R

international relations theories

major theories

realism — morgenthau

  • 1945 — derived from hobbes, human nature is bad ⇒ all states are unitary actors
    • act in singular national self-interest
  • relative gains (power must be taken, it doesn’t appear from nowhere; bigger slice of pie)
    • “power over”
  • anarchy (no central government)
  • power/balance of power
  • security dilemma
    • arms race
  • hard power
  • failure: vietnam war ⇒ not unitary actors, more to power than hard power
    • paradox of unrealized power: significant power that can’t be exercised

neorealism — waltz

  • 1979 — waltz theory of international politics
    • world system theory
    • balancing, polarity
    • bipolar system during cold war ⇒ more stable (two top powers didn’t fight)
    • multipolarity, bipolarity, unipolarity
    • modern day: regional polarity
  • states seek power and security in international system
  • still anarchic system

liberalism — wilson

  • states largely cooperate with each other (complex interdependence)
  • absolute gains (cooperation leads to gains for everyone; bigger total pie)
    • “power to”
  • accomplished through international organizations (IOs) that foster trade etc.
  • cooperation & collective goods lead to the free rider problem
    • carrot vs stick approach
    • reciprocity & norms of the international system (carrot) vs sanctions/invasions/etc. (stick)
    • forms international regime eg. climate change (UN, NGOs, interest groups, states, citizens, scientists, professors, etc.) structures approach to world problems
  • failure: viewed as too optimistic

neoliberalism — koehane & nye

  • 1971 — koehane & nye transnational relations & world politics
    • international political economy (IPE) ⇒ more interconnected post WWII
    • coined “complex interdependence”

agreements between realism and liberalism

  • states are primary actors, but others within and outside of states exist and impact
  • states act in their own self-interest, but not at all costs (place for IOs in solving global conflicts)
  • international system is in anarchy, but there are norms and constraints that many states abide by
  • both are very western/white/male philosophies ⇒ should be taken into consideration (see constructivism)

alternative theories

constructivism

  • created by postmodernism ⇒ deconstruction, postcolonialism; predominantly english ideal
  • narratives, identities being socially constructed, connected to larger theories
  • alex wendt — “agency of actors”
  • develops ideals (listed above) into IR theory
    • look at developments within states, how that informs leaders’ actions in IR
  • not just states ⇒ how states’ actions are shaped by occurrences within them
    • affected by norms of individual states, shared experiences
  • UNDERSTANDING ACTORS HELPS INFORM US ON THEIR ACTIONS
    • examining underlying factors and events
  • interconnected actors ⇒ transnational networks and their impact on IR
  • failure: tends to be too descriptive (can describe and inform but not lead to conclusions)

feminism

  • difference theory: there are inherent differences between men and women and how they’re viewed in the international system
    • eg. private vs. public spheres
    • essentialism — essential roles & differences between men and women
  • liberal theory: women act no differently in men’s roles than men (no inherent difference)