lecture no. 4 - approaches to polsc & ir

8/8/2019 Lecture No. 4 - Approaches to PolSc & IR

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INTERNATIONAL STUDIES 102INTERNATIONAL STUDIES 102

Introduction to Political AnalysisIntroduction to Political Analysis

Approaches to the Study of Politics Approaches to the Study of Politicsand International Relationsand International Relations


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Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

At the end of the session, we should be able At the end of the session, we should be ableto:to:

discuss the key features, strengths anddiscuss the key features, strengths andweaknesses of selected approaches to theweaknesses of selected approaches to thestudy of politics;study of politics;explain the key assumptions of selectedexplain the key assumptions of selectedtheories in international relationstheories in international relationsapply selected theories in internationalapply selected theories in internationalrelations in the analysis of the Iraq warrelations in the analysis of the Iraq war


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OutlineOutline

I.I. Approaches to the Study of Politics Approaches to the Study of Politics A. Normative Theory A. Normative Theory

B. InstitutionalismB. InstitutionalismC. MarxismC. MarxismD. BehavioralismD. Behavioralism

E. Rational Choice TheoryE. Rational Choice TheoryF. FeminismF. FeminismG. Interpretive TheoryG. Interpretive Theory


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OutlineOutlineII.II. Selected Theories in InternationalSelected Theories in International

RelationsRelations A. Idealism A. Idealism

B. RealismB. RealismC.C. NeorealismNeorealismD.D. NeoliberalismNeoliberalismE. MarxismE. MarxismF. ConstructivismF. ConstructivismG. PostmodernismG. Postmodernism

III.III. ConclusionConclusion


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there is a need to recognize justthere is a need to recognize justhow considerable is the variety of how considerable is the variety of political science at the beginning of political science at the beginning of the century. There are manythe century. There are manydistinct approaches and ways of distinct approaches and ways of undertaking political science.undertaking political science.

David March and GerryDavid March and Gerry

Stoker Stoker Theory and Methods in Political Science(2002)


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DefinitionsDefinitions

Concept Concept general idea used as a tool to criticize, argue,general idea used as a tool to criticize, argue,explain and analyzeexplain and analyzeModelModel theoretical representation of empirical data that theoretical representation of empirical data that aims to advance understanding by highlightingaims to advance understanding by highlighting

significant relationships and interactions (explanatorysignificant relationships and interactions (explanatorydevice)device) Approach Approach orientation that one adopts when addressingorientation that one adopts when addressinga subject a subject TheoryTheory systematic explanation of empirical data,systematic explanation of empirical data,

usually presented as reliable knowledgeusually presented as reliable knowledgeParadigm/Ideological TraditionsParadigm/Ideological Traditions related set of related set of principles, doctrine and theories that help structure theprinciples, doctrine and theories that help structure theprocess of intellectual inquiryprocess of intellectual inquiry


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Approaches to theApproaches to theStudy of PoliticsStudy of Politics

(Marsh and Stoker 1995/2002)(Marsh and Stoker 1995/2002)

1 .1 . Normative Theory (PhilosophicalNormative Theory (PhilosophicalTradition)Tradition)

Concerned with the discovery and applicationConcerned with the discovery and applicationof moral notions (i.e. justice and liberty) in theof moral notions (i.e. justice and liberty) in thesphere of political relations and practicesphere of political relations and practicePreoccupied with essentially prescriptive orPreoccupied with essentially prescriptive ornormative questionsnormative questions


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ApproachesApproaches

Sample Work: Plato sSample Work: Plato sThe RepublicThe Republic (4(4 ththCentury BC)Century BC)


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Strengths:Strengths:-- critically evaluates political beliefscritically evaluates political beliefs

-- provides a guide to actionprovides a guide to actionWeaknesses:Weaknesses:-- Logical positivismLogical positivism only propositions whichonly propositions whichrefer to external objects can be truerefer to external objects can be true

-- Moral relativismMoral relativism morals are purely relativemorals are purely relative no value position can be described as betterno value position can be described as betterthan anotherthan another-- DeterminismDeterminism morality and the absence of morality and the absence of

choicechoice


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2 ) Institutionalism (Descriptive or2 ) Institutionalism (Descriptive orEmpirical Tradition)Empirical Tradition)

