Lecture 11 - Critical Approaches (Postcolonial and Marxist)

Question 1

Def - Critical Theory

Answer 1

Stands apart from prevailing order / how it happened. Questions social/power relations through origins

Question 2

What are the Assumptions of Postcolonial IR?

Answer 2

1. Global Politics principle is Hierarchy not Anarchy
2. Exposes Euro/Western-centrism of IR, through assumptions and concepts
3. Rereads history (challenges who has agency for Conventional IR and who does not)

Question 3

Def - Class (Marxism)

Answer 3

Groups of individuals having the same economic status

Question 4

Def - Bourgeoisie (Marxism)

Answer 4

Economic class, controls means of productions

Question 5

Def - Proletariat (Marxism)

Answer 5

Laborers or working class

Question 6

Def - Capital (Marxism)

Answer 6

Material Wealth used for production of more wealth

Question 7

What are the Core assumptions of Marxist IR?

Answer 7

1. Focuses of material conditions of classes
2. Classes have material interests
3. Concern with inequality that pervades world politics
4. Finite resources in world - Capitalism is exclusive and causes inequality

Question 8

Def - Classical Marxism

Answer 8

3 states, proletariats help each other, Bourgeoise rules over Proletariat
Classes determine identities, number in classes predicts revolution

Question 9

Def - Dependency/World System Theory Marxism

Answer 9

1. States are ‘classes,’ they expoit each other.
2. Capitalism is based on growth, production
3. Dependence is perpetual
4. Regions of the world are defined by global economy

Question 10

Def - Gramscian Marxism

Answer 10

1. Explains why there are no revolutionary movements. Humans internalize market capitalism, discipline ourselves into the system.
2. Both Materials and ideas are important. Social Forces (domestic) and Disciplinary (systemic/individual)
3. Historical precedent of Hegemony is difficult to overturn, because materials/ideas reinforce it. Organizations should check forces of state-led capitalism, but it is too controlled by the state most of the time = no revolutions

Question 11

Def - War of Movement vs War of Position

Answer 11

Position - Counterhegemony (requires counter-ideas to prevailing system) through intellectual/cultural agenda to win over civil society
Movement - Frontal attacks (only if Position has happened already)

Question 12

Why is there so little revolution in world politics?

Answer 12

1. Because you need counterhegemony that develops a war of positioning first (which is hard and takes time) for a war of movement to succeed
2. Because International Organizations that reflect hegemonic ideas co-opt elites from peripheral countries (who are trained at Western/Global Northern universities)
3. Because counterhegemonic ideas are co-opted

Question 13

Who disciplines who, in ways that perpetuate and reinforce neoliberal systems of finance?

Answer 13

We discipline ourselves