International Relations Theories: Realism vs. Liberalism

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on International Relations Theories, focusing on Realism and Liberalism.

International Relations Theories

Frameworks for understanding how nations interact, international organizations function, and global governance operates.

Realist View (of IR)

Emphasizes state sovereignty, power politics, and national interests, where states are primary actors in an anarchic world.

Liberal View (of IR)

Emphasizes cooperation, integration, and international institutions, with multiple actors shaping outcomes.

Realism (Power Politics/Realpolitik)

Focuses on the acquisition, maintenance, and exercise of power by states, often analyzing security, war, and violent conflict.

Hard Power

Military capabilities used by states to exert influence.

Soft Power

Influence derived from ideas, wealth, or innovation used by states.

Might Makes Right (Realist Lesson)

What is just and moral is relative and usually defined by the powerful; victors write history.

Self-Reliance is Essential (Realist Lesson)

States must guarantee their own survival through military power, as alliances provide false security.

The Melian Story

An historical example illustrating realist principles where alliances and moral arguments failed to protect the weak (Melos) from the strong (Athens).

States as Primary Actors (Realist Assumption)

States with sovereignty and the power to deter intervention are the most important actors in international relations.

States as Unitary and Rational (Realist Assumption)

States speak with one voice and act rationally to identify goals and choose optimal strategies.

Inherently Conflictual Relations (Realist Assumption)

International relations are essentially conflictual due to human nature or the anarchic structure of the international system.

High Politics (Realism)

Security and geostrategic issues that dominate the international agenda for realists.

Low Politics (Realism)

Issues like economics, environment, and human rights, considered secondary to security for realists.

Structural Realism

A branch of realism arguing that anarchy (absence of higher authority) is a permissive cause of war, compelling states to resort to 'self-help'.

Anarchy (in IR)

The absence of a higher authority in the international system, leading states to 'self-help'.

Security Dilemma

States arm for self-defense, which provokes other states to respond in kind, leading to arms races and balancing behavior, even with benevolent leaders.

Balance of Power

The distribution of military capabilities among states, essential for maintaining order and stability by deterring attacks.

Hegemonic Creation (of IGOs)

A mechanism where a dominant state creates international organizations to further its interests and values.

Great-Power Cooperation (in IGOs)

A mechanism where powerful states with common interests form organizations to coordinate policies, reflecting their shared interests.

Prisoners' Dilemma

A game theory scenario showing how rational individual behavior under anarchy can lead to suboptimal collective outcomes.

Marginal Role (of IGOs in Realism)

International organizations matter only at the fringes of world politics, fostering cooperation in non-controversial areas but rarely constraining state behavior where interests conflict.

Intervening Role (of IGOs in Realism)

International organizations are used by great powers to further their interests, and states will bypass them if immediate security or important national interests are at stake.

International Law (Realist View)

Traditional realists see it as largely irrelevant, made and broken by states for self-interest, with no enforcement; contemporary realists acknowledge its limited role for predictable behavior.

Declining Utility of Force (Liberal View)

Conventional weapons have become too destructive for foreign policy goals, and WMDs function as deterrents, reducing the practical use of force.

Spread of Democracy (Liberal View)

Democratic values of compromise and rule of law inhibit decision-makers from resorting to war.

Growing Interconnectedness (Liberal View)

Societies are bound by global markets, production, communication, and the internet, fostering cooperation and making international relations less about pure power politics.

Economic Liberalism

A belief in capitalism, emphasizing profit motive, private property, and free, self-regulating markets.

Political Liberalism

A belief in individual equality, individual liberty, participatory democracy, and limited government.

Classical Liberalism (in IR)

The foundation of liberalism in international relations theory, encompassing both economic and political dimensions.

Multiple Important Actors (Liberal Assumption)

Both state and nonstate actors (individuals, firms, interest groups, governments, IGOs) matter in international relations.

Disaggregated State (Liberal Assumption)

The state is not unitary and rational but comprises individuals, agencies, and bodies with competing interests.

Mixed Cooperation and Conflict (Liberal Assumption)

International relations combine conflict and cooperation, with complex interdependence and shared democratic values fostering cooperation.

Diverse International Agenda (Liberal Assumption)

Various issues, including economic, social, environmental, and security concerns, can dominate the international agenda.

Functionalism

A liberal theory arguing that international organizations are created due to increased transnational ties, leading to common problems requiring international cooperation.

Spillover (Functionalism)

The process where cooperation in narrow, non-political areas leads to further integration and cooperation in more politicized issues.

Institutionalism

A liberal theory suggesting a hegemonic power is necessary for creating IGOs, but IGOs remain important even after a hegemon declines because they provide benefits that encourage states to share maintenance costs.

Overcoming Collective Action Problems (Liberal Role of IGOs)

International organizations help states overcome dilemmas like the Prisoners' Dilemma and free rider problems by changing rules and providing neutral forums.

Promoting Economic Prosperity (Liberal Role of IGOs)

International economic institutions promote global welfare by reducing trade barriers, eliminating protectionism, and encouraging privatization and development.

Developing Shared Values (Liberal Role of IGOs)

IGOs and NGOs foster values like compromise, reciprocity, multilateralism, and the rule of law, promoting democracy and protecting human rights.

Integration Through MNCs (Liberal Role of IGOs)

Multinational corporations bind societies through a common global market, bringing jobs, industries, managerial skills, and technologies.

Providing Humanitarian Assistance (Liberal Role of IGOs)

International organizations provide relief to victims of international politics, including the poor, refugees, and those affected by disasters, epidemics, and war.

International Law (Liberal View)

The foundation of global society, providing rules, stabilizing expectations, establishing criteria for behavior, creating communication processes, enhancing compliance, and empowering activists.