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International RelationsInternational Relations

C16:C16:International International Relations –Relations –

An OverviewAn Overview

Kjell GoldmannKjell Goldmann

Two main approaches to Two main approaches to reviewing a disciplinereviewing a discipline

Surveying its findingsSurveying its findings

Examining its foundationsExamining its foundations

[Kenneth Waltz, A Handbook of [Kenneth Waltz, A Handbook of Political Science Political Science (1975) *The (1975) *The book was later elaborated into Theory book was later elaborated into Theory of International Politics (1979)]of International Politics (1979)]

IssuesIssues

The role of the state in present world The role of the state in present world politicspolitics

The reason for doing research about matters The reason for doing research about matters as thisas this

The significance of purpose and meaning in The significance of purpose and meaning in IRIR

Whether theories of IR are to be seen as Whether theories of IR are to be seen as tentative conjectures or as instruments of tentative conjectures or as instruments of power.power.

Thoughts on ConfusionThoughts on Confusion

Misconception: the field of IR as an Misconception: the field of IR as an arena where different schools of arena where different schools of thought fight out their differencesthought fight out their differences

*Trivia: PEACE OF WESTPHALIA is the birthday of the state

Stanley HoffmannStanley Hoffmann

““The conventional wisdom of the The conventional wisdom of the discipline is that the pursuit of discipline is that the pursuit of ‘grand’ theory has proven a ‘grand’ theory has proven a ‘chimera’.”‘chimera’.”

The characterization of IR is as an The characterization of IR is as an “American social science”“American social science”

Another trend…Another trend…

The emergence of INTERNATIONAL The emergence of INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY as a subfield POLITICAL ECONOMY as a subfield on par with the study of on par with the study of INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY and the conditions for SECURITY and the conditions for INTERNATIONAL ORDER.INTERNATIONAL ORDER.

US dominanceUS dominance

Most remarkable featureMost remarkable feature

The image of a field characterized by The image of a field characterized by fundamental cleavages giving rise to fundamental cleavages giving rise to recurrent “debates”recurrent “debates”

D1: Idealism VS RealismD1: Idealism VS Realism D2: Scientific VS Traditional D2: Scientific VS Traditional

ApproachApproach D3: Neo-Realism VS GlobalistsD3: Neo-Realism VS Globalists

Sisquel & Ebert on Sisquel & Ebert on THEORY THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL OF INTERNATIONAL

POLITICSPOLITICS

Main object of D3Main object of D3 Written by Kenneth WaltzWritten by Kenneth Waltz A realist counter-attack against A realist counter-attack against

“bureaucratic politics”, “bureaucratic politics”, “interdependence” and other “interdependence” and other subnational and transnational concerns.subnational and transnational concerns.

Neo-realismNeo-realism

Criticized for being wrong in its Criticized for being wrong in its account of what it sets out to account of what it sets out to account foraccount for

……based on untenable epistemology, based on untenable epistemology, for being politically conservativefor being politically conservative

Realist OrthodoxyRealist Orthodoxy

Emphasis is on the international system, Emphasis is on the international system, nation-states and problems of peace and nation-states and problems of peace and securitysecurity

Maintained its hold on IR in spite of the Maintained its hold on IR in spite of the massive criticisms leveled against it for massive criticisms leveled against it for yearsyears

Effects of the Debate over Effects of the Debate over Realist TheoryRealist Theory

Helped to specify theoretical issues Helped to specify theoretical issues and propositions of great importance and propositions of great importance (David Sanders)(David Sanders)

Less helpful in defining the field as one Less helpful in defining the field as one of opposing overarching “schools”of opposing overarching “schools”

Significance of the Significance of the Nation StateNation State

““Without the concept of state to fall Without the concept of state to fall back on, scholars would have to back on, scholars would have to abandon the claim that there is abandon the claim that there is something unique about the something unique about the ‘international’ or ‘interstate’ realm” ‘international’ or ‘interstate’ realm”

-Ferguson & Mansbach-Ferguson & Mansbach

Trivia:Trivia:

Mainstream IR research is commonly Mainstream IR research is commonly characterized as “state-centric”characterized as “state-centric”

Significance of the Significance of the Nation StateNation State

““Nation states or their decision makers Nation states or their decision makers are the most important actors for are the most important actors for understanding international relations”understanding international relations”

--VasquezVasquez

Much Ado about Nation Much Ado about Nation StatesStates

The state as object of supportThe state as object of support The state as object of studyThe state as object of study The state as explanatory factorThe state as explanatory factor

