Fundamental Concepts

of International Politics Spring 2014

Prof. H. Steven GreenToyo University

Faculty of Law

Class 2, Lecture 2

April 20th, 2015

What is IP、?

How do we study it?

Quiz: Part AMiddle East / Western Asia

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

1 23

Pakistan

Arabian Sea

Quiz: Part A ・ Europe

5

46 7

France

Finland

Black Sea

Quiz: Part A South, East & Southeast Asia

8

11

10

9

Quiz: Part A, No. 12 Most dangerous region for world peace?

MIDDLE EAST?

Quiz: Part A, No. 12 Most dangerous region for world peace?

UKRAINE / CRIMEA / RUSSIA ?

Quiz: Part A, No. 12 Most dangerous region for world peace?

EAST ASIA?

Quiz: Part A, No. 12 Most dangerous region for world peace?

OTHER REGION?

Quiz: Part A, No. 12 ANSWER

By the end of the class in January, 2016, you will have to decide for yourself!

TERMS ARE IMPORTANT

Words are our friends!

1. What is international politics (IP)?

International politics is the politics of the international system.

The international system consists of almost 200 different governments, and what happens between and among them, including trade, help, cooperation and, of course, war.

This system has no government.

0

1. What is international politics (IP)?

IP is “politics in the absence of a common sovereign- politics among entities with no ruler above them” (Joseph Nye.)

「国際政治とは、共通の主義者の存在しない状況において、自らより上位の支配者を持たない政治体の間で行われる政治である」

In a nutshell （簡単に言うと）：

There is no world government.

No sovereign ruler exists above countries.

There are almost 200 countries, so…

there are almost 200 governments.

The United Nations (UN) is NOT a world government.

• The UN cannot make laws.

• It provides a place where governments can talk and debate.

Westphalian System

The current international system is also called the Westphalian System

“Westphalian System”

Two peace treaties that ended the 30 Years’ War in 1648 are called the Peace of Westphalia

According to the Peace of Westphalia:

• Rulers of states control their own territory (領土) and are responsible for it.

• All rulers must accept other states’ sovereignty (主権).

Europe, 1648: Birth of modern state

The International System

• A system of states who have sovereignty

• A system without a government

• We call the international system “anarchic”

• We also call it the “Westphalian system”

To understand IP, we need to understand

the difference between domestic politics and

international politics.

Domestic- vs. International Politics

Domestic Politics International Politics

LAW

FORCE

COMMUNITY

Domestic- vs. International Politics

Domestic Politics International Politics

LAW •Clear, consistent（一貫した）,obeyed（法則に従われる）

•______________________

•_________________________

•No global police force, courts

FORCE •_____________________

•Citizens cannot use force

•No global monopoly

•______________________

COMMUNITY

•Sense of community creates common loyalty（忠義）,

standards of justice (正義) and view of legitimate authority (合法の権力)

•Weak loyalty to “world”

•Different views of __________

•Different views of what is ______________

Domestic- vs. International Politics

Domestic Politics International Politics

LAW •Clear, consistent（一貫した）,obeyed（法則に従われる）•Enforced by police & courts

•Inconsistent, incomplete•No global police force, courts

FORCE •Government has monopoly•Citizens cannot use force

•No global monopoly•States use force when they want

COMMUNITY

•Sense of community creates common loyalty（忠義）,

standards of justice (正義) and view of legitimate authority (合法の権力)

•Weak loyalty to “world”•Different views of justice •Different views of what is

legitimate

2. How do we study IP?

We use three levels of analysis

1. Individual (i.e. people, leaders)Personality, perceptions, activities, choices

2. State (i.e. countries, governments)Government, economy, groups, national interest

3. System (i.e. the international system of no-government)

Alliances (同盟),

systemic norms (規範)

IOs, MNCs、NGOs

2. How do we study IP?

At the 3 levels of analysis

WE USE THEORIES(理論)

2. How do we study IP?

What is a theory?An intellectual tool to help us understand a complex

world.

• Explains how the world works, what dangers and what opportunities exist

• May explain international action and make predictions.

• Different IR theories try to influence countries’ leaders.

Three IR theories

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

IR Theories: REALISM

Realist view of anarchy = Hobbesian anarchy

There is ALWAYS a possibility of war so states must prepare for it.

