Globalizing Flashcards
3 type of climate clubs
Normative clubs
Bargaining clubs
Transformational clubs
What are the main concepts of realism ?
- Statism
- Anarchy
- survival & self-help
- balance of power
- security dilemma
- IR = zero-sum game
What are the different types of realism ?
- Classical Realism (Morgenthau) = human nature as sources of power seeking
-
Neorealism (= structural realism)
=> 2. A = defensive neorealism (Waltz) = seek just sufficient power to survive => BALANCE OF POWER
2 types : external balancing (bandwagon) = make alliance & Internal balancing = building economic and military capacity
=> 2. B = offensive neorealism (Mearsheimer) = maximize power beyond what is needed => SECURITY DILEMMA - Neo-classical realism = more nuanced look
Define Statism
Doctrine which argues that states are the main actors in IR, at the expense of individuals and international organizations
Sovereign state has supreme authority within its territorial space and operates in an anarchic international system
System of anarchy (defined in the tutorial for realism)
- absence of centralized, legitimate authority, absence of political authority above states in the international system => states must pursue their own interests to guarantee their survival
- interaction btw states is a zero-sum game : one state’s gain is another’s loss
- neorealism = anarchic structure of the international system is main constraint on state behavior
Define self-help
Self-help = belief that each state is responsible for its own security and survival, as other states cannot be trusted, and international organizations are too weak
Survival
- classical realists = primary role of the struggle for power in international affairs
- neorealists = argue that the pre-eminent goal of states in the international sphere is survival (defensive vs offensive)
Balance of power
- main instrument for states to guarantee their survival and security in the anarchic international system
- hegemonies do not form in multi state system bc perceived threats of hegemony over the system generate balancing behavior by other leading states in the system
- state/group of states would seek to match its power against the power of its rival by building military and economic capabilities (internal balancing) & forming alliances (external balancing)
Definition of power FOR A REALIST
Power = hard power = material
- Internal balancing = building military & economic capabilities
- External balancing = forming alliances
Human nature (realism)
- human nature is essentially selfish (also Machiavelli said it)
- morality different when needed in international politics = type of morality is subordinated to the ‘reason of state’ => it is judged by its consequences for the state’s survival
- human egoism and the lack of an international sovereign imply that the international realm is dominated by concerns of powers and interests
Can China become a superpower peacefully ? Realist pov (for/against)
For :
- economic development : not so dangerous
- ‘peaceful rise’ : unparalleled nuclear capabilities of the US guarantee its security, china’s peaceful hegemonic claims could generate a new bipolar system
- effective soft power : diplomacy as mean to increase political power
Against :
- economic competition could shake stability of international system and lead to military conflict
- Hubris (arrogance) from US + fear of appearing égal => difficult diplomatic solutions
- mistrust => security dilemma = can lead to defensive measures that its adversary may consider as an offensive threat
Power Transition Theory (=PTT)
- understand changing structure and dynamics among states
- analyze gain/lose hegemony
- related but distinct from realist theory
- power = currency in world politics
- rejects realist assumption that the international sphere is anarchical and assumes that it is ordered hierarchically
- analyze economic , military & ability to influence to understand what makes ‘great powers’
- probabilistic theory trying to predict when war might break out
Key actors in Liberal pov
States, NGOs, International Organizations (IOs)
Driver in international system for peace according to liberals
- Expand of democracies = shared norms & world views, more peace
- Economic interdependence = increase cost of conflict
- International law and organizations = can mediate, sanction, reduce uncertainty by providing informations/rules/norms/values, platform of dialogue
Cooperation with liberal pov
World = politics as positive sum game / non-zero-sum game, essential to manage common problems, essential for liberalism
Difference pov cooperation between realism and liberalism
Cooperation :
Realism => possible but unstable and insecure bc international relations are zero-sum game
Liberalism => possible, essential & desirable
Drivers of cooperation (liberalism)
- democracies less likely to go to war bc shared norms and values => facilitate cooperation
- trade and economic interdependence :
=> war more costly
=> interactions lead to trust
=> wars are unpopular within societies if cooperation is beneficial to them - monadic : democracies are less likely to go to war with anyone (less empirical evidence)
- dyadic : democracies are less likely to go to war with each other (more empirical evidence)
Barriers to cooperation (liberalism)
- authoritarian regimes : pose challenges to liberal principles
- economic disparities
- nationalism : nationalist policies could increase crises through protectionism
- cultural and ideological differences = difficulties
- corruption = damage image of cooperation, makes it less attractive
- fear of defection => less cooperation in absence of effective enforcement
- free rider problem => everyone gains from cooperation even without cooperating => tragedy of common goods
- divergence of interest could become too wide = no common ground
- domestic opposition to cooperation
- sanction avoiding is possible
What are international organizations and what is their role for liberalism ?
Need 4 things :
- common purpose (basis for I.Os )
- rule making
- ability of monitoring members
- enforcement through executive force
- IOS provide a platform for cooperation
- provide sense of security
- representing people + policy advices
- watchdogs (see lecture)
Common critics abt liberalism
- values not always followed => domestic values not always transferred to international level
- great power needs to protect national interests => can hinder the possibility of promoting peace
- theory based on western values
- based a lot on probability
- theory based on western values => post colonial critic
- masculine conceptions of state, nations, IOs => feminist critic
- oppression of south, perpetuation of inequalities => neo-marxist critic
- assumption of rationality & anarchy => social constructivist
What is social constructivism ?
Focuses on actions and how the world is made.
Takes into account ideas, knowledge, norms and values
Boring definition = approach to international politics that focuses on the centrality of ideas and human consciousness. Structures construct actors identities and interests, their interaction is organized and constrained by structures, interaction serves to either reproduce or transform those structures (holistic + idealist view of structures)
Actors in social constructivism
Actors : still state but their behavior is driven by norms and values
+ emphasis on transnational actors, way to redefine relations, NGOs, IGOs, promote values and norms to shape the behavior of states
+ commitment to different ideologies :
=> idealism = how important the world of ideas is in the world of politics, based on interactions in society
=> Holism = structures cannot be decomposed into the individual units
Drivers in social constructivist approach
- ideas and norms and their spread in international landscape
- shared ideas and norms will reduce conflicts => collective consciousness
- all driven by social behavior => convergence into one single model
- brute and social facts (difference w realism since it includes social facts and their effects eg money)
- anarchy exist but constructed socially so it can change (same w security dilemma) => products of social interaction
Define materialism, idealism, holism & idealism (social constructivism)
Materialism = material forces are the important factors
Idealism = most fundamental feature of society is social consciousness
Idealism= how important the world of ideas is in the world of politics, based on interactions in society
Holism = structures cannot be decomposed into the individual units
Nature vs nurture (link to social constructivism)
Nature = born like this
Nurture = your environment, your experience - frame of reference
SC = focus more on nurture
Logic of consequences & logic of appropriateness (SC)
Logic of consequences = attributes to the anticipated costs & benefits, mindful that other actors are doing the same
Logic of appropriateness = highlights how actors are rule-following, worrying about whether their actions are legitimate
