IRF 3101 MODULE 2

Pre-mid 1980s IR Lenses

Pre-mid 1980s IR Lenses

Realism, pluralism, global systems

Realism

emphasized the primacy of the state in determining IR

Pluralism

highlighted the roles of non-state actors through the notion of interdependence

Global Systems Theory

saw state behaviour as derived from the exigencies imposed by socio-economic or politico-military structures.

Institutional state (Skocpol, Tilly & Giddens)

a set of administrative, policing and military organisations headed, and more or less well coordinated, by an executive authority

Mann defines the state as

1) a differentiated set of institutions and personnel embodying centrality

2) in the sense that political relations radiate to and from a centre to cover

3) a territorially demarcated area, over which it exercises and

4) some degree of authoritative, binding rule-making, backed up by some organised physical force.

Global system Depicting FPA as a boundary activity

portraying the state as an organization, and an organization that can act, implies that it plays a central part in determining foreign policy, but also is separate from other defining factors. In contrast to the state’s portrayal in realism, it is at the centre of the analysis, but does not eclipse other foreign policy determinants

Historical Sociology Lenses

Institutional state, quasi-state, clustered state

Quasi-State

Possesses Judicial Statehood but have fragmented and incomplete institutions; Institutions are unable to constrain or outlast individual occupying office

Clustered State

States that are pooling their sovereignty and use of the means of violence and authority into numbers of international

institutions.

Superpower

States that have the ability to protect their power to the world. There are countries endowed with greater capabilities and have utilized it effectively to project power globally.

Emerging Power

States are increasingly able to project its power tying to match the capabilities and use of capabilities by existing superpowers

Developing Country

Countries that are not that technologically advanced and industrialized.Mostly post-colonial states which recently gained independence.

Weak State

Countries with ineffective institutions of government. Most of the time interchanged with small states

Failed State

Failure of institutions of government to control the state’s territory. The absence of effective institutions of government.

Middle Powers

States that can wield a measure of influence , albeit not through the projection of military might

Great Powers

Has the political , economic , and military strength to exert influence on a global scale.

Regional power

A state that has the resources to exert influence in its own region of the world

Small states

States that have a rather limited capacity to exert influence on other states

Interdependence

Assumes that all states need each other in order to survive

Dependence

An asymmetric pattern of interactions between a more and a less powerful state.

foreign policy behaviors of small states

consensus-oriented foreign policy, compliant foreign policy, counterdependent foreign policy, compensation,

national role conception

Implies that there are types of foreign policy decisions and behaviors that are appropriate for their state to undertake

soft power

the ability to shape the preferences of others; "Values a government champions in its behavior"

Counterdependent foreign policy

A defiant reaction to dependence. The leaders of such states are frustrated with the dependent situation of their state and try to find ways to reduce the consequences of that dependence

Consensus-oriented foreign policy

States voluntarily align their external policy with that of a larger, more powerful state that has the capacity to exert influence over them

Compliant foreign policy

More powerful states pressure the smaller state’s leader to align their foreign policy with it

Compensation

A foreign policy that antagonizes the leader of power states in an effort to appease domestic audiences