IR Chapter 3: Powerful Ideas: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism

Democratic Peace

State-level theory of war stating that institutional and normative characteristics of democratic regimes lead them to peaceful relations with each other.

Empirical Theory

Theory based on real-word observations and explanations.

Normative Theory

Theory based on prescription and advocacy of preferred outcomes.

Parsimony

The principle that simple explanations are preferable to complex explanations when other things are equal.

Realism

A major theoretical approach to international relations emphasizing the competitive, conflict, ridden pursuit of power and security among states in world politics.

State of Nature (related to realism)

• A hypothetical condition before the advent of government. where individuals acted predominantly due to self-interest (Hobbes theorized perpetual, brutish state of conflict).

• though this shows an origin to humanity without structured soc., forms a lot of the pessimism toward mankind which is the backbone for realism

Self-Help

Individual actors are responsible for making themselves secure and protecting their own interests.

Sovereign

Having supreme authority over territory and people.

Stratification

Unequal distribution of power, influence, and/or other resources.

Unitary Actor

The simplified conception of a state as a single entity or actor.

Power

The ability to get what you want.

Relative Gains

The comparative effect of a decision or situation on an actor relative to those of another actor.

Absolute Gains

The total effect of a decision or situation on an actor.

Zero-Sum

A condition in which one party's benefit or gains requires comparable losses by another party.

Distribution of Power

A characteristic of the international system emphasized by realists based on the number of great or major powers and how power is distributed among them in a given period of time.

Unipolar

A distribution of power in the international system in which there is one great power.

Bipolar

A distribution in the international system in which there are two great powers.

Multipolar

A distribution of power in the international system in which there are more than two great powers.

Tripolar

A distribution of power in the international system in which there are three great powers.

Balance of Power Politics

Patterns of shifting alliances, force, and counterforce among states as they seek power, counter the efforts of rivals, and confront security threats.

Liberalism

A major theoretical approach to international relations emphasizing the role of individuals, norms, and institutions to explain patterns of cooperation and conflict in world politics.

International Norms

Unwritten rules or expectations of behavior.

Institutions

Structures, patterns, and mechanisms for establishing norms, rules, order, and cooperation in world politics.

Collective Security

States join together into a community, ban the use of force by members, and commit themselves to joining together to respond to any attack by one member on any other member.

Hard Power

Power based on coercive means such as military force.

Soft Power

Power based on attraction and persuasion rather than coercion.

Positive-Sum

A condition in which all parties to an issue can benefit or "win"

Constructivism

A major theoretical approach to international relations emphasizing the importance of ideas, collective identities, and the social construction of reality.

Hobbesian World

A brutal, dangerous, self-help world without central authority described by the philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

Social Construction

A concept is created by the interactions and ideas within a society.

Ideational

Emphasizing the centrality of ideas and norms in shaping behavior and interactions.

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

The militant terrorist organization in Northern Ireland hat fought to remove the Protestant leaders from power and the British military from Northern Ireland.

Consociational Democracy

A form of government that guarantees representation to the different ethnic or religious groups within the country.

Negative Peace

A lack of conflict between two countries or groups.

Positive Peace

A situation between two countries that is not simply a lack of conflict, but a mutual affinity for each other.

Hutu

A socially constructed race in central Africa that was supposed to be poorer and physically shorter than its rival group, the Tutsis.

Tutsi

A socially constructed race in central Africa that was supposed to be more elite, wealthier, and taller than their rival group, the Hutus.

Genocide

The deliberate killing of a religious, ethnic or racial group.

Six-Day War

The 1967 war between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israel won the war and took control of the occupied territories (the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Golan Heights).

Substate Actors

Groups within a state such as political parties, insurgents, or ethnic groups.

Hegemony

Domination of the international system by one country.

Realism overview

• Greek historian (2.5k years ago) Thucydides provided commentary on athenian-spartan conflict (pg 63) + competition, pulled from athenian general’s statement

  “the strong do as they will, the weak suffer what they must”

  to compose what is now known as core of realist theory; he was one of the oldest IR theory’s first writers/thinkers

• way to understand Intern. system, also policy guide how one should operate in it

according to realism:

• and according to class:

  • people are narrowly selfish and ethically flawed

  • might makes right

  • irremovable instincts, despite incentive/opp. being possibly removed

• relevant actors and sovereign states are players that must self-rely to protect their interests

• anarchic conditions, absence of central govt leads to hobbesian world (state of nature)

• power is the main resource, unequally distributed, res. in stratified system; often military power viewed most essential

• actors have similar goals, but differing capacity to achieve/obtain ^^

• conflict and chaos are norms, politics are seen as zero sum: one side gains one side loses

• self-help world, and ultimately foreign distrust: states must protect sec., pursue power/adv’s indep.

