Introduction

Question 1

Why has the search for an effective general theory of international relations been so difficult?

Answer 1

The complex and interdisciplinary nature of the subject

Question 2

What happens if a particular approach to interpreting international relations becomes sufficiently wide held?

Answer 2

It could become self-fulfilling.

eg. Realist theory, still arguably the most influential school of thought in international relations on both sides of the Atlantic

Question 3

Who were the true precursors of the modern realist school of thought in international relations?

Answer 3

Niccolo Machiavelli, author of The Prince (1532)

Thomas Hobbes, author of The Leviathan (1651)

Question 4

What did political philosophers Machiavelli and Hobbes believe?

Answer 4

• Humans motivated by own self interests
• Most widespread + dangerous of which is lust for power
• Sovereign who rules the state is only guarantor of internal peace because he alone has power to enforce peace
• But in wider world of international politics, a continual state of anarchy
• International politics a constant struggle for power, not necessarily resulting in constant open warfare, but always necessitating a readiness to go to war
• Sovereign must accumulate power + use it to defend + pursue their national interest
• Military power a key requirement, acquired through wealth from commerce + industry

Question 5

Who was Niccolo Machiavelli?

Answer 5

Lived 1469-1527

Secretary to the War Council of the Republic of Florence

Political philosopher

In The Prince he provided a candid + amoral guide on how to seize and maintain power over a state

Question 6

What do modern realists believe?

Answer 6

• Accept underlying assumptions of Machiavelli and Hobbes
• Stress continuing necessity of alliance-building
• role of the stage as key political actor
• maintenance of a favourable balance of power
• firm refusal to entrust security to international organisations + agreements

All essential components of an effective national security policy

Question 7

Who will the realist approach appeal to?

Answer 7

• Those of a very conservative + pessimistic disposition who take a dim view of human nature
• Have little or no faith in liberal institution building, international law, or any moves towards regional integration or world governance through world organisations

Question 8

When did realist ideas dominate in the 20th Century?

Answer 8

Realist ideas dominated the thinking of US and West European political leaders during the Cold War

Question 9

When did interdependence theory develop?

Answer 9

Interdependence theory developed as a critique of realist theory in the 1970s

Question 10

What did interdependence theory challenge?

Answer 10

It challenged the realist idea that that the state was the most important entity in international relations

Question 11

What did interdependence theorists stress?

Answer 11

The importance of non-state actors, such as TNCs and their influential role in a more complex global society in which military power had become far less important or virtually irrelevant to shaping relations between countries

Question 12

In what ways do liberal institutionalist and interdependence approaches overlap?

Answer 12

• Both have much more optimistic view of human nature
• Share view that growing interdependence will strengthen the institutions of regional cooperation + open up greater opportunities for strengthening the UN and developing mechanisms of world governance

Question 13

What is often argued by liberal institutionalists?

Answer 13

• Overwhelming majority of transactions between states are peaceful, in accordance with international law, and to the mutual benefit of states involved
• Creation + development of EU is powerful riposte to those who believe international politics is nothing more than constant pursuit for power + that it must always be a zero-sum game

Question 14

Who are postmodern deconstructionists?

Answer 14

• Participants in a broader philosophical movement called critical social theory
• They believe they are able, by the process of ‘deconstruction, to uncover the underlying ‘subjective’ meanings of academic texts in light of the social + cultural climate in which they were produced
• Depressing conclusion: there is no objective international truth or reality we can discover

Question 15

What is the issue with postmodern deconstructionists?

Answer 15

They spend all their time critiquing authors of the texts, and have little to offer by way of independent criticism of the actual policies + actions of policy makers, either in their own countries or internationally