Basics Flashcards
Before theory, what is IP/IR/ Ir
International politics:
Politics between states, foreign policies and their interplay and resulting structures and states (war, peace..)
International relations
Political (military and diplomatic), economic, societal relationships and interactions between countries, including states as well as non-state actors
International Relations
The academic discipline, field of study dealing with..
Why theory? What is theory in IR? Aims
Arrive at a general working definition of what a theory of international relations is
Understand why there is a multitude of theories in international relations
Understand why some approaches and concepts are grouped together into theory schools
Acquire a basic understanding of what it means that the theory debate in IR has developed in the form of so-called great debates
What is theory in IR)
Therorein (Greek) - observe, explore/analyze
System of concepts, definition and statements which organizes the knowledge on a specific field, explains crucial phenomena and makes reasoned predictions possible (simonis/ Elbers)
A specific depiction of reality which rests upon specific assumptions and aims at reconstructing reality in a specific way. A simplifying device which tells us what is of importance (Baylis/ Smith)
May be regarded as a tool (to explain), a way of criticizing the reality or as a verb (not a noun), an everyday practice
(Zalewski)
What is a theory in IR?
Cf, Burchill/Linklater
Explains laws of international politics (Waltz)
Is a tradition of speculations about relations between states (Wight)
Uses empirical data to test hypotheses about the world (Doyle)
Criticizes forms of domination (critical theory)
Reflects on how the world out to be organized (normative theory)
What is a theory of IR?
Cf Schieder/ Spindler (2004 forthcoming, in German: 2009 Theorien der internationalen Beziehungen)
A theory of international relations
Offers general statements on the most important issues, dynamics and relationships
In cross-border interactions between state and non-state actors
Which lead to specific patterns of value allocations in the realms of security, wealth and rule (order, justice, freedom)
Pyramid
Leg (legitimizes action) Predictions Offers explanations Defines key issues Organizes knowledge systematically Reduces complexity, allows for selection/ abstraction
Knowledge on IR theories is important because
Theories are exam story approaches which shall help us to deal with the complexity and ambiguity of international relations/ politics: they draw our attention to what is important and what we have to have in mind
Who has solid knowledge about IR theories can use this knowledge as a menu in order to come up with explanations for very different issue and dynamics
Everybody uses theory- intentionally or not- in order to talk about international relations; knowledge of theories enables people to decipher the background assumptions of what others say
Why are there many theories in IR?
Jackson/Sorensen: 7-8 classical theories and contemporary approaches
Burchill et al: 11 approaches
Schieder/ Spindler: 18approaches and theory schools
Theory a
Specific phenomena
Power transition in international system
Or domestic hurdles to international cooperation
Or dissolution of enemy images
Theory a & b and c Phenomena War / peace -nom cooperation Foreign policy change
Theory- theories
Real world context (changing conditions over time )
As an academic discipline, founded after world war 1: 2 research institutes (UK, US)- foundations of peace (so-called idealists)
WWII and emergence of Cold War confrontation - realism
Institutions where states do cooperate - institutionalism
Emancipation of society, foreign policy not the sole domain of elites, bureaucrats and military any more, evolving transnational politics - liberal theory
Economic and other interdependence, increasingly being felt - international political economy
Perceptions of international politics , 24/7 news coverage, rise of enemy images/ ethnic hatred - constructivism
Broad social movements also left their mark - feminism
At the margins always present to some degree - Marxism
What we find is an accumulation of theories over time..
What is a theory school? Grand theory
Theory schools in IR: main theoretical traditions (Jackson/Sorensen) a collection of grand theories
Not objective entities, but self-classifications of people working in IR- groupings in order to organize the knowledge and avoid confusion
Approaches belonging to one school share basic features, assumptions, arguments etc. (homogeneous relative to others)
But there’s some heterogeneity inside a school
Great debates in IR Theory development
1st 1920s-1960s
Idealism vs realism (causes of war and nature of international politics )
2nd 1960s - 1980s
Methodology: traditionalism vs scienticism (judgment vs scientific method)
3rd 1970s- 1990s
Neo-neo
Neoliberalism vs neorealism (appropriate model of IR)
4th since 1980s/1990s
Positivism vs post-positivism (IR as a science?)
