Lecture 3 - History Pre-WWI

Question 1

What are the four main Biases in History/IR?

Answer 1

1. Europe/West “White North” is normal (postcolonial)
2. Role of men and public sphere as normal (Feminist Argument - only men and the public sphere have shaped the world)
3. Nation-States/Countries normal (not just humans/groups)
4. History is series of causes that give lessons (not random outcomes/accidents)

Question 2

What are Institutional Logics and what do they cause?

Answer 2

Aspects that form the best sovereign states.
Mass Standing Armies/Navies
Large Buraucracies
National Identity, Unity, Belonging
Recognized Borders

Question 3

Why are the Napoleonic Wars Important? (1803-1815)

Answer 3

1. Shows Hegemony, Hubris, and Imperial Overstretch (France was strongest independently, but coalitions defeat them - France too ambitious and occupying territory is hard)
2. Leaves UK powerful Navally (Hegemonic Stability Theory)
3. Helps develop US (Louisiana Purchase)
4. Shows Mass Conscription / National Armies
5. France moves back to Imperial from Popular Sovereignty
6. Results in Congress of Vienna

Question 4

What event occured because of the Napoleonic Wars?

Answer 4

The Congress of Vienna (War weariness, condemns slave trade, reinforces order of system

Question 5

What is the Age of Revolutions?

Answer 5

18th century repeated revolutions. Industrial, American, French, Haitian

Question 6

Why is the Age of Revolutions Important?

Answer 6

It shows how domestic disputes can affect international order, and leads to end of Slave Trade

Question 7

What are the two layers of Sovereignty?

Answer 7

Internal - Authority over a territory. Monopolies over violence/force
External - Recognized self-authority amongst other nation-states (necessary for international order)

Question 8

What are the Problems with History and IR?

Answer 8

1. Data/Methods (historical records, lack of context/comparison)
2. Frames (when/where do we look?)
3. Biases (Selectivity/Biased Presentation)

Question 9

This meeting or conference that took place towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, according to lecture 3, is seen as important because it is an example for some of the ‘success’ of ‘high politics’ and it is where Britain pushed for the condemnation of the Atlantic slave trade

Answer 9

The Congress of Vienna