Theories of International Relations: Understanding Global Inequality

Flashcards covering global inequality, Dependency Theory, the Structural Theory of Imperialism, and Feminist International Relations Theory based on POL1005S lecture notes.

How does Dependency Theory define dependence?

A situation in which the economy of certain countries is conditioned by the development and expansion of another economy to which the former is subjected.

According to Dependency Theory, how is underdevelopment in peripheral countries explained?

Underdevelopment is a consequence and part of the process of the world expansion of capitalism.

Why do trade relations in the world economy lead to a transfer of surplus from dependent to dominant countries?

Because trade relations are based on monopolistic control of the market.

How do dependent countries generate the large surpluses required to sustain disadvantageous economic relations?

Through superexploited manpower, rather than through creating higher levels of technology.

What is meant by 'combined development' in global inequality?

The combination of economic inequalities and the transfer of resources from the most backward and dependent sectors to the most advanced and dominant ones.

What are the three conditioning factors of historic forms of dependence?

(1) The basic forms and development laws of the world economy; (2) The dominant economic relations in capitalist centers and their outward expansion; and (3) The internal economic relations of peripheral countries incorporated into international economic relations.

What are the key characteristics of colonial dependence?

It is trade export in nature, where commercial and financial capital allied with the colonialist state dominate economic relations through a trade monopoly and a colonial monopoly of land, mines, and manpower.

When did financial-industrial dependence consolidate itself, and what characterized its expansion?

It consolidated at the end of the nineteenth century and was characterized by the domination of big capital in hegemonic centers expanding abroad through investment in raw materials and agricultural products.

What was the main consequence of imperialism regarding dependent economies and nations?

The integration of dependent economies and nations (or colonies) into the international market.

What is imperialism according to the Structural Theory of Imperialism?

A dominance relation between collectivities (particularly nations) where a Centre nation has power over a Periphery nation so as to bring about a condition of disharmony of interest between them.

What are the three structural conditions that define an imperialist relation between a Centre nation and a Periphery nation?

(1) Harmony of interest between the centre in the Centre nation and the centre in the Periphery nation; (2) More disharmony of interest within the Periphery nation than within the Centre nation; (3) Disharmony of interest between the periphery in the Centre nation and the periphery in the Periphery nation.

What is a 'bridgehead' in the context of structural imperialism?

A tie established by the centre in the Centre nation with the centre in the Periphery nation based on harmony of interest.

How is a 'conflict of interest' defined in Galtung's structural theory of imperialism?

A situation where parties pursue incompatible goals stipulated by an outsider as the 'true' interests of the parties, disregarding what the parties themselves explicitly express as their values.

What role does the centre in the Periphery nation play regarding the value forwarded to the Centre nation?

It serves as a transmission belt (such as commercial firms or trading companies) for value (like raw materials) forwarded to the Centre nation.

What are the two main mechanisms of imperialism?

(1) The principle of vertical interaction relation; and (2) The principle of feudal interaction structure.

What two factors must be examined to determine if an interaction is symmetric or asymmetric?

(1) Inter-actor effects (value-exchange between actors); and (2) Intra-actor effects (effects inside the actors).

What are the three stages of an unequal exchange of asymmetric interaction?

Stage 1 is looting and forced extraction; Stage 2 is buying resources for a ridiculous price; Stage 3 is balanced flow between actors but with large differences in internal spin-off effects (intra-actor effects).

What four rules define the feudal interaction structure?

(1) Interaction between Centre and Periphery is vertical; (2) Interaction between Periphery and Periphery is missing; (3) Multilateral interaction involving all three is missing; (4) Interaction with the outside world is monopolized by the Centre.

What is commodity concentration in Periphery nations?

The tendency for Periphery nations to have only one or very few primary products to export.

What political maxim does the feudal interaction structure express in social science language?

Divide and rule.

What is the core focus of feminist theory in international relations?

The role of gender and the role of women in society and world affairs, seeking to illuminate biases and neglected ways of viewing international relations.

According to feminist assumptions, what primary roles do women play in the world economy and geopolitical system?

Subordinate and undervalued laborers, such as domestic workers, diplomatic wives, agricultural workers, and prostitutes outside military bases.

In what way is feminism similar to Marxism?

Both emphasize structural inequality in political, economic, and social systems.

What alternative concepts might a feminine approach to international relations emphasize over masculine ideas like state, power, anarchy, and war?

Cooperation, mutual gain, interdependence, and societal understanding.

What percentage of parliamentary seats and ministerial-level positions do women fill worldwide?

Women fill only 17 percent of parliamentary seats and 14 percent of ministerial-level positions worldwide.

Why do feminist thinkers argue for greater representation of women in international relations leadership?

It is a matter of justice to correct social injustice and inequities, and a lost opportunity not to draw upon the talents and capacities of half of humanity.