traditions are Hobbessian, Grotian, and Kantian philosophical approaches providing different IR perspectives.

What are the three images used to explain explanatory action in IR theorization?

The individual (human nature, psychology), the state (regimes, political/economic system), and the system (anarchy, capitalist world-system).

What distinguishes explaining from understanding in the context of IR theories?

Explaining involves causal accounts from the outside, while understanding involves shared meanings and interpretations from the inside, using hermeneutics.

What are some of the key dichotomies used to map the field of IR?

Atomistic vs. social, cultural vs. material, explain vs. understand, actors vs. structure, and preferences vs. tragedy.

What are the differences between the hobbessian, grotian and kantian traditions of thought?

Hobbessian: Pessimistic human nature, cyclical history, political coercion. Grotian: Good and evil human nature, linear history, authority. Kantian: Optimistic human nature, progress history, force for doctrine.

What are the similarities among different types of realism?

Atomistic ontology, skepticism toward moral claims in foreign policy, states power & interests, how international institutions affect the prospects for cooperation, realism as intellectual style…

What does it mean that politics is not a function of ethics?

Politics are not a function of ethics, in fact ethics = function of politics (they dictate what kind of morality statesman can adhere to); kissinger → peace cannot be the primary objective of states in the international system

What is the Melian Dialogue?

The standard of justice depends on the equality of power to compel and that in fact the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must

What are the key assumptions of classical realism?

States are principal & most important actor, (international system of states), state as a unitary actor and rational actor, distinction between high and low politics and national security as the most important issue for states.

According to Hans Morghentau, what are the six principals of political realism?

1.Politics, is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature. 2.The concept of interest defined in terms of power is key. 3.Key concept of interest defined as power is an objective category which is universally valid, 4.Universal moral principles cannot be applied to the actions of states. 5.Political realism refuses to identify the moral aspirations of a particulier nation with the moral laws that govern the universe. 6. Intellectually, political realists maintain the autonomy of the political sphere

How did the shift from Carr to Morgenthau affect the understanding of the distinction between Liberals and realists?

The distinction with liberals is now based on different perceptions about human nature, not the needs of social groups/states

According to Wolfers, what guides foreign policy?

Foreign policy guided by national security interests lacks a clear benchmark, and the optimal security level is subjective

What key assumptions does neorealism prioritize when analysing international relations?

Not how units relate to each other (interaction= but how they are arranged or position (structure), not a theory of foreign policy but a theory of IR; structure = organizing principle (anarchy vs hierarchy), differentiation of units, differentiation of units, distribution of capabilities

According to neorealism,what determines the structure of international system?

The primary duty of a state = survive → self-help to achieve it → problems of collective action + rational choice; micro-economic turn (bc of rational behavior) and scientific turn (explain behavior); Agnostic about other motives of behavior

According to neorealism(Walt), what does explain war and peace, alliances and balance of power?

The distribution of power, the number of great powers determines the structure of IS → unipolar, bipolar or multipolar

What are hegemony realists assuming?

History of IR is not a succession of balance of power but of hegemonies; two different research agendas → power transition (rise and fall of hegemonies) & hegemonic stability (what happens under hegemony)

What is Hegemonic stability theory(HST)?

Shared with neo institutionalist, it’s a realist theory of coop / provision of public goods; cooperation will only be possible if there is a hegemonic power that will profit from that cooperation and is prepared and has de capabilities to pay the costs to afford/ enforce such act

What does Defensive realism prioritize?

Key variable = offensive-defensive balance; according to defensive realism, the balance → favours defense. Captured resources do not accumulate effective, dominoes do not fall, power is hard to project at a distance → states want to maximize security not power, balance of threats not of power (Walt)

What does offensive realism prioritize?

They think the balance favours offensive, hence states want max power, not security, the only limiting factor (mearsheimer) → stopping power of water (should search total hegemony in the region while avoiding emergence of hegemony in other regions)

What variables does Neoclassical realists(NCR) combine?

Combine structural & domestic level variables to explain behavior; domestic factors mediate structural pressures when making foreign policies, ability and willingness of states ≠ well captured in neorealist analysis

What are intervening variables in NCR?

Great quantity and diversity of domestic variables, bridge to other theoretical approaches; ability → state structure (organizational structure, state-society autonomy, decision-making…) & domestic competition(government/regime stability, elections, social cohesion…); willingness → perceptions among foreign policy decision makers (power distribution, threat perception) and identities (elite belief system, national identities, strategic cultures…)

What are the main theoretical assumptions of liberalism?

Strong faith in human reason, role of individuals & preferences = based on rational & utilitarian values (individual freedom, economic and material wealth & aversion to war and its consequences) + trade encourages peace, belief in possibility of historical progress & civilizing international relations + close connection between domestic institutions and international politics (republic & self determination)

What is neo-functionalism?

Integration → old idealist programme(kant), beyond anarchy→ continuation of the idea that cooperation can overcome anarchy; beyond nation-state = international institutions and organizations can shape its behavior

What are Transnational relations based on (K&N, 1977)?

