Lecture 4 - Marxism Flashcards
What is the primary focus of Marxism in IR ?
The concept of “dependence” & aims to understand why many states, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, remain underdeveloped due to “unevenness” and “multiple differential developments”
How does Marxism differ from Realism and Liberalism in IR theory ?
- Realism : power & stability in an anarchic world
- Liberalism : interdependence & cooperation
- Marxism : economic dependence & underdevelopment within a capitalist system
What is the materialistic conception of history in Marxism ?
Social reality & historical phenomena can be explained by material conditions, specifically economic development & the relations of production
What role do social classes play in Marxist theory ?
Social classes are seen as the key political actors, both domestically & internationally
-> capitalist system creates class struggles that shape IR
How does Marxism define “superstructure” ?
Superstructure includes political systems, legal institutions, ideology, art, ethics & religion, which are shaped by the underlying economic structure (the forces & relations of production)
What are the three main modes of production according to Marxism ?
- Slavery
- Feudal
- Capitalistic : bourgeoisie owns the means of production & the proletariat sells their labor
What does Dependency Theory propose about underdeveloped countries ?
Less developed countries (LDCs) are underdeveloped due to dependence mechanisms created by the capitalist system, which leads to “uneven development”
How does Marxism explain Imperialism ?
Imperialism is seen as the highest stage of capitalism, where capitalist countries turn international economic competition into political conflict, leading to exploitation & domination of peripheral countries by the core
What are the three types of states in Mao Zedong’s Three World Theory ?
- First World (Superpowers: USSR & USA)
- Second World (Allies of Superpowers: industrialized countries)
- Third World (Non-aligned, less developed countries).
What are the main critiques of Dependency Theory ?
Struggles to explain :
- Complex international relationships (dependence among socialist countries)
- Hegemonic behavior of non-capitalist countries
- Economic success of some peripheral countries
What is World-Systems Theory & who developed it ?
Immanuel Wallerstein : the global capitalist system as a structure where societies are integrated into a core, semi-periphery & periphery
How does World-Systems Theory differ from Dependency Theory ?
Introduces the concept of “semi-periphery” & considers longer historical phases rather than just post-colonial moments, offering a more globalist approach
What is the Neo-Gramscian approach to Marxism ?
Ideas & institutions are shaped by material conditions & historicizes state relations, acknowledging that theory serves particular purposes (as stated by Robert Cox)
What are the three ways a peripheral state can transition towards the core in World-Systems Theory ?
- Seizing the chance during a recessionary phase
- Promotion by invitation during expansion
- Self-reliance through state-led development
According to Marxism, what is the ultimate goal regarding the capitalist system ?
To move toward a socialist revolution by exposing & accelerating the inherent contradictions of capitalism, leading to its collapse
