Lecture 2: Levels Of Analysis And The International System

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Lecture 2 Levels Of Analysis And
TheInternational System
1. Levels Of Analysis 2. Example U.S.-Japan
Relations After The Cold War 3. The
International System 4. The Consequences Of
Anarchy 5. Two Philosophical Traditions A.
Realism B. Liberalism
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LEVELS OF ANALYSIS
1. SYSTEMIC LEVEL 2. INTERSTATE LEVEL 3.
DOMESTIC, STATE, OR SOCIETAL LEVEL 4.
BUREAUCRATIC LEVEL 5. INDIVIDUAL OR DECISION
MAKING LEVEL
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LEVELS OF ANALYSIS

• How is it linked to the syllabus?
• Is there a right number of levels?
• Where do you start?
• Can you use multiple levels?
• Is there a best level of analysis?

1. SYSTEMIC LEVEL 2. INTERSTATE LEVEL 3.
DOMESTIC, STATE, OR SOCIETAL LEVEL 4.
BUREAUCRATIC LEVEL 5. INDIVIDUAL OR DECISION
MAKING LEVEL
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COMPARING LEVELS
INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
GENERALIZABILITY
1. SYSTEM 2. INTERSTATE 3. DOMESTIC 4.
BUREAUCRATIC 5. INDIVIDUAL
1. SYSTEM 2. INTERSTATE 3. DOMESTIC 4.
BUREAUCRATIC 5. INDIVIDUAL
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USING LEVELS OF ANALYSISAMERICAN-JAPANESE
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
1. SYSTEMIC LEVEL NEO-REALISM Decline Of
Common Foe --(-)--gt Trade Ties 2. INTERSTATE
LEVEL LIBERAL INSTITUTIONALISM World Trade
Organization --()--gt Trade Ties 3. DOMESTIC
LEVEL INTEREST GROUP EXPLANATION Protectionist
Groups --(-)--gt Trade Ties 4. BUREAUCRATIC
LEVEL GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE EXPLANATION ITC
control of complaints --()--gt Trade Ties 5.
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BELIEF SYSTEM
EXPLANATION Bushs Socialization --()--gt
Trade Ties
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THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
1. COMPOSED OF AUTONOMOUS POLITICAL UNITS CALLED
SOVEREIGN STATES 2. THE NORM OF SOVEREIGNTY
-- THE THIRTY YEARS WAR (1618-1648) -- THE
PEACE OF WESTPHALIA (1648) -- EVOLUTION OF THE
NORM OF SOVEREIGNTY 3. ALTERNATIVES CITY
STATES, CITY LEAGUES, EMPIRES 4. THE
WESTPHALIAN SYSTEM 5. HIERARCHY VERSUS ANARCHY
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CONSEQUENCES OF ANARCHY
1. CONSTANT FEAR FOR SECURITY 2. RISE OF
NATIONALISM -- UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCE --
FIRST EMERGES IN FRANCE DURING NAPOLEONIC
ERA -- POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS 3.
COLLECTIVE ACTION PROBLEMS
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TWO GREAT PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITIONS
Realism
Liberalism
What is the Nature of this Anarchical System?
How Should States Respond to the Anarchical
System?
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REALISM
1. HISTORY A LONG HISTORY 2. PRIMARY UNIT THE
STATE 3. CHARACTER OF UNIT UNITARY RATIONAL
ACTOR 4. NATURE OF PREFERENCES CONFLICTUAL 5.
CHARACTER OF SYSTEM STRUGGLE FOR POWER 6. GOAL
SURVIVAL 7. ROLE OF MILITARY FORCE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT 8. POLICY RECOMMENDATION ALLIANCES
AND DEFENSE SPENDING 9. VIEW OF MORALITY
IRRELEVANT 10. CHANGE IN SYSTEM NONE
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LIBERALISM
1. HISTORY A MORE RECENT HISTORY 2. PRIMARY
UNITS STATES, ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS,
etc. 3. CHARACTER OF UNIT MANY ACTORS WITHIN
STATES 4. NATURE OF PREFERENCES GENERALLY
HARMONIOUS 5. CHARACTER OF SYSTEM NASCENT
COMMUNITY 6. GOALS MANY -- ECONOMIC GROWTH,
JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, etc. 7. ROLE OF MILITARY
FORCE VERY LIMITED 8. POLICY RECOMMENDATION
COLLECTIVE SECURITY 9. VIEW OF MORALITY
PARAMOUNT 10. CHANGE IN SYSTEM EVOLVING AWAY
FROM REALISM
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WHAT IS YOUR POSITION?
1. ARE YOU A REALIST? ARE YOU A LIBERAL? 2. IS
THERE A THIRD ALTERNATIVE? -- INSTITUTIONAL OR
REGIME THEORISTS 3. PURPOSE IS TO EXPLORE
ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS -- NO RIGHT
ANSWER -- NO ATTEMPT TO CONVERT YOU