The State as Object of The State as Object of SupportSupport

Non-state actorsNon-state actors International organizationsInternational organizations Multinational organizationsMultinational organizations

State Centrism – a defense of the State Centrism – a defense of the nation-state against internationalist nation-state against internationalist challengeschallenges

The State as Object of The State as Object of StudyStudy

““The substantive core of international The substantive core of international relations is the interaction of relations is the interaction of governments of sovereign states”governments of sovereign states”

-Platig-PlatigCriticism: the actions and interactions of Criticism: the actions and interactions of

nation-states and governments are nation-states and governments are unimportant, that the real groups or entities unimportant, that the real groups or entities in politics are classes or transnational in politics are classes or transnational coalitions (Vasquez). Ergo, it is a waste of coalitions (Vasquez). Ergo, it is a waste of time to examine why states and governments time to examine why states and governments act and interact the way they do.act and interact the way they do.

The State as Object of The State as Object of StudyStudy

ERGO, states and governments are ERGO, states and governments are increasingly constrained by interdependence increasingly constrained by interdependence and institutionsand institutions

War is becoming increasingly dysfunctionalWar is becoming increasingly dysfunctional National security concerns are getting National security concerns are getting

obsoleteobsolete -- “The pillars of the Westphalian temple are “The pillars of the Westphalian temple are

decaying” (Maghroori & Ramberg)decaying” (Maghroori & Ramberg)

““Whay don’t we jas rol ober and die?!”Whay don’t we jas rol ober and die?!”

The State as Object of The State as Object of StudyStudy

Ergo, Ergo, state centrismstate centrism is whether is whether developments reduce our ability to developments reduce our ability to explain and understand whatever it is explain and understand whatever it is that concerns us by focusing on state or that concerns us by focusing on state or government actions and interactions.government actions and interactions.

Another thought…Another thought…

State centrism in research reflects State centrism in research reflects the fact that national independence the fact that national independence is regarded by peoples as a is regarded by peoples as a fundamental human need or valuefundamental human need or value

The State as Explanatory The State as Explanatory FactorFactor

State centrism means that mainstream State centrism means that mainstream research errs in its assumption that the research errs in its assumption that the actions and interactions of states and actions and interactions of states and governments can fully be explained at governments can fully be explained at the state and inter-state levels. the state and inter-state levels.

Waltz’ THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL Waltz’ THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS is limited to the level of the POLITICS is limited to the level of the interstate systeminterstate system

““State-centrism” as State-centrism” as Emperical IssueEmperical Issue

There remains the challenge of There remains the challenge of investigating how the state and investigating how the state and attitudes toward the state are attitudes toward the state are affected by the new international affected by the new international relations that are emerging.relations that are emerging.

Politics is becoming transnationalPolitics is becoming transnational Nation-states are becoming Nation-states are becoming

penetratedpenetrated

EuropeEurope

paradoxical combination of paradoxical combination of revived nationalism and advancing revived nationalism and advancing internationalisminternationalism

European Union is emerging as a European Union is emerging as a major object of study for IR scholars major object of study for IR scholars with an interest in the foundations of with an interest in the foundations of their field.their field.

The Purpose of Research The Purpose of Research and the end-of-cold-war and the end-of-cold-war

problemproblem IR scholarship from the mid 50’s-80’s may IR scholarship from the mid 50’s-80’s may

be characterized as the accumulation of be characterized as the accumulation of explanations of the Cold War’s persistenceexplanations of the Cold War’s persistence

The sum was a powerful theory of The sum was a powerful theory of international non-change. There was little international non-change. There was little basis in this rich literature to expect the basis in this rich literature to expect the East-West confrontation to end – and to do East-West confrontation to end – and to do so peacefully and in a short time. Ergo, the so peacefully and in a short time. Ergo, the “end-of-cold-war problem”“end-of-cold-war problem”

Three Purposes of Three Purposes of ResearchResearch

Research PurposeResearch Purpose PositivePositive

Motivated by extra-academic concerns (I)Motivated by extra-academic concerns (I) Motivated by intra-academic concerns (II)Motivated by intra-academic concerns (II)

Negative (III)Negative (III)

Differentiating Positive Differentiating Positive from Negative Researchfrom Negative Research

Positive Positive the purpose is to add positively to existing the purpose is to add positively to existing

knowledge.knowledge. The purpose of extra academic c. is to The purpose of extra academic c. is to

produce social effectsproduce social effects The purpose of intra academic is to improve The purpose of intra academic is to improve

our comprehension of ourselves and our our comprehension of ourselves and our existence.existence.

