Theories of IR Flashcards
Classical realism - human nature
Humans are self interested and selfish, they do what’s best for them.
Hobbes’ view
Human state of nature is ‘nasty, short and brutish’. People sign a contract with the state to give up some freedom for protection from this state of nature.
Classical realism - international level
With no Hobbesian state or contract, states at a global level act in the nasty, short and brutish way.
Structural realism
Less emphasis on human nature, but on international anarchy.
Defensive realism
States value what they have and protect it. China aims to protect its sphere of influence in Asia.
Offensive realism
States always want more power. China can be argued to be challenging the world order for their own gain.
Realist stance on Ukraine
Putin is good for Russia. Protecting their interests. Russia had to protect their place in the world order.
Liberal view on human nature
Humans can tell right from wrong and the state of nature is relative peace. Therefore the state should only be there to deal with ocassionally bad people.
Republican liberalism - Democratic peace theory
Democracies are less likely to engage armed conflict with other democracies.
Commercial liberalism
Focus on specialisation economically. Taiwan with microchips, Germany with cars. Interdependence created by this dynamic prevents war
Neoliberalism
International cooperation is possible and plausible. States are rational actors.
Liberal view on Ukraine
Values matter more than interests. Western countries have given up a lot to ‘do the right thing’ and punish Russia.
Marxism in IR
Multiplicty of actors: institutions, companies alongside states.
Politics is driven by economics
Capitalism knows no borders. There’s a difference between politcal and economic class
World systems theory
Core and periphery countries. Periphery countries provide essential resources to cores for little cost at the false idea of development.
High profit goods sold back to peripheries secures the position.
Hegemony
Dominance of ideas. Global elite can convince people opression is good for them.
Marxist outlook on Ukraine
Russian elites don’t have the opportunites of core countries. As domestic opportunities run out, Oligarchs needed new territory.
Capitalism needs war to be sustained.
Military-Industrial complex
The defense oriented weapons industry needs war in order to survive and profit.
What is Postcolonialism
People libing in former colonies experience long term consequences and inequalities.
‘Othering’
The west define themselves opposed to the global south. Western superiority thoughts justifies inequality
From slavery to colonialism
- british empire abolishes slave trade 1807
- African economies are easy targets for colonisation
- easy expansion due to wealth and industrial power
- religious duty to ‘civilise’ and ‘educate’ savage nations
Consequences of colonialism
- Arbitrary borders, lines drawn by third parties that don’t understand intricate cultures and religions.
- Authoritarianism encouraged in former colonies.
Postcolonial view on Ukraine war
Imperialism drove conflict. Russia’s lost territory of the USSR led to a want to regain.
The west cares more about Ukraine because they’re white and ‘like us’
Azerbaijan has invaded armenia, but people in general are not aware of this.
Context of Constructivism
Other theories fail to explain change as opposed to continuity.
Realism and liberalism predicted the cold war to continute, but instead it abruptly ended.
What is constructivism?
Social world vs physical world. Social facts like capitalism don’t ‘exist’ but they still influence the world.
Context is important. A gun in a shooting range vs a public place.
International context of constructivism
International structures don’t exist, they’re constructed. Anarchy is constructed.
Constructivist outlook on Ukraine
Putin uses his influence. He believes eastern slavs belong with russia. He enacts this despite it not being rational. Ukraine’s identity as western matters. When Georgia was invaded in 2008, the reaction was nowhere close.
Lack of rationality for constructivism
Human beings are not rational. People seek evidence that confirms their pre existing beliefs. People conform to norms whether they’re beneficial or not.
