20th Century

Question 1

Premodern conceptions of IR

Answer 1

Realists - Hobbes
Rational - Smith
Revolutionary - Kant

Question 2

Premodern theorists philosophy NOT theory

Answer 2

explaining political problems by attributing them to human nature

human nature has a certain kind of characteristic to it. This allows for the argument of the superiority of governments that fit human nature.

Question 3

Hobbes - 17th Century

Answer 3

Leviathan
Humans are insecure and selfish
State of nature - life before the rise of government, no one has protection, everyone has to protect themselves, constant violence and fear
government is needed to create security and safety against the anarchy of the state of nature, allowing people to live peacefully

Anarchy is the defining condition of international relations - a global leviathan needs to be built to prevent anarchy and violence on the national scale.

Question 4

Adam Smith - 18th Century

Answer 4

Contrast to Hobbes - time of brutality
Smith argues human beings have reason
International commerce - the wealth of nations. reason can play out in a way which is mutually beneficial to all concerned. Free market - the invisible hand of self interest, perusing own profits irrespective of international borders. facilitates trade
Specializations based on talents and abilities. Countries trade with each other based on these specializations.

Question 5

Immanuel Kant - 18th/19th Century

Answer 5

Prussia. Time of revolution in France and America.
Free will beyond the conceptions of fixed human nature.
essay on perpetual peace - condition of anarchy - this means war is always possible. Feeling of cosmopolitanism among the states of Europe.
By rejecting the idea that people are a certain way, projects can go past the condition of anarchy and benefit humanity.
Rejects fixed human nature. Change is possible with willingness from humanity,