Negative – to examine the limitations Negative – to examine the limitations of what others take to be knowledge.of what others take to be knowledge.

Type I – Problem Solving / PositivismType I – Problem Solving / Positivism Type III – Post positivism and Type III – Post positivism and

Critical TheoryCritical Theory

Type I ResearchType I Research

Seem to have dominated the study of Seem to have dominated the study of international relationsinternational relations

““peace researchers”peace researchers”

Johan GaltungJohan Galtung

Compared peach research with medical Compared peach research with medical science and has argued that the object science and has argued that the object is to do away with the quack-doctoring is to do away with the quack-doctoring of international relationsof international relations

David SingerDavid Singer

Maintained that the continued Maintained that the continued acquiescence with pre-scientific acquiescence with pre-scientific analysis qualifies as “the ultimate in analysis qualifies as “the ultimate in war crimes”war crimes”

Alexander GeorgeAlexander George

Follows Galtung in drawing a parallel Follows Galtung in drawing a parallel between IR research and the medical between IR research and the medical professionprofession

Quantitative International Quantitative International PoliticsPolitics

QIPQIP

Criticized for invalid abstractionCriticized for invalid abstraction

More about Type IMore about Type I

The need to be concerned with the The need to be concerned with the future, anticipating future future, anticipating future developments to which we have to developments to which we have to adapt, assess outcomes of courses of adapt, assess outcomes of courses of action, contribute to such matters.action, contribute to such matters.

Type II ResearchType II Research

There is a dilemma between parsimony and There is a dilemma between parsimony and comprehensiveness (Allan)comprehensiveness (Allan)

Too strict a pursuit of the scientific criterion Too strict a pursuit of the scientific criterion of parsimony in their efforts to theorize is of parsimony in their efforts to theorize is inappropriate for developing useful policy-inappropriate for developing useful policy-relevant theory and knowledge (George)relevant theory and knowledge (George)

The solution to the end-of-the-cold-war The solution to the end-of-the-cold-war problem in type II res is to include political problem in type II res is to include political ideas and domestic political processes in ideas and domestic political processes in models of international politics.models of international politics.

Type III researchType III research

Emancipation from constraints Emancipation from constraints implied in what is taken by others to implied in what is taken by others to be knowledgebe knowledge

To demonstrate that the necessary To demonstrate that the necessary may be avoided and that the may be avoided and that the impossible may be actualized.impossible may be actualized.

Three Professional Roles of Three Professional Roles of IR ScholarsIR Scholars

Constructive CitizenConstructive Citizen

Detached analystDetached analyst

Systematic skepticSystematic skeptic

MentalismMentalism

The view that phenomena are The view that phenomena are explicable only in terms of creative explicable only in terms of creative and interpretative mindsand interpretative minds

Challenge to structuralism Challenge to structuralism Mental phenomena have loomed Mental phenomena have loomed

large in studies of foreign policy large in studies of foreign policy decision-making and bargaining.decision-making and bargaining.

vocabularyvocabulary

Explanation – presumed to deal with Explanation – presumed to deal with causescauses

Causes – external to the actor whose Causes – external to the actor whose behavior is to be explainedbehavior is to be explained

Understanding – taken to deal with Understanding – taken to deal with meaningmeaning

Meaning – understood from withinMeaning – understood from within

““Two plausible stories to tell, one Two plausible stories to tell, one from the outside about the human from the outside about the human part of the natural world and the part of the natural world and the other from inside a separate social other from inside a separate social realm. One seeks to explain, the other realm. One seeks to explain, the other to understand… [and] combining the to understand… [and] combining the two stories is not as easy as it first two stories is not as easy as it first seems.”seems.”

-Hollis & Smith-Hollis & Smith

HolstiHolsti

He analyzed the substantive motives He analyzed the substantive motives states have had for waging war and states have had for waging war and the prevailing attitudes toward war the prevailing attitudes toward war in various epochsin various epochs

InstitutionsInstitutions

May be seen as generalized May be seen as generalized purposes and meanings.purposes and meanings.

