Global Politics Theories

GP Theories

Liberalism

A political and economic theory advocating for individual freedoms, democracy, and free market principles. It emphasizes the importance of civil rights and liberties, as well as international cooperation.

Realism

States acting in their own interest to maintain power

Offensive Structural realism

Offensive contends that states must constantly seek power to ensure survival

Defensive Structural realism

defensive suggests that cooperation and trust-building can alleviate security concerns

Classical Realism

emphasizes human nature and the inherent desire for power as the driving force behind state behaviour in international relations.

Socialism

an economic and political system where the means of production are owned and regulated by the community or state, aiming for equal distribution of wealth and resources.

Colonialism

the practice by which a powerful country controls another country or countries, in order to become richer

Post-colonialism

a theoretical framework that analyses the lasting impacts of colonial rule

Marxism

a socio-political and economic theory that advocates for a classless society through the abolition of private property, emphasizing the role of class struggle in societal development.

Neo-Marxism

an extension of Marxist theory that incorporates elements of sociology, cultural studies, and post-structuralism to address issues of power and ideology in contemporary society.

Hegemony stability theory

Hegemonic stability theory explains the role of dominant or hegemonic states in shaping the international system and maintaining international order

Neo-colonialism

a practice where a powerful country exploits a weaker country economically, politically, or culturally, despite the latter's formal independence.

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is the view that concepts and moral values must be understood in their own cultural context and not judged according to the standards of a different culture

Universalism

all people, no matter who they are or where they live, are entitled to the same rights protections regardless of politics or circumstance.

Neo-Liberalism

Emphasizes the value of free market competition. Characterized in terms of its belief in sustained economic growth as the means to achieve human progress, its confidence in free markets as the most-efficient allocation of resources, its emphasis on minimal state intervention in economic and social affairs, and its commitment to the freedom of trade and capital.

Social Constructivism

social theory that asserts that significant aspects of international relations are shaped by ideational factors i.e. the mental process of forming ideas. The most important ideational factors are those that are collectively held; these collectively held beliefs construct the interests and identities of actors.

Feminism

the idea of women’s representation in Global Politics is limited, and to highlight the importance of gender equality and the need to address women's issues in political discourse and decision-making.