Explain the foundations of the liberation approach in terms of its conceptions of (a) the nature of the international system; (b) its relevant actors; (c) important resources; and (d) central dynamics.

Liberal theorists begin with the formal anarchy of the system, acknowledging the absence of formal, authoritative central government in world politics. But liberal theorists also recognize the importance of one or more additional features of the international system that reduce the impact of formal anarchy, such as international norms, mutual interests among states, interdependence, and institutions. Since these characteristics tie states together, Liberal theorists see more opportunities for cooperation and peace. System-level dynamics such as the security dilemma tend to be viewed more as trust and communication problems that can be reduced by norms, interdependence, common identity, and institutions rather than as unalterable consequences of anarchy. Liberal theorists also view differences in states—in type of government, and other features—as important for their behavior, and they see the importance of individuals, governmental institutions and agencies, non-state actors, and societal forces in shaping state behavior and interactions. The liberal lens stresses the multidimensional nature of power, recognizing the importance of military power but arguing that there are many sources of power and influence in world politics. Liberals differentiate between "hard" and "soft power" and tend to reject the realist situation specific or context dependent, In a formally anarchic world in which states and other actors share some common interests and goals and are interdependent and connected through institutions and other channels, cooperation, competition, and conflict are all possible. Conflict, however, is not the norm, and world politics is often a positive sum game. Progress and change are both possible and likely.

Explain the foundations of the constructivist approach in terms of its conceptions of: (a) the nature of the international system; (b) its relevant actors; (c) important resources; and (d) central dynamics.

States do not, as suggested by realism, constantly engage in conflict or preparation for conflict. Social construction simply means that a concept is created by the identities and interactions of societies. Anarchy is the absence of central government, but what it means for state behavior varies according to the ideas and shared experiences and interactions of the players. For constructivists, states are important, but consist of people with identity and values. Other actors are also important, including international intuitions, non-governmental organizations, and transactional networks. Moreover, constructivists pay close attention to cultural groups in world politics—nations or ethnic groups and their experiences, ideas, and values. To constructivists, the basis of power is not in the material power of states or institutions, but the ideas that people believe in and the shared understanding they develop. It is not that the material world and tangible resources of power do not matter, but that their meaning depends on shared ideas, norms, and interpretations. Since a central idea behind constructivism is that all social relationships are constructed by people and therefore are subject to change, it follows that the central dynamics of world politics are subject to great variation over time and among different players in world politics.

Assess the uses and applications of each approach as contending and complementary lenses for understanding international relations.

Because realism, liberalism and constructivism stress different characteristics, players, and dynamics in world politics, they offer contending, and sometime complementary, explanations of the patterns of world politics. Realism is the simplest perspective, focusing on the reasons for conflict. Its relevance to the balance-of-power patterns of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries is clear, but how well does it capture the changing patterns of behavior among great powers and others after World War II? Liberalism and constructivism are much more complex explanations that reduce the emphasis on conflict, but they may capture the forces underlying cooperation and change and change in world politics, especially after World War II.

Theory:

• an explanation for connecting events, actions, behaviors, and outcomes

• set of analytical tools for understanding cause-effect relationships w phenomena and (analytical uses) explain choices of policymakers and those consequences

• view theories as lenses

Causal Relationships

that which empirical theory aims to explain (made very difficult bc of everchanging conditions, unlike a laboratory)

A (cause) B (effect) rules

1. A and B must change together (called COVARIANCE), otherwise you cannot claim one causes change in the other

2. A comes before B in time, (called TEMPORAL ORDER)

3. other possible causes for B (perhaps C,D,E) must be ruled out or accted for to isolate true eff. of A (called NONSPURIOUSNESS)

mnemonic: CNT (you know what that sounds like)

Theory Main Elements: Description

selective, describing and emphasizing which facts are important, requires observers to see events in types classes categories, and to interpret them through specific frameworks.

TME: Explanation

the how and why. This makes the cause and effect statement, and makes abstract facts descriptions actually theories. Theories rely on potential explanations, that can be possibly supported or falsified

TME: Prediction

theory provides main basis for anticipating future dev’s and events.

TME (sometimes): basis for Prescription

theories may lead to suggestions on what should be. seeing connections have the potential to warrant suggestions that shape the future

Realist Works/ Thinkers / Actors

• Machiavelli- the prince: morals and ethics = luxury, governing pragmatically with end-justified means.

• Hobbes- enlightenment era the leviathan… pleasure and pain govern humans

• *honorable mention Otto von Bismarck (united prussia etc), dislikes formal ir alliances, sought power wealth using threats and force, established realpolitik, not based on morals.

  • Kaiser Wilhelm and Bismarck butting heads over practicality renewed germany