Multiple Channels: States interact through governmental elites, transnational organizations, and informal ties =interstate, transgovernmental, and transnational relations, they act coherently as units, but transgovernmental ties loosen this assumption when relaxed; Agenda of Interstate Relations: No single hierarchy dominates; multiple issues arise → military security not always primary. Domestic and foreign policy blur, issues vary in cost and coalition-building across governments.; Military Force: Its use diminishes, especially among governments

What assumptions are shared on the neo-neo debate?

Shared assumptions + methods but not share conclusions on cooperation and institutions (not inter-paradigmatic, they share a paradigm)

According to neoinstitutionalists, what does Regimes entail?

Broad schemes = make cooperation easier (legal framework, information and lower cost transaction) → coase theorem = regimes define the “rules of the game” + lower transaction costs + Make cooperation more likely by clarifying expectations and rights; interaction

What does Embedded liberalism is?

Essence of embedded ? devise a form of multilateralism compatible with requirements of domestic stability

According to Ruggie, what's norm governed change?

The system changes while staying guided by shared principles

Summarize Neoclassical liberalism?

Neo classical liberals focus on preferences and their construction → institutions are important in the formation of preferences.

What areas does the research agenda of the British commitee on the theory of International Politics focus on?

The committee focused on: how to establish order in anarchy, historical development of the state system, decolonization and the internationalization of European states

According to Bull, how are the cluster of normas maintained?

Three clusters of norms → fundamental normative of principle of world politics, rules of coexistence and rules regulating co-operation among states → maintained through international institutions → b. of power, international law, war diplomacy & great powers

According to Buzan, What is needed to take a more holistic and integrated approach to studying IR?

He called for a return to grand theory, emphasizing the constant interaction between three key elements: the international system, international society, and world society(always coexist and influence each other, helps move beyond the idea that different IR theories are fundamentally incompatible

According to constructivism, where do actions have mening?

Constructivism argues that actions and structures only have meaning through shared social norms and practices. Power and behavior are not inherently → gain significance through how others interpret them

According to structurationists, how does the relationship between structures and actors evolve?

structures don’t mechanically determine what actors do → relationship btw structures & actors = intersubjective understanding & meaning; structures constrain actors & actors can transform structures by acting in new ways

What is constitutive power based on?

Power as a social process → social identities and actor capacities are constituted) → if they can operate they advantage and disadvantage); specificity of social relations through which power acts (direct and specific, indirect and diffuse social relations → if can operate = determine who gets to participate in debates and who makes decisions. )

What does Waltz say about anarchy in the international relations?

Wendt 1992 says: process, not structure; actors have influence over their environment and vice versa, anarchy is what states make of it, it doesn’t need to lead to self help

What aspects are relevant in Marxism?

Theory about history, society and development of capitalism

According to Lenin, what is the highest stage of capitalism?

In Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (1917), Lenin links imperialism to the monopoly stage of capitalism, characterized by concentrated production, finance dominance, and conflicts between monopoly and free trade

Under what conditions the goal of the Dependency Theory is meant to be achieved?

build an autonomous national eco outside the global capitalist system

According to World-system theory, what types of structural positions exist?

Driven by capitalism eco crises force the world eco to expand, former peripheral stated became core members of the system: core perhipery and semiperiphery

What does Ashley describe neorealism as?

neorealism is predicated on “technical interest” → controlling the social world as far as possible, critical theory has an “emancipatory interests” → removing political constraints through exercise of human agency

What do problem-solving approaches do?

Problem-solving approaches take the world for granted and ask how it can be made to function as smoothly as possible

What does Gramsci explain about hegemony?

Combination of coercion and consent, implying culture, common sense and institutions of all sorts; hegemony needs to be produced and reproduced by dominant classes

To do a feminist analysis, what steps do you have to follow?

3 moves = empirical (women, gendered dichotomies + practices);analytical(to capture empirical agenda → need concepts + realize that key classic IR concepts are gendered); and epistemological (knowledge is mostly created by men about men)

What do IR feminist undermines?

IR → undermines the division between individual state and IS, it includes intimate relationship, personal identities and private lives.

What concepts are commonly gendered(Tickner)?

Narchy/irrationality/threat = women; states care about gender-based perceptions of their states + ideas about motherhood, sexual purity, good wife and family stability shape policy making within nationalist movements, political parties and state institutions

Feminist challenge on the conception of power.

Feminist IR challenges the idea that power only comes from military force or political declarations. It argues that IR scholars have underestimated how pervasive power is and the everyday efforts required to maintain an unequal and hierarchical world order.

What does post-structuralism see as its mission?

Post structuralisms sees it as its mission to reveal such structures and destabilize them → unsettle established categories

What aspects does Campbell describe from US foreign Policy?

US foreign policy → construction of the boundary btw domestic & international (others / US); outside/international(danger threats to individuality, freedom + civilization) inside/domestic(individuality, freedom + civilization)