GOV 322 Paradigms

Realism

a school of thought that views world politics as an enduring competition among self-interested, power-seeking states, operating in an anarchic system without a centralized authority

Key actors in Realism

States.

Dominant human drives in Realism

Fear and desire to dominate.

Actor's primary goals in Realism

Power or security.

Dominant processes of interaction in Realism

Competition.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Realism

Hobbesian anarchy.

Dominant bodies of theory in Realism

Balance-of-power theory; theories of hegemonic transition and hegemonic war.

Liberalism

a school of thought which revolves around around the rejection of power politics as the only possible outcome of international relations; supports international institutions, open markets, cooperative security, and liberal democracy

Key actors in Liberalism

States and nonstate actors.

Dominant human drives in Liberalism

Fear and desire to live well.

Actor's primary goals in Liberalism

Welfare, justice, and security.

Actor's dominant instruments in Liberalism

Military power, trade, investment, negotiation, persuasion.

Dominant processes of interaction in Liberalism

Competition and cooperation.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Liberalism

Non-hobbesian anarchy.

Dominant bodies of theory in Liberalism

Neoliberal constitutionalism; 'Democratic Peace'.

Marxism

A theory in international relations that views global interactions and politics as fundamentally shaped class struggle and economic inequalities, emphasizing the role of the bourgeoisie and proletariat in driving international events

Key actors in Marxism

Economic classes.

Dominant human drives in Marxism

Greed.

Actor's primary goals in Marxism

The capital-owning class seeks to maximize profit; the working class seeks fair wages and working conditions.

Actor's dominant instruments in Marxism

Wealth for the capital-owning class, labor for the working class.

Dominant processes of interaction in Marxism

Exploitation.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Marxism

Economic inequality.

Dominant bodies of theory in Marxism

Dependency theory; theories of revolution.

Constructivism

A theory in international relations that emphasizes the social construction of reality, arguing that actors’ identities and interests are shaped by interaction and ideas, rather than being fixed or predetermined

Key actors in Constructivism

States and nonstate actors.

Dominant human drives in Constructivism

Need for orderly, meaningful social life.

Actor's primary goals in Constructivism

Interests are socially constructed through interaction.

Actor's dominant instruments in Constructivism

Depends on historical period and social context.

Dominant processes of interaction in Constructivism

Depends on historical period and social context.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Constructivism

Social constraints (laws, rules, norms, taboos).

Dominant bodies of theory in Constructivism

Structuration; theories of norm evolution.

zero sum game

When the gains of one nation result in equal losses for another. Realists believe that the nature of world politics prevents cooperation among nations, realism

Security dilemma

When the attempt by one state to increase its security by an arms buildup results in the decreased security of another state, realism

Arms Race

Two or more states build up their arms to increase security, realism

Mutual Benefits Game

Gains may be achieved by more than one actor; the mutual benefit nature of world politics promotes cooperation among states. liberalism

Interdependece

Actions and events in one state, society or part of the world affect people everywhere; global interdependence promotes communication and understanding, resulting in a reduction of conflict, liberalism

What is liberalism?

Belief that government policies should change to alleviate existing problems

Security Dilemma

In an anarchic international system, one with no common central power, when one state seeks to improve its security it creates insecurity in other states. One state threatens others with its power, to ensure the safety of threatened states they try to ensure survive, this creates perpetual survive.

How do you solve a security dilemma?

democratic government, economic interdependence, and international law and organizations.

Democratic Peace Theory

In the modern International system, democracies almost never fought with each other.

Four big changes

-the decline of deadly violent conflicts

-The spread of democracy throughout most of the world

-The increase in economic openess

-The multiplication of intergovernmental organizations

What are the three Katian assumptions

Democracies will refrain from using force against other democracies.

Economically important trades create incentives and maintain peace.

IO can constrain decision-makers by positively promoting peace.

normative constraints

negotation and compromise (democracy) vs. threat and force (autocracy)

institutional constraints

accountable to public (democracy) vs. repressive (autocracy)

self-perpetuating cycle

The process of attitudes producing actions that may cause those same attitudes to increase.It mutually reinforces an economic interdependence with international organizations and democracy that leads to peace.

