International Relations Theory – February 7, 2011 >What is it? Let’s brainstorm! -How we relate with other countries -policy >country = nation-state -nation: culture -state: government, borders, constitution, political entity -The U.S. ideology creates a nation (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness & the golden rule unify us) >other nation- states -Iceland: take genetic samples to study its history, most homogenous nation, oldest parliament, oldest languages (close nation-state) -out of colonization: Ex: Sudan: not much connection, lots of war à referendum about dividing the country into new nation-states >Why study this? -learn from history to create new policies -we learn from wars, other countries’ conflicts -using “like” countries and situations to create new theories and to become more prosperous >Three levels in which you can look at the world (talk about international relations) -individual: individuals are responsible/most effective (Ex: Hitler, Obama) -state: countries are responsible (Ex: Germany caused two world wars, Russia has a history of being bad…) -structural (systemic): present systems/ideologies are responsible (Ex: food prices, recession, climate change, Islamic fundamentalism) >Classical Realism: cyclical (way to evaluate the world) -Machiavelli: power -if we look at the world in terms of power, then how does the country view the rest of world? Everyone is competition; they must maintain power, get power, fight back, etc. -war is going to happen, it’s not something you can prevent, you must prepare -peace is temporary >Balance of Power -describes what happens in competition (during World War I, II, Civil War, Cold War, etc.) -balancing with alliances, troops, Union vs. Confederate states, communist states, nuclear weapons -Ex: If Germany has an alliance with Russia, France will want to find an alliance >Collective Defense -an organization where everyone involved agrees to defend the interest of anyone in the organization -NATO is a collective defense organization >Collective Security -organization that endorses programs for preventative action -Ex: potential war à collective security wants to prevent it -threat of action should be a deterrent >Interdependence Theory -when you depend on a country to keep your country going -Ex: trade -If we are interdependent with other countries à less war, better relations -U.S. is interdependent on China -If we suffer, they suffer -European Union: after World Wars it was created. It will prevent wars in future? It has worked this far! >Democratic Peace Theory -the more democracies there are in the world, the more peace there will be in the world -democracies don’t fight democracies -What do you think about this? -Meredyth: “Wasn’t Hitler elected?” hmm… >Constructivism -each country interprets ideas differently -constructed ideas change over time -Ex: Red is worn during weddings in China, White is worn to weddings in US, White is worn to funerals in China
What it is-
Why study it-
Balance of Power Theory
Classical Realism
Collective Defence
Collective Security
Complex Interdependence Theory
Constructivism
Democratic Peace
-democracies don't go to war with eachother
Dependency Theory
-different countries are on their own pathways of success -own govts, own societies --> and then colonized by imperialist governments who wanted to make a profit -these new govts exploited the other countries by making them have one main export -foreign political systems, took away land -Ex: Ivory Coast: land is now used to grow cocoa, not used for citizen's well being -if these countries hadn't been colonized, they would be much more successful today
-they still remain dependent today because of what happened in the past
-these countries are still being exploited
Deterrence Theory
Domino Theory
Feminism
Game Theory
Globalisation
Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention
Hegemonic Stability Theory
>the most powerful country in the world
>Theory states that the hegemon's actions, attitudes, and relationships affect the way of the world
-If it is kind, then the rest of the world will be kind
-potential for leadership, projecting visions of the world
>right now, it is the US
-biggest military GDP
-what we do affects the world around us (Ex: our debt)
>Very bad if the hegemon breaks international code --> causes insecurity
-favoritism --> no stability
-invading another country
-the hegemon should not demand things of other states
>cooperation is important!
