Lecture 1

Question 1

Norman Angell: Modern Liberalism

Answer 1

• wrote the book “the great illusion” (1999) developed modern IR theory, mainly studying why states go to war.
• his main argument is that there is an illusion that states can profit from war. He bases his arguments on the fact that modern conflict causes destruction, so that victors cannot gain any benefits from the war because they have to recover/rebuild.

Question 2

Compare modern warfare with older conflict

Answer 2

Modern warfare is much mrore destructive than old ways of combat. Many of the old benefits to be gained from war can now be achieved through economic trade, instead of conflict.

Question 3

Why is establishing global trade important for peace?

Answer 3

When twos states establish deep economic ties, they become economically interdependent and cannot sever ties without personal cost. Conflict affects both negatively. Therefore, establishing world trade may lead to world peace.

Question 4

What is the criticism of establishing global trade?

Answer 4

This theory favours stronger, wealthier countries who will extract resources at the expense of smaller countries.

Question 5

Which country is an example of how trade relations may not solve conflict?

Answer 5

China. When china was rising, there were two american groups of thought:

Question 6

What were the two perspectives that were prevalent when China was rising?

Answer 6

Liberal: if china rises economically, we should encourage it because we shouldn’t be afraid. If China rises, then in the future China would become similar to Japan and Germany in the sense that they were American enemies, but through trade became allies. Free market capitalist economy will turn Chinese political system into a democracy

Realist: opposed China rising, believing that China would translate economic power to political and military power, and challenge the American position internationally, leading to conflict.

Question 7

Why is public opinion important?

Answer 7

Vietnam war, the American public was unsupportive. The public did not want war, but the political elites started war.

Question 8

Why are democracies arguably less likely to enter into war?

Answer 8

Because the people have a voice, and in essence the people are more peaceful. In contrast, authoritarian governments are often more violent because there are fewer people making decisions for the country.

Question 9

Why did Angell receive a Nobel Peace Prize?

Answer 9

For starting a campaign to educate the public. He believed that if people were more knowledgeable on internationalism, war may be eradicated

Question 10

Was Angell a realist?

Answer 10

Angell was not a realist who believed in no war at all, but he believes it is possible to minimize the number of wars that occur, through education of the public. He believes that war is irrational

Question 11

Why is it unlikely that America and Canada would go to war? (3 arguments)

Answer 11

Liberal: economic interdependence

Constructivist: shared culture and identity

Realist: the US is more powerful than Canada, and there are no benefits for physical invasions, because Canada is already an ally.

Question 12

E.H. Carr

Answer 12

• IR’s first great debate, between realists and idealists
• idealists are characterized as naive utopians
• Carr argues that politics precede ethics and that “history creates rights and therefore right.
• the belief that the international problems can be solved by the international community is an illusion according to Carr.

Question 13

What are the assumptions of realism?

Answer 13

• states are the main actors of international relations
• the international system is anarchic due to the fact that there is no reliable central authority. There is a constant threat of war. States are rational, autonomous, unitary actors.

Question 14

What are realism’s propositions?

Answer 14

• security (survival) is the main interest of the states. States are profoundly defensive actors in realist theory
• states are concerned with their relative power
• in order to achieve a more favourable balance of power, states value autonomy of decision and interdependence of action

Question 15

What are the three main proponents of realism

Answer 15

Rational: 
- goal oriented
- ordered goals
- specific strategies to achieve goals
Autonomous 
- states pursue the interests of a nation as a whole and not just those of powerful groups within the community 
 Unitary
- states possess the capacity to act in a coherent manner.

Question 16

Does liberalism believe that states are rational

Answer 16

Yes. The difference between realism and liberalism is that realists say that the interests of the state are security and survival, while liberalists argue that the state’s priority is becoming more wealthy