Theory Part 2

Wendt 1992

Self help and power politics do not follow logically or causally from anarchy since anarchy is what the states make of it. IA structures are based on collective meaning. People act towards objects on the basis of their meaning (constructivism).

Jervis 1968

7 hypothesis on the types of misconceptions of other state’s intentions.

Keohan 1984

American hegemony has been eroded but nonhegemonic cooperation is possible when it’s facilitated by regimes (liberalism).

Mearsheimer 2001

The goal of the state is to be the hegemon, so when there is no hegemon, competition ensues. The structure of the world is anarchy and offensive military with rational actors. Offensive realism (defensive, no status quo, goal to be hegemon)

Realism Snyder 2004

• self-interested states compete for power and security

  • Key actor: states

  • Main instruments: military power and democracy

  • Blind spots: doesn’t account for progress and change in international relations or understanding that legitimacy can be a source of military power

Liberalism Snyder 2004

• spread of democracy, global economic ties, and international organizations will strengthen peace

  • Key actor: states, international institutions, and commercial interests

  • Main instruments: international institutions and global commerce

  • Blind spots: fail to understand that democratic regimes survive only if they safeguard military power and security, some liberals forget that transitions to democracy are sometimes violent

Idealism / constructivism Snyder 2004

• international politics is shaped by persuasive ideas, collective values, culture, and social identities

  • Key actor: promoters of new ideas, transnational activist networks, and nongovernmental orgs

  • Main instruments: ideas and values

  • Blind spots: does not explain which power structure and social conditions allow for changes in values

Realism Frieden 2019

• state is dominant actor and seeks security and/or power

  • International politics primarily about bargaining, coercion is a possibility

  • International institutions reflect interests of powerful states

Liberalism 2019

• many types of actors are important, no single interests are dominate, wealth is the common goals, actors have common interests, which creates cooperation

  • International politics has potential for cooperation, conflict is not inevitable and occurs when actors fail to realize/act on common interests

  • Institutions facilitate cooperation by setting rules, providing info, and creating procedures for collective decision-making

Constructivism 2019

• many types of actors are important. Interests are influenced by culture, identity, and prevailing ideas. Actors' choices often reflect norms of appropriate behavior rather than interests

  • Interactions socialize actors to hold particular interests, transformations happen when there are alternative understandings of interests

  • Institutions define identities and shape action through norms of just and appropriate behavior

Implications of Anarchy

Mearsheimer 2001 assumptions

• Great powers have offensive military capability

• Uncertainty exists over other's intentions

• Survival is primary goal of great powers

• States are rational actors

• Assumptions imply:

  • Fear

    • States don’t trust each other

    • "security dilemma" (Jervis 1978, p.170)

  • Self-help

    • Alliances temporary

  • Power maximization

    • Zero-sum: my gain is your loss

    • States offensive-minded toward hegemony

Hegemony

• Preponderance of military power

• Growing economy

• Will to lead

  • Ex: US and USSR in Cold War

  • US now

  • China (regional) now

Hegemonic Stability Theory Snidal 1985

• Greater stability in international system with hegemon than without

• Greater stability benefits smaller states in the system more than large states