““much behavior is recognized by much behavior is recognized by participants as reflecting established participants as reflecting established rules, norms and conventions” rules, norms and conventions” (Keohane)(Keohane)

New InstitutionalismNew Institutionalism

To emphasize the autonomous role of To emphasize the autonomous role of politics in societypolitics in society

Focus on the ways in which political life is Focus on the ways in which political life is organized around the development of organized around the development of meaning through symbols, rituals and meaning through symbols, rituals and ceremonies rather than on decision-ceremonies rather than on decision-making and the allocation of resourcesmaking and the allocation of resources

To see political actors as responding to To see political actors as responding to obligations and duties than self-interest obligations and duties than self-interest (March & Olsen)(March & Olsen)

MorgenthauMorgenthau

Historically set the tone of the autonomy Historically set the tone of the autonomy of politics at the international levelof politics at the international level

Conceived of politics in terms of the Conceived of politics in terms of the concept of interest defined in terms of concept of interest defined in terms of powerpower

This concept sets politics as an This concept sets politics as an autonomous sphere of action and autonomous sphere of action and understanding apart from other spheres, understanding apart from other spheres, such as economics, ethics, aesthetics or such as economics, ethics, aesthetics or religion.religion.

KeohaneKeohane

Suggests that we distinguish between Suggests that we distinguish between institution as a “general pattern or institution as a “general pattern or categorization of activity” and as a categorization of activity” and as a “particular human-constructed “particular human-constructed arrangement formally or informally arrangement formally or informally organized”organized”

Sources of ComplianceSources of Compliance

RationalisticRationalistic Institutions are assumed to affect Institutions are assumed to affect

actors’ calculation of cost. actors’ calculation of cost. Similar to the Structural TheorySimilar to the Structural Theory

ReflectiveReflective Assumption that preferences and Assumption that preferences and

perceptions are not fixed but are perceptions are not fixed but are affected by institutions.affected by institutions.

Theory: Conjecture or Theory: Conjecture or discourse?discourse?

Theory as a set of answersTheory as a set of answers A set of explanatory hypotheses A set of explanatory hypotheses

which purport to reveal the rules of which purport to reveal the rules of the game of international politicsthe game of international politics

Theory as a set of questionsTheory as a set of questions Efforts to devise a right way of Efforts to devise a right way of

studying the phenomena of world studying the phenomena of world affairsaffairs

Game Theoretical Game Theoretical AnalysisAnalysis

Said to address the wrong problemSaid to address the wrong problem It is concerned with the implications It is concerned with the implications

of given preferences and perceptions of given preferences and perceptions without asking how preferences and without asking how preferences and perceptions are formed (Jervis)perceptions are formed (Jervis)

Ann TicknerAnn Tickner

Feminist critiques of IR theory may Feminist critiques of IR theory may be a third indication of disagreement be a third indication of disagreement over what theory is.over what theory is.

Mainstream theory actively Mainstream theory actively prescribes male-oriented concernsprescribes male-oriented concerns

Theory as oppressingly normative Theory as oppressingly normative than conjectural and analytic.than conjectural and analytic.

WalkerWalker

IR theories are interesting mainly as IR theories are interesting mainly as expressions of the limits of the expressions of the limits of the contemporary political imaginationcontemporary political imagination

Attempts to think otherwise about Attempts to think otherwise about political possibilities are constrained political possibilities are constrained by categories and assumptions that by categories and assumptions that contemporary political analysis is contemporary political analysis is encouraged to take for granted.encouraged to take for granted.

-end-

C17:C17:International International

Relations –Neo-Relations –Neo-realism and realism and

Neo-liberalismNeo-liberalism

David SandersDavid Sanders

Concessional RealismConcessional Realism

A simple but flexible set of propositions A simple but flexible set of propositions about nation-state behavior in the about nation-state behavior in the contemporary international system.contemporary international system.

The product of a conducted “thought The product of a conducted “thought experiment” which attempted to specify experiment” which attempted to specify what neo-realism and neo-liberalism what neo-realism and neo-liberalism would look like if their efforts to would look like if their efforts to constitute versions of rational choice constitute versions of rational choice theory were substantially downgraded.theory were substantially downgraded.

Traditional RealismTraditional Realism

Was both a simple decision-making Was both a simple decision-making theory and a proto-structural theory theory and a proto-structural theory about outcomes in the international about outcomes in the international systemsystem

Any analysis of international politics Any analysis of international politics which confined itself merely to the which confined itself merely to the attributes of the nation-state units or attributes of the nation-state units or to the interactions between units to the interactions between units was fundamentally “reductionist” was fundamentally “reductionist” and therefore inadequate.and therefore inadequate.

