Chapter 1 Chapter Notes

Chapter 1

• Globalization: The growing integration of the world in terms of politics, economics, and culture
• Internationalization of production makes it more difficult for states to regulate their own economic policies and causes them to be more affected by international forces
• Homogenization: People enjoying the same music and television shows
• Differentiation: The desire to retain local languages and local autonomy
• International Relations: The study of the interactions among the various actors that participate in international politics (states, international organizations, NGO’s, Subnational Entities, Individuals)
• Foundational Issues of International Relations: The characteristics of human nature and the state; the relationship between the individual and society; the attributes of the international system

Thinking Theoretically

• The three contending theories in international relations are: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism

• Realism posits that: states exist in an anarchic international system and that there is no overarching hierarchical authority. Each state bases its policies on an interpretation of its national interest defined in terms of power. The structure of the international system is determined by the distribution of power among states.

• Liberalism/Neoliberal Institutionalism posits that: human nature is basically good and states generally cooperate and follow international norms and procedures that they have agreed to support

• Constructivists posit that: the key structures in the state system are not material but rather malleable and ever-changing

• Radical Theory: State is agent of international capitalism. International system is stratified between haves and have-nots. Haves dominate international relations

• Constructivists: explore how ideas shape identities and analyze the impacts of culture, norms, procedures, and social practices.

• The Tools and Methods used to Study International Relations include: History, Philosophy, and the Scientific Method

History

• Thucydides’s" “History of the Peloponnesian War” is an example of using History to describe the patterns leading up to war (Balance of power).

Philosophy

• Philosophy Tools include Plato’s “The Republic”, the Leviathan, and Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men
• The Republic concluded: In the perfect state the people who should govern are those who are superior in the ways of philosophy and war (Philosopher-Kings).
• Plato introduced two ideas seminal to the discipline: class analysis and dialectical reasons (bases for Marxist analyses)
• Marxist Belief: Economic class is the major divider in domestic and international politics
• Aristotle: Use comparative method to discern the ideal political order
• Hobbes: Society can escape from brutish “State of Nature” in unitary state with centralized power
• Leviathan: Imagined a state of nature a world without governmental authority or civil order, where people rule by passions, living with the constant uncertainty of their own security
• In “Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men” Rosseau described the state of nature as an egocentric world with humans’ primary concern being self-preservation”
• Immanuel Kant: Associated with the idealist or utopian school of thought; in “Idea for a Universal History and Perpetual Peace,” advocated a world federation of republics bound by the rule of law
• Normative: Moral elements in political life
• Behavioralism: Proposes that individuals both alone and in groups act in patterned ways. Uses scientific method to describe and explain the patterns. Utilizes empirical methods such as data collection.
• The initial task of the Correlates of War project was to collect data on international wars between 1865 and 1965 in which 1,000 or more deaths had been reported in a 12-month period
• The Correlates of War project judged on severity, deaths, magnitude, and intensity
• Sovereignty: The independence of a state
• Dalit: Untouchables
• Postmodernism: Seeks to deconstruct basic concepts to understand and clarify hidden meanings. Looks for voices of the marginalized and disenfranchised (women), Uses thick descriptions from multiple sets of data.
• Theories provide a framework through which to understand everyday events in international relations and to answer the basic foundational questions.
• Radicalism: actions of individuals are largely determined by economic class; the state is an agent of international capitalism; and the international system is dominated by the capitalist system.
• Alternative Approaches: postmodernism and constructivism challenge conventional understandings through deconstructing core concepts and examining how ideas shape norms and identities within international relations. Examples include Cynthia Weber’s examination of how sovereignty’s meaning changes over time and place, and Christine Sylvester’s analysis of the Greenham Common Peace Camp and the women who protested Britain’s nuclear role.

PREVIOUS TEST QUESTIONS

• A firm grasp of history, societal norms, religious perspectives and cultural conflicts are critical to the development of sound foreign policy.
• It is false that Realism theory suggests that human nature is basically good and cooperative.
• Important questions of international relations today cannot be answered with exclusive reliance on any one approach.
• States are not the only significant players in international relations today.
• It is false that international relations have little to no impact on the lives of everyday people, including you.
• While it's important to have a firm grasp of history, the lessons it teaches are not always clear-cut, simple or easily applicable.
• Comparing the war in Iraq to the Vietnam War is NOT a perfect application of history because unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq involves competing ethnic groups’ self-interest.
• The absence of international authority in international relations is known as anarchy
• Hobbes believed a Leviathan was necessary to overcome the anarchic state of nature and create order.
• In terms of modern international relations theory, Hobbes would be considered a realist
• Liberalism proposes human nature is basically good. States generally cooperate and follow international norms and procedures that have been mutually agreed upon.
• Radicalism posits that actions of individuals are largely determined by economic class; the state is an agent of international capitalism; and the international system is a construct of and dominated by the capitalist economic system.
• Behavioralism proposes that individuals, both alone and in groups, act in patterned ways.
• Governments increasingly find it difficult to control public protests and block information about them due to the spread and use of cell phones
• Russia is accused of influencing the 2016 presidential election through social media and potentially other cyberwarfare techniques. 
• The rising influence of populism has been a major political force internationally over the past two years, driving elections, politics, protests and policies. In the view of many, it is a reassertion of the power of the masses over that of the political, economic and cultural elites.
• One of the primary weapons governments use in trade wars are tariffs
• The three most prominent theoretical approaches used to study international relations are liberalism, realism, and constructivism.
• As an approach to the study of international relations, historical analysis provides useful background to many contemporary issues.
• When studying international relations, constructivists trace the impact of ideas and cultural factors on shaping identities.
• Constructivism argues that the key structures of the international system are dependent on ideas
• Realism posits that the distribution of power among states determines the structure of the international system.
• It is false that Understanding behavior between states is the sole focus of the study of international relations.
• All of the following actors affect international relations in important ways: heads of state, central governments, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, and individuals.
• The behavioral approach to the study of international relations draws on the scientific method. \n \n

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