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CHAPTER 1
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International Relations Defined
Study of the interactions among various actors that
participate in international politics
States
International organizations
Nongovernmental organizations
Subnational entities
Individuals
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Studying International Relations
How does international relations affect you every day?
What questions does the study of internationalrelations seek to answer?
What tools and methods do we use to study
international relations?
What theoretical approaches do we use to study
international relations?
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Foundational Questions of
International Relations
How can human nature be characterized?
What is the relationship between the individual andsociety?
What is the relationship between societies?
What are the characteristics and role of the state?
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Foundational Questions of
International Relations
How is the international system organized?
How might international society be structured to obtainand maintain peace?
How do individuals, states, and various internationalorganizations impact international relations?
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Answering the
Foundational Questions
Using history to examine patterns of past behavior
Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
Using philosophy to analyze ideas
Plato, The Republic
Using international relations theory to discoverpatterns and causes of individual, group, and state
behavior and events in international relations
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History and the Study of
International Relations
Knowing past history is fundamental for explainingpatterns in, and background to, existing conflicts and
current events in international relations
BUT history may be a poor guide for predictingcontemporary policy choices
History lessons are not clear-cut or simpleExample: Compare Vietnam and Iraq War
lessons
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Contributions of the Philosophers
Plato: society should submit to philosopher kings
Aristotle: use comparative method to discern theideal political order
Hobbes: society can escape from state of nature in
unitary state with centralized power
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Contributions of the Philosophers
Rousseau: small communities in which the general
will can be obtained lead to fulfillment of
an individuals self-interests
Kant: advocated federation of sovereign republics
bound by rule of law
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Functions of
International Relations Theory
To describe what is happening
To explain why events are occurring, who keyactors are, and which choices have been made
To explain what choices should be made
To predict what will happen in the future
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Contending Theories:
The Basics
Liberalism/neoliberal institutionalism
States generally cooperate and follow mutuallyagreed-upon international norms
Human nature is basically good
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Contending Theories:
The Basics
Realism
States exist in anarchic international system
State bases policy on own national interest defined
in terms of power
International system determined by distribution ofpower among states
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Contending Theories:
The Basics
Radical Theory
State is agent of international capitalism
International system is stratified between haves
and have-nots
Haves dominate international relations
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Contending Theories:
The Basics
Constructivism
Key structures in state and international systemsare intersubjective and social
Interests of states and other actors are malleable
and ever-changing
Explores how ideas shape identities and analyzes
the impacts of culture, norms, procedures, and
social practices
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Methods: Behavioralism vs.
Postmodernism
Behavioralism
Assumes individuals and societies act in patternedways
Uses scientific method to describe and explain the
patterns
Utilizes empirical methods such as data collection
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Methods: Behavioralism vs.
Postmodernism
Postmodernism
Seeks to deconstruct basic concepts tounderstand and clarify hidden meanings
Looks for voices of the marginalized and
disenfranchised (ex: women)
Uses thick description from multiple sets of data
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Why Does War Happen?
Correlates of War projectuses history andbehavioral approaches
Codes historical data on wars, 18161965:
Deaths, magnitude, severity, intensity
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Why Does War Happen?
Develops hypotheses for outbreak by examiningcorrelations:
Relationship between number of wars and severity
Relationship between presence of alliances andwar
Purpose: If we can explain correlates of war, then wecan begin to explain why and when it breaks out, thusenabling future predictions and avoidance of war
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