Idealism
Dependency Theory
-different countries are on their own pathways of success -own govts, own societies --> and then colonized by imperialist governments who wanted to make a profit -these new govts exploited the other countries by making them have one main export -foreign political systems, took away land -Ex: Ivory Coast: land is now used to grow cocoa, not used for citizen's well being -if these countries hadn't been colonized, they would be much more successful today
-they still remain dependent today because of what happened in the past
-these countries are still being exploited
Dependency Theory -Initially, different countries are on their own pathways of success -they have their own governments, own societies à and then colonized by imperialist governments who wanted to make a profit -these new, inorganic governments exploited the other countries by making them have one main export -new foreign political systems, took away land -Ex: Ivory Coast: land is now used to grow cocoa, not used for citizen's well being -if these countries hadn't been colonized, they would be much more successful today -they still remain dependent today because of what happened in the past -these countries are still being exploited because they didn’t develop naturally -harder for the country to function -some problems caused by the corruption in foreign leadership -“they came in and interrupted the natural cycle” (respect on a global scale)
Deterrence Theory -if you have something big enough/bad enough no one will mess with you (weapons) -countries develop nuclear weapons to deter other countries from attacking
Domino Theory -if one state falls to a certain ideology, other states are more likely to follow -Ex: Cold War: spread of communist states -Ex: Vietnam War, conflicts in South America, Islamic fundamentalism -Democracy may also follow the domino theory! J
Athenian Wall Theory -developed after the Peloponnesian War -Athenians built a wall around their city for protection, Spartans see this as offensive action - this starts the war -defense can be seen as aggression and a threat -Ex: If the US creates nuclear weapons and missiles, the rest of the world may see this as a threat -this can sometimes result in a bad reaction
Feminism -theory of international relations – lots of feminist literature -Ex: women’s suffrage (Domino Theory), equality -feminists argue: a large sector of the world has been ignored – balance is important -women are a valid part of our world view -women need to be a bigger part of our decision processes -need to be aware of women globally (there are women that are completed left out of their societies: mistreated, neglected, abused) -It’s important to raise awareness and get involved (men and women) -Don’t leave women out of the equation!
Game Theory -application of numbers – you can figure out everything with equations -you can figure out what countries will do -variables can describe economics, leadership, crises, dates, military stuff -also use scenarios -it can be a helpful tool, more than just guesswork, more concrete
Globalization -what is happening right now -we live in a globalized world and live globally -can work for an American company anywhere -multi-national corporations = the real power, can influence governments
Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention -McDonalds -the more recognized symbols there are in the world à the more globalization -Coca-cola -WE ARE ONE HUGE NATION OF SUBURBANITES. WE WILL SHARE THIS IDENTITY. THIS WILL UNIFY US.
Idealism -IDEAS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD -Ex: capitalism, marxism, free market, enlightenment -changed governments, policies -ideas can make the world a better place -sharing ideas is important
>What is it? Let’s brainstorm!
-How we relate with other countries
-policy
>country = nation-state
-nation: culture
-state: government, borders, constitution, political entity
-The U.S. ideology creates a nation (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness & the golden rule unify us)
>other nation- states
-Iceland: take genetic samples to study its history, most homogenous nation, oldest parliament, oldest languages (close nation-state)
-out of colonization: Ex: Sudan: not much connection, lots of war à referendum about dividing the country into new nation-states
>Why study this?
-learn from history to create new policies
-we learn from wars, other countries’ conflicts
-using “like” countries and situations to create new theories and to become more prosperous
>Three levels in which you can look at the world (talk about international relations)
-individual: individuals are responsible/most effective (Ex: Hitler, Obama)
-state: countries are responsible (Ex: Germany caused two world wars, Russia has a history of being bad…)
-structural (systemic): present systems/ideologies are responsible (Ex: food prices, recession, climate change, Islamic fundamentalism)
>Classical Realism: cyclical (way to evaluate the world)
-Machiavelli: power
-if we look at the world in terms of power, then how does the country view the rest of world? Everyone is competition; they must maintain power, get power, fight back, etc.
-war is going to happen, it’s not something you can prevent, you must prepare
-peace is temporary
>Balance of Power
-describes what happens in competition (during World War I, II, Civil War, Cold War, etc.)
-balancing with alliances, troops, Union vs. Confederate states, communist states, nuclear weapons
-Ex: If Germany has an alliance with Russia, France will want to find an alliance
>Collective Defense
-an organization where everyone involved agrees to defend the interest of anyone in the organization
-NATO is a collective defense organization
>Collective Security
-organization that endorses programs for preventative action
-Ex: potential war à collective security wants to prevent it
-threat of action should be a deterrent
>Interdependence Theory
-when you depend on a country to keep your country going
-Ex: trade
-If we are interdependent with other countries à less war, better relations
-U.S. is interdependent on China
-If we suffer, they suffer
-European Union: after World Wars it was created. It will prevent wars in future? It has worked this far!
>Democratic Peace Theory
-the more democracies there are in the world, the more peace there will be in the world
-democracies don’t fight democracies
-What do you think about this?