What is neoliberalism?

focuses on the role international institutions play in obtaining international collective outcomes. The central concern is: how to achieve cooperation among states and other actors in the international system.

What is anarchy?

absence of government

What is neorealism?

one single factor that can explain international relations is structure that results from power distribution. States do not seek power for power's sake, but more security within the established structure of international order.

Differences between neoliberalism and neorealism?

realists: anarchy is all encompassing, unchanging condition of environment, which becomes an inability to control outcomes and ensure survival , which ends with fear, paranoia, fear, and drive for power

liberals: anarchy is gradually filled with human processes and institutions, and mitigates to paranoia, fear, and drive for power induced by anarchy.

realists: ongoing warfare and military competition

liberals: increasing interdependence in global issue areas, the post war period of hegemonic stability provided by the us and its decline.

What does hegemony mean?

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others. (domination)

What are the roles of international institutions?

-barriers to international cooperation; lack of information, and concerns of cheating

states are motivated to cooperate to achieve absolute gains (what are the roles):

-normalize rules and procedures to accept boundaries for behavior and have collective goals.

-play a role in deflection through compliance and enforcement

-institutions can serve as a state's representation for particular issues.

Security dilemma

When the attempt by one state to increase its security by an arms buildup results in the decreased security of another state, realism

Arms Race

Two or more states build up their arms to increase security, realism

Mutual Benefits Game

Gains may be achieved by more than one actor; the mutual benefit nature of world politics promotes cooperation among states. liberalism

Interdependece

Actions and events in one state, society or part of the world affect people everywhere; global interdependence promotes communication and understanding, resulting in a reduction of conflict, liberalism

What is liberalism?

Belief that government policies should change to alleviate existing problems

Security Dilemma

In an anarchic international system, one with no common central power, when one state seeks to improve its security it creates insecurity in other states. One state threatens others with its power, to ensure the safety of threatened states they try to ensure survive, this creates perpetual survive.

How do you solve a security dilemma?

democratic government, economic interdependence, and international law and organizations.

Democratic Peace Theory

In the modern International system, democracies almost never fought with each other.

Four big changes

-the decline of deadly violent conflicts

-The spread of democracy throughout most of the world

-The increase in economic openess

-The multiplication of intergovernmental organizations

What are the three Katian assumptions

Democracies will refrain from using force against other democracies.

Economically important trades create incentives and maintain peace.

IO can constrain decision-makers by positively promoting peace.

normative constraints

negotation and compromise (democracy) vs. threat and force (autocracy)

institutional constraints

accountable to public (democracy) vs. repressive (autocracy)

self-perpetuating cycle

The process of attitudes producing actions that may cause those same attitudes to increase.It mutually reinforces an economic interdependence with international organizations and democracy that leads to peace.

What is neoliberalism?

focuses on the role international institutions play in obtaining international collective outcomes. The central concern is: how to achieve cooperation among states and other actors in the international system.

What is neorealism?

Neorealism, also called structural realism, state that the one single factor that can explain international relations is structure that results from power distribution. States do not seek power for power's sake, but more security within the established structure of international order.

Differences between neoliberalism and neorealism?

realists: anarchy is all encompassing, unchanging condition of environment, which becomes an inability to control outcomes and ensure survival , which ends with fear, paranoia, fear, and drive for power

liberals: anarchy is gradually filled with human processes and institutions, and mitigates to paranoia, fear, and drive for power induced by anarchy.

realists: ongoing warfare and military competition

liberals: increasing interdependence in global issue areas, the post war period of hegemonic stability provided by the us and its decline.

What does hegemony mean?

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others. (domination)

What are the roles of international institutions?

-barriers to international cooperation; lack of information, and concerns of cheating

states are motivated to cooperate to achieve absolute gains (what are the roles):

-normalize rules and procedures to accept boundaries for behavior and have collective goals.

-play a role in deflection through compliance and enforcement

-institutions can serve as a state's representation for particular issues.