Key Features of Paradigms

Realism

a school of thought that views world politics as an enduring competition among self-interested, power-seeking states, operating in an anarchic system without a centralized authority

Key actors in Realism

States.

Dominant human drives in Realism

Fear and desire to dominate.

Actor's primary goals in Realism

Power or security.

Dominant processes of interaction in Realism

Competition.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Realism

Hobbesian anarchy.

Dominant bodies of theory in Realism

Balance-of-power theory; theories of hegemonic transition and hegemonic war.

Liberalism

a school of thought which revolves around around the rejection of power politics as the only possible outcome of international relations; supports international institutions, open markets, cooperative security, and liberal democracy

Key actors in Liberalism

States and nonstate actors.

Dominant human drives in Liberalism

Fear and desire to live well.

Actor's primary goals in Liberalism

Welfare, justice, and security.

Actor's dominant instruments in Liberalism

Military power, trade, investment, negotiation, persuasion.

Dominant processes of interaction in Liberalism

Competition and cooperation.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Liberalism

Non-hobbesian anarchy.

Dominant bodies of theory in Liberalism

Neoliberal constitutionalism; 'Democratic Peace'.

Marxism

A theory in international relations that views global interactions and politics as fundamentally shaped class struggle and economic inequalities, emphasizing the role of the bourgeoisie and proletariat in driving international events

Key actors in Marxism

Economic classes.

Dominant human drives in Marxism

Greed.

Actor's primary goals in Marxism

The capital-owning class seeks to maximize profit; the working class seeks fair wages and working conditions.

Actor's dominant instruments in Marxism

Wealth for the capital-owning class, labor for the working class.

Dominant processes of interaction in Marxism

Exploitation.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Marxism

Economic inequality.

Dominant bodies of theory in Marxism

Dependency theory; theories of revolution.

Constructivism

A theory in international relations that emphasizes the social construction of reality, arguing that actors’ identities and interests are shaped by interaction and ideas, rather than being fixed or predetermined

Key actors in Constructivism

States and nonstate actors.

Dominant human drives in Constructivism

Need for orderly, meaningful social life.

Actor's primary goals in Constructivism

Interests are socially constructed through interaction.

Actor's dominant instruments in Constructivism

Depends on historical period and social context.

Dominant processes of interaction in Constructivism

Depends on historical period and social context.

Dominant structural feature of the international system in Constructivism

Social constraints (laws, rules, norms, taboos).

Dominant bodies of theory in Constructivism

Structuration; theories of norm evolution.