Lecture 4 Marxism and Critical theory Flashcards
Marxism
Rejects the liberal world view of self-interested individuals and the realist view of sovereign states and anarchy - views it as limiting
Marxist tradition
Varied tradition building upon the dialectical social philosophy of Marx and Engels
Marxism focus
Emancipation of working class and the world equality
Interpretation of history
Economic. Its central focus is on providing a critical interpretation of capitalism as a historically produced form of social life to be challenged
Marx
Shows the basic struggle between classes and recommends action against the ‘specter’ of capitalism.
Critique of capitalism. Prophesized the rise of working class socialist societies.
Capitalism is exploitative.
Instability of producing by people’s own labor more than they needed to subsist on
Market created inequalities
History viewed as a sequence of evolutionary stages, each marked by a unique mode of production
Engels
Less provocative. Evolution of humankind from primitive communism to slavery, feudalism, capitalism
History is a sequence of evolutionary stages, each marked by a unique mode of production
Marx’s philosophy
Dialectical thinking
Criticizes one-sidedness of idealism and materialism.
His historical materialist approach attempted to overcome the one-sidedness of both idealism and materialism.
Historical dialectical materialism - human agency in human-made material conditions. Men change their own destiny but not just as they please.
Assumption 1 Humans
Humans seen as productive agents that in their interactions continuously remake their world and themselves. Humans are producers and products of historical processes.
Assumption 2 Politics
Politics is a more extensive way than usual. Politics is seen as struggle over the shaping of the kind of world we live in and the kind of people we are.
Assumption 3 History
View on history is dialectical.
Classical Marxism - progressive evolution
Imperialism - inter-imperial struggle
Dependency theory - exploration of classical m
Crises of capitalism
Assumption 4 Economic determination
Economic/materialistic determination provides tools to understand IR
Assumption 5 World division
The world is divided based on economic status not pol motivations. World divided into economically determined classes not politically determined nations
Assumption 6 Economic issues
Economic issues constitute the base in the Marxist pol philosophy. Other aspects like pol and culture remain at super structural level and dependent on eco factors.
Assumption 7 Main actors
Main actors - classes. Society made out of classes with conflicting interests. State is an agent of class.
Assumption 8 Inter state system
Inter state system constructed by capitalists so serves the interests of the bourgeoise and wealthy states who want to expand their wealth.
Assumption 9 Classes
Classes are economic groups of people based on their relation to the production process in society.
Assumption 10 Class conflict
Class conflict is inevitable especially in capitalist society.
Assumption 11 Change
Class conflict leads to a soc/pol change
Assumption 12 Class struggle
Class struggle is a core of Marxism. Ruling class makes ideologies to legitimize their exploitation. In time there would be class conscious which is recognition of common class condition and common unity against capitalism
Assumption 13 Excessive production
Excessive production led to exploitation of proletariat in capitalist society. Class struggle where proletariat wins and makes a socialist society which is free of classes.
Assumption 14 State
State created by the bourgeoise to protect their interests and oppress the proletariat. In socialist society state would have no role in the society
Assumption 15 Weaker states
Capitalist state exploit the weaker states
Assumption 16 Wars
Wars erupt due to clash between capitalist nations as they want to establish colonies. eg WWI
Assumption 17 Proletariat
Proletariat over the world are exploited, there are no borders . Proletariat revolution is an inter character.
Assumption 18 Lasting Peace
Lasting Peace can only be established after world rev as it would signify the end of imperialism
Assumption 19 Equality
With the classless society new IR based on equality of all people can be built
Assumption 20 achieving equality
To achieve equality the proletariat must rise above national identities and national interests as they have no state to serve their causes.
Assumption 21 stages
History of economic class struggle between groups within society. Proletariat grows in size and starts the struggle with bourgeoise, set the stage for revolution, the result of this struggle is victory of the opposing groups and change in economic systems
Assumption 22 Economic forces
Economic forces central to Marxism are more important than concepts like state and sov - seen as tools of capitalism.
Influence of Marxism on IR
Little impact as it’s not a mere domestic or economic theory.
Marxism - only mainstream theory that emphasises equality.
Influence on inter pol economy and development theories - Marxism and neo-Marxism approaches to IR focus on the problem of development, the issue of inequality, economic dependency.
Critiques
Utopian, ignores conventional struggle for power and security arising in anarchical system, economic determinism, over-estimation of class struggle, underestimated nationalism
1970s
1970s new interpretation - political economy approach/ neo marxism
1990s
Neo-Marxism increased with passing of bipolarity
Connected with dependency and world system theories. Exploitation is an external core not internal like in Marxism
Neo Marxism key thinkers
Wallerstein, Baran, Frank, Amin
Wallerstein
Looked at how capitalist systems penetrated non-capitalist systems using binary distinction between core and periphery area.
World eco linked by exchange relations were impossible before 1500.
Northwestern Europe were able to impose regional division of labor.
Through bureaucracies consolidated the surplus flow to core states
World system theory
Hierarchical structure of world politics - wealthy exploit the poor. Countries can change between core and periphery.
Capitalist world system - inter pol is shaped by economic factors.
Staes reflect interests of the ruling class
Surplus materials distributed from periphery countries to core countries.
Capitalism is unjust.
Critical theory origins
Frankfurt school and developed by a group of German scholars
In IR theory critical thoery is closely ;inked to Marxist Inter Pol Eco.
Critical theory thinkers
Cox, Hoffmann, Linklater
Critical theory rejects 3 basic postulates of positivism
objective external reality, subject/object distinction, value free social science.
All is subjective
Assumption 1 Social world
Construction of time and place - inter system is a specific construction of the most powerful states. Everything that is social is changeable and thus historical.
Assumption 2 Knowledge
Knowledge is not neutral morally/ideologically/politically. All knowledge reflects the interests of the observer - Cox theory is made for someone and for something
Problem solving/positivist knowledge
Theory accepts the prevailing definitions, tries to solve the problems these definitions generate.
Conservative
Biased to inter status quo which is based on inequality of power.
Critical theory knowledge
Looks at the way the problem serves particular interests, shuts down different debates and solutions.
Assumption 3 Examination of states
Not confined to an examination of states and the state system.
Focuses on power and domination of the world.
Looks at historical development - how power structures changed.
Assumption 4 Knowledge and value
Knowledge is not value-free
Openly political - promote their progressive ideology of emancipation
Assumption 5 Structures
Structures are socially constructed (Cox)
Become part of the objective world by virtue of their existence in inter-subjectivity of relevant groups of people. Structures as inter-subjective products don’t have a physical existence
Assumption 6
Modern state is viewed as a distinctive form of political community, bringing with its particular functions that are socially and historically determined
Critical theory seeks to provide social theory of a state while realism takes state for granted
Analyses how boundaries of community are formed
Dependency theory
Explains why poor states remain poor in the global economy based on its structure
Neo Marxism weakness and strength
World system and dependency theories are useful to analyse for those who perceive the world as principally a sphere of economic conflict between the rich and poor.
Wallerstein’s theory seen as excessively concerned with the role of economics, theory seen as pessimistic without giving an answer on how to escape capitalism.
After cold war Communist theories seen as obsolete
Agena on inequality