-Meredyth: “Wasn’t Hitler elected?” hmm…
>Constructivism
-each country interprets ideas differently
-constructed ideas change over time
-Ex: Red is worn during weddings in China, White is worn to weddings in US, White is worn to funerals in China
What it is-
Why study it-
Balance of Power Theory
Classical Realism
Collective Defence
Collective Security
Complex Interdependence Theory
Constructivism
Democratic Peace
-democracies don't go to war with eachother
Dependency Theory
-different countries are on their own pathways of success-own govts, own societies --> and then colonized by imperialist governments who wanted to make a profit
-these new govts exploited the other countries by making them have one main export
-foreign political systems, took away land
-Ex: Ivory Coast: land is now used to grow cocoa, not used for citizen's well being
-if these countries hadn't been colonized, they would be much more successful today
-they still remain dependent today because of what happened in the past
-these countries are still being exploitedDeterrence Theory
Domino Theory
Feminism
Game Theory
Globalisation
Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention
Hegemonic Stability Theory
>the most powerful country in the world>Theory states that the hegemon's actions, attitudes, and relationships affect the way of the world
-If it is kind, then the rest of the world will be kind
-potential for leadership, projecting visions of the world
>right now, it is the US
-biggest military GDP
-what we do affects the world around us (Ex: our debt)
>Very bad if the hegemon breaks international code --> causes insecurity
-favoritism --> no stability
-invading another country
-the hegemon should not demand things of other states
>cooperation is important!
Idealism
Dependency Theory
-different countries are on their own pathways of success-own govts, own societies --> and then colonized by imperialist governments who wanted to make a profit
-these new govts exploited the other countries by making them have one main export
-foreign political systems, took away land
-Ex: Ivory Coast: land is now used to grow cocoa, not used for citizen's well being
-if these countries hadn't been colonized, they would be much more successful today
-they still remain dependent today because of what happened in the past
-these countries are still being exploitedDependency Theory
-Initially, different countries are on their own pathways of success
-they have their own governments, own societies à and then colonized by imperialist governments who wanted to make a profit
-these new, inorganic governments exploited the other countries by making them have one main export
-new foreign political systems, took away land
-Ex: Ivory Coast: land is now used to grow cocoa, not used for citizen's well being
-if these countries hadn't been colonized, they would be much more successful today
-they still remain dependent today because of what happened in the past
-these countries are still being exploited because they didn’t develop naturally
-harder for the country to function
-some problems caused by the corruption in foreign leadership
-“they came in and interrupted the natural cycle” (respect on a global scale)
Deterrence Theory
-if you have something big enough/bad enough no one will mess with you (weapons)
-countries develop nuclear weapons to deter other countries from attacking
Domino Theory
-if one state falls to a certain ideology, other states are more likely to follow
-Ex: Cold War: spread of communist states
-Ex: Vietnam War, conflicts in South America, Islamic fundamentalism
-Democracy may also follow the domino theory! J
Athenian Wall Theory
-developed after the Peloponnesian War
-Athenians built a wall around their city for protection, Spartans see this as offensive action - this starts the war
-defense can be seen as aggression and a threat
-Ex: If the US creates nuclear weapons and missiles, the rest of the world may see this as a threat
-this can sometimes result in a bad reaction
Feminism
-theory of international relations – lots of feminist literature
-Ex: women’s suffrage (Domino Theory), equality
-feminists argue: a large sector of the world has been ignored – balance is important
-women are a valid part of our world view
-women need to be a bigger part of our decision processes
-need to be aware of women globally (there are women that are completed left out of their societies: mistreated, neglected, abused)
-It’s important to raise awareness and get involved (men and women)
-Don’t leave women out of the equation!
Game Theory
-application of numbers – you can figure out everything with equations
-you can figure out what countries will do
-variables can describe economics, leadership, crises, dates, military stuff
-also use scenarios
-it can be a helpful tool, more than just guesswork, more concrete
Globalization
-what is happening right now
-we live in a globalized world and live globally
-can work for an American company anywhere
-multi-national corporations = the real power, can influence governments
Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention
-McDonalds
-the more recognized symbols there are in the world à the more globalization
-Coca-cola
-WE ARE ONE HUGE NATION OF SUBURBANITES. WE WILL SHARE THIS IDENTITY. THIS WILL UNIFY US.
Idealism
-IDEAS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
-Ex: capitalism, marxism, free market, enlightenment
-changed governments, policies
-ideas can make the world a better place
-sharing ideas is important