L1: Classic Theories of International Politics: Introduction Flashcards
General Facts
- 70% of time, when allied states are attacked, their allies do not come to their help. This implies alliances are generally unreliable.
- Democracies win more wars than autocracies:
Domestic concern (the electorate) More selective about wars to fight (who hits first is more motivated to win) In-depth evaluation of the chances of winning
Key Ideas
- Focus on leaders (decision-makers), not states
- Choices are constrained
Choices are constrained
- Power
- Preferences
- Perceptions
- Key topics
- Self-Interest drives everything
- Collective Action Problems
- Coordination, Monitoring, Sanctioning
- Endogenous (strategic) choice; Selection effects
Rationality of preferences
- Completeness: ranking alternatives
- Transitivity: A>B and B>C then A>C
Rational choices are
models of action: they predict what people are expected to do depending on their preferences and the constraints they face.
‘The National Interest’
- State as a rational unitary actor
- A State has different objectives:
Maximize power
Maximize wealth
Maximize probability of survival
Arrow’s theorem
Definition
The dictatorial rule is the only aggregation system that converts the ranked preferences of individuals who have three+ discrete alternatives into a community-wide ranking that satisfies the following criteria:
- Unrestricted domain
- Social Transitivity
- Pareto Improvement
- Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives
Arrow’s theorem- Unrestricted domain
All possible preferences are allowed.
Arrow’s theorem- Social Transitivity
Equivalent of transitivity for individuals, applied to the community-wide ranking.
e.g.: consider majority voting
Consider the following preferences for foreign politics of three factions within the US Congress between three policies (more defence, more foreign aid, balance between the two)
o Hawks: Defence > Balance > Foreign Aid
o Doves: Foreign Aid > Defence > Balance
o Moderate: Balance > Foreign Aid > Defence
- Defence vs Balance → Defence
- Defence vs Foreign Aid → Foreign aid
- Foreign Aid vs Balance → Balance
Majority voting can lead to cycles - no social transitivity
Arrow’s theorem- Pareto Improvement
If everybody is at least as wealthy under alternative A than under alternative B, and somebody is wealthier under alternative A than under alternative B, then we want the community-wide ranking to rank A above B.
e.g.: Consider the following preferences for trade policy in a US congressional committee
o Dana: D>P>C>S
o Chris: C>S>D>P
o Pat: P>C>S>D
S is status quo, Dana proposes amendment (D), Chris proposes amendment to amendment (C), and Pat proposes amendment to Chris’s amendment (P).
Consider the order going from last amendment to first (used in US congressional committees)
1. P vs C→P
2. P vs D→D
3. D vs S→S
S wins, even though everybody prefers C to S.
Arrow’s theorem- Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives
Social preferences between multiple options depend only on the individual preferences between those options, and the way individuals rank other options is irrelevant.
e.g. 1: Consider the following preferences
1. B > A > I
2. B > A > I
3. A > I > B
4. A > B > I
Using Borda Count: if there are N alternatives, each individual gives N-1 to the first ranked alternative, N-2 to the second, and so on. Then we add the votes.
o A=6votes
o B=5votes
o I=1vote
Here, A is socially preferred to B.
e.g.1bis: Now assume that we introduce a new alternative, D
1. B > D > A > I
2. B > D > A > I
3. A > I > B > D
4. D > A > B > I
o A=7votes o B=8votes o I=2votes o D=7votes With D, social ranking between A and B is reversed.
Implications of Arrow’s Theorem
- ‘National Interest’ is a questionable concept
- It is impossible to aggregate individual preferences in a way that makes sense
Four perspectives of IR
- Realism/Neorealism
Grounded in failure of The League of Nations
Reflective of a strongly unitary state as in absolute monarchy or tyranny
Focused on conflict rather than cooperation - Liberalism
Grounded in Wilsonian optimism
Focused on cooperation rather than conflict - Constructivism
Concerned with preference formation
Focused on norms and socialization - Strategic
Grounded in game theory/strategic interaction
Focused on interplay of domestic and international interactions
Realism/ Neorealism
basics
War is the natural state of affairs
Realism/ Neorealism
Assumptions
- International politics is anarchic
- States are rational, unitary actors. They are key to international politics.
- States try to maximize their security above all else, and consider other factors only after security is assured.
- States try to increase their power so long as doing so does not place their security at risk.
Realism/ Neorealism
Hypotheses
- Bipolarity more stable than multipolarity
- War is avoided by balancing power (deterrence)
- Alliances are a way to balance power/protect security
Liberalism
Basics
International politics concerns the international political economy (trade, organizations) rather than focusing only on problems related to security
Liberalism
Assumptions
- States are rational unitary actors
- International politics are hierarchical, not anarchic
- States seek cooperation and wealth
- Cooperation is the natural state of affairs between states
- Power distributions are less important than shared interests
Cooperation is advanced through norms & regimes:
• Norms are generally observed patterns of conduct
• Regimes are international laws, rules, and organizations designed to promote coordination and cooperation among nations with shared interests
Liberalism
Hypotheses
- States pursue wealth and security
- Cooperation is improved when there is a dominant state
- Alliances reflect shared interests and so are long-lived
- International law and strong norms promote cooperation even when states are called on to act against their short-term interests
Constructivism
Basics
State or national objectives are constructed
Constructivism
Process
Legitimation, Role Redefinition, Reflection
- International norms
- Identity forms through domestic exercises of power
Constructivism
Assumptions
- Initial leader actions are strategic – seek legitimacy
- Later, external pressure and socially-accepted norms alter self-perception (Role Redefinition)
- Reflection alters one’s sense of self-interest.
Constructivism
Hypotheses
a) instrumental short-term changes in behavior lead to long-term changes in preferences and actions
b) confronted with international pressure to abide by the norm of conduct to which they give rhetorical support, leaders change their behavior and respect the norm of conduct to which they agreed
Strategic Perspective
Basics
Leaders care about themselves, the national interest is subordinate to personal interests
Strategic Perspective
++
- International relations cannot be separated from domestic politics
• If a foreign policy will be beneficial for a nation in the long term but in the short run will result in the leader’s ouster, then that policy is not pursued - Relations between nations and between leaders are driven by strategic considerations
• Leaders pick the policy they believe will produce the best outcome for them
• They know that domestic and foreign rivals are doing the same
