International Relations Theories Flashcards

Flashcards on International Relations (IR) Theories

Coherent IR Theory

Logically consistent without internal contradictions.

Realism (in IR)

Theory that focuses on conflict and power in an anarchic international system where states prioritize survival.

Liberalism (in IR)

Theory emphasizing cooperation, international institutions, and economic interdependence as central features of international relations.

International Society Theory

Theory focusing on both power and international law, viewing the world as an anarchical society with rules and norms.

International Political Economy (IPE)

Examines how states cooperate in the economic sphere.

Realism's Explanation of Change

Explains change through the balance of power, where no single state becomes too dominant.

Liberalism's Explanation of Change

Explains change through international institutions, encouraging peaceful and cooperative behavior.

Realist Assumption

Sees the international system as anarchic, with powerful states pursuing goals by any means.

Liberal Assumption

Believes humans are generally good and can design international systems governed by law.

International Society Theorists' Belief

Sees the world as an anarchical society with rules and norms, like those in the UN system.

Realism's Key Actors

States are the main actors.

Liberalism's Key Actors

Individuals and organizations are also important actors.

Realism's View on Peace

Says that peace occurs when no alliance becomes too powerful.

Liberalism's View on Peace

Says that war is prevented by international cooperation, institutions, and economic interdependence.

Realism's View of Human Nature

Views human nature pessimistically, seeing humans as selfish and power-hungry.

Realism's Belief on International Relations

Believes international relations are always conflictual, with war settling major conflicts.

Realism's Focus

Focuses on national security and the survival of the state.

Realism's Skepticism

Skeptical about progress in international politics.

Neorealism (Waltz)

States behave as they do because the structure of the system (anarchy and unequal power) forces them to act that way.

Realism's View of the State

Sees the state as a black box where leaders act for survival and power.

Goal of Early Liberal (Utopian) IR Theory

Want to create a system to prevent wars, with a belief in rational rules, public opinion, and international institutions.

Criticism of Utopian View (Carr)

Liberal theorists ignoring power struggles and the inevitability of conflict.

Utopian Liberalism vs. Realism

Utopian Liberalism aims to prevent war through peace-building and cooperation, while Realism explains and prepares for conflict as part of power politics.

Realism's View of Progress

Realists are skeptical of progress and see international relations as shaped by conflict and the pursuit of survival.

Liberalism's View of Progress

Liberals believe that international cooperation, law, democracy, and economic interdependence lead to peace and progress.

Hobbesianism (Realism)

The system is anarchic, history repeats itself, and power and security are core elements.

Grotianism (Rationalism)

States cooperate through shared norms, laws, and diplomacy; improvements occur through institutions and law, emphasizing diplomacy and order.

Kantianism (Revolutionalism)

Believes strongly in historical progress, the potential for peace and justice, and a moral international community beyond state interests.

Morgenthau’s First Principle

Politics is governed by objective laws rooted in human nature, which is driven by the will to power.

Morgenthau’s Second Principle

Nations act to secure their national interest, defined as increasing or protecting power.

Morgenthau’s Third Principle

The concept of interest is dynamic and changes over time depending on the political environment.

Morgenthau’s Fourth Principle

States cannot follow universal moral rules like individuals; morality must be adjusted to political realities.

Morgenthau’s Fifth Principle

Claims of morality are often used to hide national interest.

Morgenthau’s Sixth Principle

Politics is a distinct area of human activity centered on power and national interest.

Defensive Force

Used to protect oneself from an attack or to minimize its effects.

Deterrent Force

Used to prevent an enemy from doing something by threatening retaliation.

Compellent Force

Used to force an opponent to start or stop doing something.

Swaggering Force

Used to gain prestige or demonstrate power without necessarily engaging in conflict.

Balancing

States ally with other countries to resist a stronger or more dangerous power.

Bandwagoning

A state joins with the dangerous or stronger power, hoping for protection or rewards.

Balancing

When a state feels threatened from outside, it will try to join with other states to resist the threat.

Bandwagoning

When threatened, a state might decide to ally with the threatening power instead of resisting it.

Realism

States are the only important actors, especially great powers.

Liberalism

Still sees states as important, but also considers international institutions, NGOs, MNCs, and individuals as playing growing roles.

International Society

Focuses on states and their recognition of each other, with statespeople doing diplomacy, trade, spying, treaties, war, and joining organizations.

IPE

Mercantilists focus on states, liberals on individuals and private firms, and Marxists on social classes, viewing the state as a tool of the ruling class.

International System

Began as early as 3500 BC and includes sovereign states, non-state actors, the distribution of power and wealth, polarization, goals, tools, and mutual dependence.

Historical Classifications of Pearson and Rochester

Classical system (1648–1789), temporary system (1789–1945), post-war system (1945–1973), and contemporary system (since the 1970s).

Power

The ability to make another actor do something they wouldn’t do otherwise.

Hard Power

Using force or payments to influence others.