-Waltz-Waltz

Prisoner’s DilemmaPrisoner’s Dilemma

A possible restatement of the A possible restatement of the Hobbesian security problem which Hobbesian security problem which was central to traditional realismwas central to traditional realism

Limitations of the Game Theoretic Limitations of the Game Theoretic approach to international relations approach to international relations

theorytheory

Problems relating to the role of Problems relating to the role of national interestsnational interests

Ineffective specification of Ineffective specification of “structural constraints”“structural constraints”

Axelrod & KeohaneAxelrod & Keohane

Perceptions define interests to Perceptions define interests to understand the degree of mutuality of understand the degree of mutuality of interests, we must understand the interests, we must understand the process by which interests are process by which interests are percieved and preferences determined.percieved and preferences determined.

Game Theoretic Game Theoretic PerspectivePerspective

A state’s interests are maximized if A state’s interests are maximized if its payoff gains are maximizedits payoff gains are maximized

Its payoff gains can themselves be Its payoff gains can themselves be regarded as gains in capabilities regarded as gains in capabilities (Baldwin)(Baldwin)

QUINCY WRIGHT QUINCY WRIGHT standardstandard

Someone who has command of an Someone who has command of an enormous range of substantive case enormous range of substantive case studies of interests and who possesses studies of interests and who possesses the theoretical insight to offer a the theoretical insight to offer a simplifying synthesis of what he or she simplifying synthesis of what he or she observes.observes.

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

According to Waltz, it is a set of According to Waltz, it is a set of constraining conditions that produces constraining conditions that produces a gap between intention and outcomea gap between intention and outcome

Two Characteristics of an Two Characteristics of an Intl SysIntl Sys

The particular distribution of The particular distribution of capabilities that it exhibitscapabilities that it exhibits

Anrachic ordering principle upon Anrachic ordering principle upon which it is basedwhich it is based

SnidalSnidal

Released a work on the importance Released a work on the importance of relative gains under varying of relative gains under varying conditions of system polarityconditions of system polarity

C18:C18:International Relations:International Relations:

Post-positivist and Feminist Post-positivist and Feminist PerspectivesPerspectives

J. Ann TicknerJ. Ann Tickner

C19:C19:International Relations,International Relations,

Old and NewOld and New

Robert O. KeohaneRobert O. Keohane

The Alvarez HypothesisThe Alvarez Hypothesis

By Luis and Walter AlvarezBy Luis and Walter Alvarez Theory of the demise of the Theory of the demise of the

dinosaursdinosaurs A cosmic collision 65 million years A cosmic collision 65 million years

ago threw tremendous quantities of ago threw tremendous quantities of dust into the air, reducing global dust into the air, reducing global temperature and thus killing the temperature and thus killing the dinosaurs.dinosaurs.

Marple-Dagliesh MethodMarple-Dagliesh Method

Based on two characters created by Based on two characters created by Agatha Christie and P.D. JamesAgatha Christie and P.D. James

Students of IR would do well to Students of IR would do well to imitate this detectives by carefully imitate this detectives by carefully observing and describing events, observing and describing events, specifying the causal mechanisms specifying the causal mechanisms that could have led to these results, that could have led to these results, and testing accurate predictions of and testing accurate predictions of complex events.complex events.

Cause of the revival of Cause of the revival of RealismRealism

Adolf Hitler’s accession to power in Adolf Hitler’s accession to power in GermanyGermany

Subsequent crises and war that resultedSubsequent crises and war that resulted

RealismRealism

A dominant approachA dominant approach Served as an antidote to ideological Served as an antidote to ideological

thinkingthinking A source of caution, emphasizing the A source of caution, emphasizing the

principle of avoiding over-extension by principle of avoiding over-extension by keeping ends aligned with the means to keeping ends aligned with the means to achieve them.achieve them.

““The Owl of Minerva only flies at dusk.”The Owl of Minerva only flies at dusk.”

Direct foreign Direct foreign investmentinvestment

Means that multinational Means that multinational corporations have a major presence corporations have a major presence around the world.around the world.

Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact

Liberal InstitutionalismLiberal Institutionalism

May benefit from increasing May benefit from increasing formalization, in the form of rational formalization, in the form of rational choice theory as long as the choice theory as long as the historical and comparative contexts historical and comparative contexts of action are kept in mind and of action are kept in mind and propositions generated by theory are propositions generated by theory are tested empirically, rather than tested empirically, rather than simply being applied.simply being applied.