Chapter 3 (FOUNDATIONS OF INTL. RELATIONS)

Chapter 3 (FOUNDATIONS OF INTL. RELATIONS)

History and Theory of International Relations

Introduction to Different Departure Points

• Different narratives can be shaped by varying historical departure points in International Relations.

• Example: The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the Americas between Portugal and Spain, highlighting European imperial expansion over modern state systems developed post-Westphalia (1648).

• Colonial histories have influenced modern political, economic, social, and cultural systems.

The Contrast Between 1492 and 1648

• 1492 illustrates discovery and conquest, leading to colonial rule and shaping global politics.

• 1648 marks the rise of the state system and international diplomacy governed by non-intervention and sovereignty.

• Table 3.1 Comparison:

  • 1648:

    • Nation-states exist in a state of international anarchy.

    • Practices of diplomacy reduce warfare between states.

    • Focus on sovereign, territorially bound states.

  • 1492:

    • Imperial powers colonize indigenous peoples under a religious guise.

    • The existence of a hierarchy of humanity based on cultural and religious beliefs.

Cartography and Global Relations

• Cartography reflects how discovery and conquest redraw boundaries and categories of people.

• In 1492, focus shifts from the European mainland to the oceans and lands perceived through imperial lenses.

• New principles challenge traditional views: conquest versus diplomatic negotiations; discovery as an act of imperial expansion.

Understanding Discovery in the Context of 1492

• 'Discovery' in the era of Columbus did not mean uncovering unknown land; it involved revealing lands known but unclaimed by Europeans.

• The Christian worldview and divinely ordained exploration informed Columbus's motives and the perception of people and territories.

• Medieval maps represented the world through inherited geographical knowledge, grounding beliefs about racial hierarchies.

Theological Underpinnings of Conquest

• The concept of holy war justified expansionary conquests, as seen in the centuries-long Reconquista against Islamic rulers.

• Papal decrees established religious justifications for slavery and conquest, embedding these in European colonial pursuits.

• Cockpits of conflict included the Canary Islands, where indigenous inhabitants faced religious-driven oppression.

The Valladolid Debate and Ethics of Humanity

• The Valladolid Debate (1550-1551) contrasted views on the humanity of indigenous peoples between advocates like Bartolomé de las Casas and Sepúlveda.

• Las Casas argued against the classification of indigenous peoples as natural slaves, emphasizing their potential for rationality and conversion to Christianity.

• The debate called into question who deserved protections under natural rights and challenged Christian cartography’s assumptions.

Columbus's Voyages and Their Consequences

• Columbus's perceptions led him to consider the indigenous peoples of the Americas as potential converts rather than natural slaves.

• The ensuing European colonization profoundly disrupted and decimated indigenous populations, setting up a legacy of oppression and resistance.

Legacy of 1492 on Modern International Relations

• Current discussions around racial hierarchies and treatment of marginalized communities reflect the historical injustices rooted in exploration and conquest.

• Contemporary movements, such as Black Lives Matter, confront these legacies as the aftereffects of colonial practices persist.

Conclusion and Implications

• 1492 as a focal point reveals the foundational aspects of International Relations driven by colonial practices.

• Questions raised include the moral implications of intervention and the dynamics of diverse political entities surviving under a state system that prioritizes certain human rights over others.

• The exploration of historical hierarchies can inform modern understandings of inequality in global politics.