Key Theories in International Relations

Realism

Core Assumptions: States are rational, unitary actors in an anarchic system, seeking survival through power (esp. military).

Classical Realism

Key Theorists: Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Hans Morgenthau.

Thucydides

Peloponnesian War - human nature is animalistic, selfish and bad.

Machiavelli

The Prince - rulers must prioritize the strength and security of the state above all else (power is key to maintaining order and stability) / Dual morality - morality and ethics are harmful to a state's survival.

Hobbes

the Leviathan - free will is a great idea but in reality, this would not be a stable society so individuals need to give up some freedom to the overarching authority.

Morgenthau

Politics of Nations - human nature makes international politics competitive and conflict-ridden.

Neorealism / Structural Realism

Key Theorist: Kenneth Waltz. Focus: It's not human nature but anarchy that compels states to compete.

Defensive Realism

Key Theorist: Waltz. Focus: States seek enough power to be secure, but excessive power-seeking is dangerous (security dilemma leads to balancing).

Offensive Realism

Key Theorist: John Mearsheimer. Focus: States strive for hegemony because it's the best guarantee of survival.

Motivational Realism

Key Theorist: Randall Schweller (greedy states that seek power beyond security needs). Focus: Leaders and domestic factors play a role in shaping a state's ambitions.

Liberalism

Core Assumptions: Cooperation is possible; institutions, democracy, and interdependence reduce conflict.

Neoliberal Institutionalism

Focus on institutions fostering cooperation despite anarchy.

Keohane

Institutions create rules, lower transaction costs, and increase transparency.

Complex Interdependence

A concept introduced by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye in the 1970s, emphasizing that states are increasingly interconnected through economic, political, and social ties.

The Democratic Peace Theory

Key Assumption: Democracies are less likely to go to war with each other. Key Theorists: Michael Doyle, rooted in Kant.

Constructivism

Key Theorists: Alexander Wendt ("Anarchy is what states make of it"), Martha Finnemore.

Feminism in IR

Core Assumptions: Gendered power structures shape international politics.

Key Concepts of Liberalism

Free trade, democratic peace, multilateralism, international institutions.

Complex Interdependence Mechanisms

States interact through formal diplomacy, transgovernmental and transnational networks.

Complex Interdependence vs Realism

Unlike realism, which prioritizes security and military concerns, complex interdependence recognizes that economic, environmental, and social issues can be equally important.

Complex Interdependence Encouragement

Encourages increased cooperation and globalization.

Democratic Peace Theory Mechanisms

Accountability to citizens, norms of tolerance, institutional constraints.

Post-Colonialism

IR is shaped by colonial legacies and ongoing neo-colonial power dynamics.

Key Theorists of Post-Colonialism

Edward Said (Orientalism), Gayatri Spivak.

Post-Structuralism

Knowledge and language are never neutral; power shapes truth.

Key Theorists of Post-Structuralism

Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida.

Marxism

Capitalism creates global inequality; class struggle applies to states.

Key Theorists of Marxism

Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Lenin.

World-System Theory

World divided into core, semi-periphery, and periphery.

Key Theorist of World-System Theory

Immanuel Wallerstein.

Dependency Theory

Developing states remain poor due to their dependence on richer states.

Key Theorist of Dependency Theory

Andre Gunder Frank.

Democratic Peace Theory

Democracies are less likely to go to war with each other.

Key Theorists of Democratic Peace Theory

Michael Doyle, rooted in Kant.

Mechanisms of Democratic Peace Theory

Accountability to citizens, norms of tolerance, institutional constraints, information symmetry (free press & open political debate).

Prisoner's Dilemma

Rational actors might fail to cooperate due to mistrust - leads to worse outcomes.

Application of Prisoner's Dilemma

Arms races, war, alliances.

Stag Hunt

Cooperation yields better outcomes, but trust is crucial.

Application of Stag Hunt

Environmental cooperation, treaties.

Bargaining Model of War

War is costly. Assumes states are unitary, rational leaders.

Reasons for War in Bargaining Model

Incentives to misrepresent, Commitment problems, Indivisible goods.

Modernisation Theory

Economic development leads to democratic progress.

Key Theorist of Modernisation Theory

Rostow.

Criticism of Modernisation Theory

Ethnocentric and overly linear; often challenged by dependency theory.

Balance of Power Theory

Stability comes when power is balanced; states counter stronger rivals to prevent dominance.

Key Concepts of Balance of Power Theory

Bandwagoning vs Balancing.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

In nuclear deterrence, both sides possess second-strike capability.

Result of Mutually Assured Destruction

Prevents full-scale war due to guaranteed total annihilation.

Positivism

IR can be studied scientifically via objective, value-free observations.

Post-Positivism

Argues IR is not value-neutral - norms, culture, and identity matter.

Link to Post-Positivism

Constructivism, Critical Theory, Post-Structuralism.

Hegemonic Stability Theory

A stable international system requires a dominant power to enforce rules.

Key Theorist of Hegemonic Stability Theory

Charles Kindleberger.

Theory of Comparative Advantage

Trade benefits both countries when each specializes in what it does best—even if one is better at everything.

Key Theorist of Theory of Comparative Advantage

David Ricardo (Economics, applied to IR).

Relativism (Cultural Relativism)

Morality and norms differ across cultures—what's 'right' isn't universal.

Relevance of Relativism in IR

Debates over human rights, intervention, democracy promotion.