The Prisoners

1
International Relations

• The Prisoners Dilemma and IR theories

2
Understanding the Prisoners Dilemma

• International politics is unique
• absence of higher authority
• Main actors (states) are functionally similar

3
What is the Prisoners Dilemma?
Player 2 Player 1 Confess (defect) Dont confess (cooperate)
Confess (defect) P1 3 years P2 3 years (1) P 1 Free P2 25 years (2)
Dont confess (cooperate) P1 25 years P2 free (3) P1 3 mon/s P2 3 mon/s (4)
4
The pay off structure

• For player 1 2 gt 4 gt 1 gt 3
• For player 2 3 gt 4 gt 1 gt 2
• Most likely outcome is 1 (both confess to avoid
  25 years).
• However, this is collectively suboptimal and
  results in prison terms for each person (3
  years).
• Why? lack of communication and self-interest

5
Nowak/May reading

• Anarchy and anarchism
• Hobbes vs. Darwin
• Competition/free-riding vs. cooperation/reciprocit
  y
• Kin aid vs. reciprocity
• Solutions enforcement, tit-for-tat.

6
Nowak/May reading

• Results (p. 5 of 10)
• Cooperation is more likely over the long run.
• Collapse of cooperation is always a possibility.
• Pavlov win-stay, loose-shift.
• Pavlov survives after more earlier punishment for
  non-cooperation.
• shadow of the future
• Spatial games do outsiders spoil cooperation?

7
Theories of IR

• Neo-Realism Prisoners Dilemma best describes
  international politics. Cooperation is unlikely
  because states are threatened by other states
  (self-interested survival under anarchy).
• Institutionalism PD can be overcome by building
  international institutions and communication
  (self-interested solution to collective action
  problems).
• Constructivism PD neglects identities and
  norms. States may share identities (democracy)
  and naturally cooperate (appropriate behavior
  expressing ones identity).

8
Solving the Prisoners Dilemma

• Neo-Realism States must attain a position of
  strength to secure survival. Other states will
  interpret such efforts as threats and also
  strengthen their military prisoners dilemma
• Institutionalism States have an incentive to
  work together to overcome the prisoners dilemma.
  
• Constructivism States are driven by norms and
  ideas Anarchy (PD) is what states make of it
  (Alexander Wendt)

9
Who, what, why, and how?
Realism Institutionalism Constructivism
What is the organizing principle? Anarchy Interdependence Norms/ideas
Who are the main actors? States States States/IGOs/NGOs
What are their main goals? Survival/power (protect domestic population) Economic gain and cooperation (maximize domestic well-being) Solving global problems (maximize everyones well-being)
What are the core capabilities? Military Technologic and economic Knowledge