Soft Power

Using attraction or ideas to influence others.

International Anarchy

The system where there is no world government.

Hobbes’ Security Dilemma

A world without government, where everyone is afraid of everyone else.

Security Dilemma in IR

Actions a state takes to make itself feel safer actually make other states feel less safe—which then causes them to take similar actions.

Main Characteristics of HD

Term coined by John H. Herz (1950), showing how even peace-seeking states can end up in conflict due to anarchy.

State A builds weapons to feel safe

One state's defensive actions lead to another state’s reactions, creating a repeating cycle.

Government in domestic politics

Government has a monopoly on the use of force.

Government in international politics

There is no monopoly on the use of force.

12. Neorealism – Kenneth Neal Waltz

Neorealism, also known as structural realism.

Key Claims of Neorealism

The most important force shaping international relations is the structure of the international system, not human nature, ideology, or domestic politics.

What Makes Neorealism Different from Classical Realism?

Classical realism focuses on human nature and moral dilemmas, while Neorealism uses scientific methods and looks at the international system's structure.

States are “unitary rational actors”

They are treated as if they are single, rational entities, all aiming to survive and maximize their security.

States called functionally undifferentiated

All states perform the same basic functions (diplomacy, defense, governance), so they are called functionally undifferentiated.

Distribution of Capabilities

States are ranked based on how much power (military, economic, technological) they have.

13. Liberalism Core Ideas of Liberalism

Liberalism focuses on individuals and society.

States do what powerful groups within society push them to do

Individuals and private groups as the main actors.

Commercial Liberalism Liberalism(based on

States trade a lot and benefit from it, they are less likely to go to war (Commercial Liberalism)

Republican Liberalism(based on domestic

Argues that democracies are more peaceful, especially toward each other (“democratic peace theory”).(Republican Liberalism)

Progress is possible-Zacher & Sorensen

Gradual progress toward a better world. Not perfect peace, but improvement in terms of human rights, democracy, justice, and economic welfare.

Cooperation is central-Zacher & Sorensen

Cooperation between states is not only possible, it is growing—especially through institutions like the UN, WTO, EU, etc. These institutions reduce fear, increase trust, and help states work together on common issues like trade, health, climate, or security.

What Are Preferences in Liberal Theory

In liberal international relations (IR) theory, preferences are the fundamental goals or interests that a state pursues in world politics. These are not strategies or tactics (like alliances, diplomacy, or military action), but rather the underlying values or outcomes a state wants.

Liberal View-International Institutions

Help states manage interdependence and promote stable interactions

Liberal-Moravcsik’s Three Assumptions

Primacy of Societal Actors

Most important actors-Primacy of Societal Actors

The most important actors in politics are individuals and groups within society (like businesses, voters, NGOs)

Liberal-Representation and State Preferences

States represent specific parts of their societies—usually the most powerful or organized groups.

Liberal-Interdependence and the International System

What happens internationally depends on how state preferences interact.

Democratic peace

That democracies do not go to war with each other. This is not because democracies are peaceful in general—they are just as likely to go to war with non-democracies—but because they treat other democracies differently.

Two Types of Liberalism

Distrust centralized power, Prefer: Local, voluntary, and intermediate groups.

Rationalist Liberalism View

Supportive, if guided by universal lawFocus

Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST) What Is Hegemonic

The world economy is most open and stable when one powerful state—the hegemon—dominates the international system.

Stabilizer

Hegemony=Ensures that the system stays stable during crises.

Institution-builder

Hegemony=Helps create global institutions (e.g., WTO, IMF).

20. International Political Economy

IPE studies the relationship between states, markets, and institutions

during Neoliberal Institutionalism View

States join institutions to “tie their hands” .

Faith in Dialectical Materialism-Marxism

Reality is made of material things, not ideas or spirit.Matter evolves through contradiction and conflict (this is the dialectic process).

21. Marxism historical Materialism

History is shaped by material needs—especially the need to survive

21. Marxism economic Determinism

Economy shapes everything in society.

Value Labour-Marxism

Labor creates value. Workers add value to raw materials

Faith, Classless, Stateless Society

State, private and others helps protects this system.

Final Classless, Stateless Society (Communism)

Final goal of Marxism: a classless and stateless society.

What is the Periphery

What Surrounds the Center, no Center without it

Meanings of the Center

Place of power and History, public or agora's place, power.

What is Sytems Theory

What build on Dependency Theory and flexible

Three types of zones for core

Industrialized, wealthy, high wages, advanced tech.

Three types of zones for semi-peripheral

Mix of urban wealth and rural poverty.

Three types of zones for periphery

Provide raw materials (e.g., cocoa, copper, oil).

Rationalist

States and individuals behave like “economic actors”: calculate risks and rewards.

English School and unique

What shapes international politics by common norms

post-positivist

They reject the idea that science is always neutral or objective

Post-Structuralism

The way we speak about the world actually constructs reality