component 3:comparative theories

Question 1

main ideas of realism

Answer 1

1 - international anarchy: humans are motivated by desire for power, states are the main actor IN politics and motivated by self-interest. As a result, global politics is anarchic and states should concerned with their own national interests.
2 - inevitability of conlict: states are likely to try their maximise their own power & resort to conflict if necessary, they are inheritantly selfish and promote their national intersts.
3 - security dilemma: by trying to act defensively and build up armed forces for protection they risk acting agrressively & provoking conflict as others respond the same: arms race.
4 - balance of power: states may ensure their survival by preventing any one state from gaining enough power to dominate all others, we need a balance of power.

Question 2

main ideas of liberalism

Answer 2

1 - complex interdependence: states and their fortunes are linked and states can rely on one another, they share common threats and challenges which can be resolved by collective action.
2 - harmony and balance: states can be harmonious and balanced, key elements to achieve this: democracy, IGOs, economic interdependence.
3 - global governance: liberals reject idea that global politics is anarchic and argue global governance is possible and desirable.
4 - impacts and growth of IGOs: pre 1945, few existed besides LOG. After horror of ww2, states believed security and stability would be delivered if states worked together. Since ww2, IGOs increased in number and increase their involvement, more states joined.

Question 3

human nature beliefs

Answer 3

Realists: largely negative conservative view. Linked to Thomas Hobbes, states are inherently selfish, motivated by greed and advancing national interests.
Liberalism: optimistic view, see humans as self interested and self reliant, but also governed by reason and capable of personal self-development. Linked to John Stuart Mill and the harm principle.

Question 4

comparison and divisions

Answer 4

Human nature: R negative, view of state of nature, inherently selfish,anarchy in international system, no authority above nation state. L - optimistic, self reliant, link to harm principle
Power: R - conflict can be avoided by balance of power, it is more stable. L - complex interdependence, states are linked and share common interests, more interconnectedness.
Order and security: R - states can’t trust each other, states must help themselves, security dilemma. L - human rights as important, social contract with state.
Likelihood of conflict: R - inevitable, states maximise own powers and intersts at expense of others. L - relations between states can be harmonious via democracy, IGOs and economic interdependence.
IGOs: R - IGOs aren’t effective as states detirmine their success, states create IGOs so they serve their interests. L - international community is important, shared interest e.g. HR.

Question 5

anarchical society and society of states

Answer 5

• Anarchical society: All states are power maximisers. increase their power to influence global political order, states are main actors in politics and are motivated by self-interest.
• society of states: when a group of states with common interests and values form a society in the sense that they concieve themselves to be bound by common set of rules in their relation with one another and share in working of common institutions.