Thomas Hobbes, English (1588-1679)

IR Theories: REALISM

1. IP is a system of Hobbesian anarchy.

• Everyone “locks their door”: Every state has a military because there is no world police.

• Even states with good relations (e.g. UK, US, Japan, France, Netherland, etc.) do not completely trust each other: They do not share all their secrets with each other and…

• States spy on each other. (USA spied on Germany recently.)

IR Theories: REALISM

REALISM

IR Theories: REALISM

2. States are the most important actors in IP.

• Largest and most comprehensive form of human organization.

• Have military power.

IR Theories: REALISM

3. All international politics is power politics =States will always and only do what is best for their own power and security.

4. Power is zero-sum and relative.

• If state X has more power, all other states have less.

• Russia’s gain = USA’s loss (and vice versa)

IR Theories: REALISM

1. IP is a system of Hobbesian anarchy.

2. States are the most important actors in IP.

3. All international politics is power politics.

4. Power is zero-sum and relative. (If state X has more power, all other states have less.)

Power politics = States will always and only do what is best for their own power and security.

IR Theories: LIBERALISM

1. IP is a system of anarchy (so liberals agree with realists about the nature of the system)

But liberals believe that:

• Although anarchy is a problem, it one that can be solved.

• Anarchy is not Hobbesian: People are motivated not just by fear but also by a desire to live well

IR Theories: LIBERALISM

2 . States are important, but not the only actors that matter: • There is an international society where states make

agreements, etc. • This society includes international organizations (IOs)

as well as other actors (NGOs, MNCs).• Different actors want different things (besides

security).• Cooperation, such as free trade, can prevent war.

MNC = Multi-National Corporation (Toyota, Sony, Uniqlo, Apple, Coca Cola, Shell, etc.)

IR Theories: REALISM

IR Theories: REALISM

IR Theories: CONSTRUCTIVISM

“Anarchy is what states make of it.” Anarchyは国家が思い込んでいるもの。

-Alexander Wendt

Anarchy depends on the dominant norms, perceptions and beliefs of the international system.＊

＊気配的な規範や認識や信念

IR Theories: CONSTRUCTIVISM

Constructivists focus on how our interests and views about IP are CONSTRUCTED.

What constructs our views?

1. Social structures (社会的な構造), e.g. economic-, legal-, political systems, etc. of a country.

2. Ideas

3. Norms (規範）

4. Culture

.

History of an Idea

• Realism was the first IR theory.

• It began in ancient Greece, about 2500 years ago.

• Next we will look at events in ancient Greece that created the idea of realism.

We CANNOT understand or explain IP without understanding IR theories.

Review

1. There is no world government.

2. Domestic politics and international politics are different: They are different systems with different kinds of logic and different ethics (倫理).

3. How we see events in IP depends on how we see the fact of anarchy, i.e. on whether we are a realist, liberal or constructivist.

How to succeed in this class

1. Come to every class.

2. Bring a dictionary to class.

3. Read the textbook: It will be difficult in the beginning but will become easier over time. You already have the English skills to do it!

4. Do all the homework.

5. Participate in class: Talk to, and help, each other.

6. Watch the TV news or read a newspaper every day (online or “dead tree”.)

Thank you!

Have a nice week!

Domestic- vs. International Politics

Domestic Politics International Politics

LAW •Clear, consistent（一貫した）,obeyed（法則に従われる）

•______________________

•_________________________

•No global police force, courts

FORCE •_____________________

•Citizens cannot use force

•No global monopoly

•______________________

COMMUNITY

•Sense of community creates common loyalty（忠義）,

standards of justice (正義) and view of legitimate authority (合法の権力)

•Weak loyalty to “world”

•Different views of __________

•Different views of what is ______________

Domestic- vs. International Politics

Domestic Politics International Politics

LAW •Clear, consistent（一貫した）,obeyed（法則に従われる）•Enforced by police & courts

•Inconsistent, incomplete•No global police force, courts

FORCE •Government has monopoly•Citizens cannot use force

•No global monopoly•States use force when they want

COMMUNITY

•Sense of community creates common loyalty（忠義）,

standards of justice (正義) and view of legitimate authority (合法の権力)

•Weak loyalty to “world”•Different views of justice •Different views of what is

legitimate