Domestic and International Politics

1
Domestic and International Politics

• Differences and Connections

2
Learning Objectives

• At the end of this series of lectures, you should
  understand
• Basic differences between domestic and
  international political arenas.
• The consequences of anarchy and hierarchy.
• How international and domestic politics are
  connected.

3
Learning Objectives cont.

• You should also be able to define the following
  terms
• Anarchy.
• Hierarchy.
• Order.
• Credibility.
• Governance.

4
Domestic vs. International Politics

• Domestic politics differ from international
  politics.
• E.g., international politics is conducted under
  the shadow of war to a degree not seen in
  domestic political situations.

5
Two Distinct Realms

• Domestic and international politics work
  differently because they are governed by distinct
  rules.
• Domestic politics is the realm of authority,
  administration, and law.
• International politics is the realm of force and
  accommodation.

6
Organizing principles

• Domestic and international politics involve
  separate systems.
• A system is a set or arrangement of things that
  are interconnected such that a change in one of
  the things produces a change in one or more of
  the others.
• E.g., the human body is a system.

7
Systems (general)

• Systems are composed of a structure and of
  interacting units.
• The structure is the principle by which the
  interacting units are arranged.
• The identity of the interacting units vary
  depending on the system one examines.

8
Domestic vs. International Systems

• Domestic systems
• Hierarchy.
• Govt. monopoly on legitimate use of force inside
  border.
• Parts (units) of the system are functionally
  distinct.
• Distribution of capabilities.

• International systems
• Anarchy
• Govt. lacks monopoly on legitimate use of force
  outside border.
• Parts (units) of the system are functionally
  similar.
• Distribution of capabilities.

9
Consequences of Anarchy

• Anarchic systems lack third-party enforcers,
  i.e., parties that are responsible for making
  sure that others adhere to rules and agreements.
• General implication international action is
  regulated more by an actors sense of what the
  optimal course of action for it is than by
  external regulations that restrict certain types
  of behavior.
• Specific implication violence among actors is an
  omnipresent possibility.

10
Consequences of Anarchy cont.

• General implication the absence of third-party
  enforcement undermines the credibility
  (trustworthiness) of actors.
• Specific implication cooperation is difficult to
  establish because it is hard for actors to
  convince one another that they will honor their
  promises.

11
Consequences of Anarchy cont.

• General implication the absence of overarching
  political authority to coordinate and regulate
  behavior across a range of issues means that
  international governance (management) is less
  efficient than its domestic counterpart.
• Specific implication issues tend to be governed
  on an ad hoc basis.

12
Governance without Government

• Anarchy does not imply disorder.
• The international arena is organized even though
  it lacks overarching government.
• The behavior of actors is regulated, although
  less effectively than in domestic arenas.
• Norms (standards of acceptable behavior).
• Principles (notions of right and wrong).
• Rules (strictures that regulate behavior).
• Punishment mechanisms.

13
Behavior in the International Arena

• Although international and domestic political
  arenas differ, they are also inextricably linked.
• When governments weigh the costs and benefits of
  various international actions, their choices over
  the alternatives is inherently influenced by
  their domestic political situations.

14
Example

• German opposition to the U.S.-led War in Iraq
  (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
• German choices
• support war and incur wrath of German public
• oppose war and incur wrath of U.S.
• appease U.S. concerns about Iraqi weapons without
  going to war.
• German voters gave Schroeder high marks.
• The decision strained U.S.-German relations.

15
Two-level games

• International politics is often referred to as a
  two-level game.
• Decisions at the international level have
  consequences for domestic politics and decisions
  at the domestic level have international
  consequences.
• Leaders must examine how decisions at one level
  will impact their position at the other level.

16
Two level games

• When thinking about international action, it is
  useful to remember the following
• Decisions to take international action require
  (formal and/or tacit) approval by constituents at
  the domestic level.
• Both democratic and nondemocratic leaders require
  constituents to approve of their behavior!!!
• Leaders of both democratic and nondemocratic
  states work for the support of their constituents
  because leaders value their positions.