THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• POLS 221
• WINTER 2005

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WHY THEORY?

• Organizational tool to understand complex
  phenomena
• Make assumptions about human behavior explicit
  (World View)
• Paradigm-framework from which we derive theories
  about the natural and social world

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IDEALISM

• E.H. Carr, The Twenty Years War
• Woodrow Wilson
• Prevalent theory 1919-1939
• Seeks World Government
• Minimize Conflict/Maximize Cooperation
• Normative What Should World Look Like?
• Failed to Anticipate Events of WW II

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REALISM

• Thuycidides, The Peloponesian War
• Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations
• Conflict, not Coordination Oriented
• Goal Security in a Hostile World
• Power as dominant concept
• Use of Balance of Power Approach

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ASSUMPTIONS OF REALISM

• Most important actors are territorially organized
  entities (states)
• State behavior can be rationally explained
• States seek power and calculate their interests
  in terms of power

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Structural (Neo)REALISM

• Walz, Theory of International Relations
• Focus of states is survival, not power
• Unequal distribution of resources
• Interaction of units with similar functions
• Focus on transnational actors (MNCs)
• Focus on non-state actors (IGOs)

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MARXISM

• Magdoff, Age of Imperialism
• I.R. is the history of class struggle
• Bourgeoisie v Proletariat
• Rich v. Poor
• Imperialism as highest form of capitalism
• Soviet Union, China, Cuba, North Korea

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ANY QUESTIONS?

• From your perspective, which theoretical
  perspective best describes the history and
  contemporary status of International Relations????

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STUDYING IR

• STUDENTS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS UTILIZE
  SEVERAL DIFFERENT METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
• THESE METHOLODOLOGIES ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE
• A COMBINATION OF APPROACHES MAY BE THE MOST
  VIABLE METHOD
• FOR STUDYING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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IR METHODOLOGIES

• TRADITIONALIST
• -QUALITATIVE
• -HISTORICAL
• -FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE
• -PERSONAL OBSERVATION
• -NON-MATHEMATICAL

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IR METHODOLOGIES

• BEHAVIORIALIST
• QUANITATIVE
• SCIENTIFIC
• TEST THEORIES
• DEVELOP HYPOTHESES

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IR METHODOLOGIES

• POST-BEHAVIORIALIST
• FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL MAKEUP OF LEADERSHIP
• REFLECTIVE OF SOCIETY?

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MODES OF ANALYSIS

• SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODES OF ANALYSIS ARE USED TO
  STUDY IR
• THESE MODES HAVE A TENDENCY TO MESH TOGETHER
• NOTE SIMILARITY BETWEEN MODES OF ANALYSIS AND
  METHODOLOGIES

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MODES OF ANALYSIS

• (1) DESCRIPTION-HISTORICAL REPORTING
• (2) EXPLANATION- ACCOUNT FOR EXISTENCE OF
  PHENOMENOM (1)
• (3) NORMATIVE- MAKING VALUE/MORAL JUDGEMENTS
  (E.G., GOOD VS. BAD) (TRUTH)
• (4) PRESCRIPTION- MAKING FUTURIST JUDGEMENTS AND
  PREDICTIONS

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ROLE OF VALUES IN IR

• AS WITH ANY ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE, WE NEED TO
  RECOGNIZE THE ROLE THAT VALUES PLAY IN THE STUDY
  OF IR
• VALUES CAN BE
• -PRINCIPLED- PERSONAL OR RELIGIOUS
• -CAUSAL- THIS LED TO THAT
• WORLD VIEW- ITS THE SYSTEMS FAULT
• YOUR VALUES WILL EFFECT HOW YOU PERCEIVE
  INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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VALUES AND IR

• UNFORTUNATELY, VALUES CAN EFFECT YOUR
  UNDERSTANDING OF IR BY
• DISTORTING REALITY
• RESTRICTING OPTIONS
• LIMITING CONTINUITY OF THOUGHT
• RATIONALIZING THE IRRATIONAL
• LEGITIMIZING THE ILLEGITIMATE
• FAILING TO DIFFERENTIATE RIGHT WRONG
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET YOUR VALUES CLOUD YOUR
  PERCEPTION OF IR!!!

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VALUES, BELIEFS AND IR

• IDEOLOGY-AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF VALUES AND
  BELIEFS THAT DRIVES ONES COURSE OF ACTION
• YOU SHOULD BE BECOME AWARE OF THE POWERFUL
  INFLUENCE THAT IDEOLOGIES PLAY IN IR

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IDEOLOGIES AND IR

• RELIGION
• SOCIAL THEORIES (DARWINISM)
• CAPITALISM
• COMMUNISM

• MONARCHISM
• DEMOCRACY
• MORALITY
• CULTURAL IMPERIALISM

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FINDING THE BALANCE

• AS AN ASPIRING STUDENT OF INTERNATIONAL
  RELATIONS, YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF
• THE ROLE OF THEORY
• METHODS USED TO STUDY IR
• THE IMPACT OF VALUES
• THE INFLUENCE OF IDEOLOGIES

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IDEOLOGY A CASE STUDY

• NORTH KOREA
• CHUCHE
• SELF-RELIANCE
• AUTARKY
• HEAVILY PLANNED ECONOMY
• XENOPHOBIC

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RESULTS OF IDEOLOGY

• RELIANCE ON INTERNAL INVESTMENT
• EXPAND INDUSTRY AT EXPENSE OF AGRICULTURE
• WIDE SPREAD FOOD SHORTAGES
• XENOPHOBIA LEADS TO 30 OF GDP SPENT ON MILITARY
• IS THIS GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE?

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ANY QUESTIONS ?