Deals with the rules, procedures andDeals with the rules, procedures andformal organizations of the political systemformal organizations of the political systemand their impact on political practiceand their impact on political practice

Attempts to make sense of political Attempts to make sense of politicalrealities by studying the causes andrealities by studying the causes andconsequences of political institutionsconsequences of political institutions


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Sample Work:Sample Work:Woodrow Wilson sWoodrow Wilson sCongressionalCongressionalGovernment: A Stu dyGovernmen t : A Stu dyin American Poli t icsin American Poli t ics(1956)(1956)


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Strengths:Strengths:-- recognizes the institutional context of politicalrecognizes the institutional context of political

conduct conduct -- sensitivity to historysensitivity to historyWeaknesses:Weaknesses:-- descriptive nature of product and underlyingdescriptive nature of product and underlying

prescriptive perspectiveprescriptive perspective-- weakness of method (stateweakness of method (state- -centric)centric)-- hyperfactualismhyperfactualism and disregard for theoryand disregard for theory


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ApproachesApproachesW hat s new with Institutionalism? W hat s new with Institutionalism? 1. from a focus on organizations to a focus on1. from a focus on organizations to a focus onrulesrules

2. from a formal to an informal conception of 2. from a formal to an informal conception of institutionsinstitutions3. from a static to a dynamic conception of 3. from a static to a dynamic conception of institutionsinstitutions4. submerged values to a value4. submerged values to a value- -critical stancecritical stance5. from a holistic to a disaggregated conception5. from a holistic to a disaggregated conceptionof institutionsof institutions

6. from independence to6. from independence to embeddednessembeddedness


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3 ) Marxism3 ) Marxismassociated withassociated with economismeconomism, determinism,, determinism,materialism and structuralismmaterialism and structuralism

-- EconomismEconomism privileges economic relationsprivileges economic relations-- DeterminismDeterminism economic relations determineeconomic relations determinesocial and political relationssocial and political relations-- MaterialismMaterialism material relations shape ideasmaterial relations shape ideas-- StructuralismStructuralism structures determine the actionstructures determine the actionof agentsof agents


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A pproaches A pproachesSample Work: VladimirSample Work: VladimirLenin sLenin s The St a t e andThe St a t e andRevolut ionRevolut ion (1917)(1917)


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Strengths:Strengths:-- scientific in the sense that it has identified ascientific in the sense that it has identified atheory of history that holds across time andtheory of history that holds across time and

spacespace-- emancipatoryemancipatory as it has a vision of progressas it has a vision of progressthat will result in an end to exploitationthat will result in an end to exploitationWeaknesses:Weaknesses:-- downplays the importance of ideology and thedownplays the importance of ideology and thesignificance of agentssignificance of agents-- ignores the relevance of other social cleavagesignores the relevance of other social cleavages


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4 .4 . BehavioralismBehavioralism (Scientific Tradition)(Scientific Tradition)concentrates on explaining politicalconcentrates on explaining political

behavior at the individual and aggregatebehavior at the individual and aggregatelevellevelinsists that (a) observable behaviorinsists that (a) observable behaviorshould be the focus of analysis; and (b)should be the focus of analysis; and (b)any explanation of behavior should beany explanation of behavior should besusceptible to empirical testingsusceptible to empirical testing


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A pproaches A pproaches

Sample Work:Sample Work:Graham Allison sGraham Allison sEssence of Decision:Essence of Decision:Explaining the CubanExplaining the CubanMissile CrisisMissile Crisis


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ApproachesApproachesStrengths:Strengths:-- gave the study of politics a reliable scientificgave the study of politics a reliable scientificcredentialcredential objective, reliable and valueobjective, reliable and value- -freefreeanalysisanalysis-- produces invaluable insights in fields such asproduces invaluable insights in fields such asvoting behaviorvoting behaviorWeaknesses:Weaknesses:-- facts do not speak for themselves but only makefacts do not speak for themselves but only makesense in the context of the framework of sense in the context of the framework of investigationinvestigation-- tendency to emphasize what can easily betendency to emphasize what can easily bemeasured rather than what might be theoreticallymeasured rather than what might be theoreticallysignificant significant


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5 .5 . Rational Choice TheoryRational Choice Theorylooks into the social and political choiceslooks into the social and political choices

made by rational, self made by rational, self- -interestedinterestedindividualsindividualsdraws heavily upon the example of draws heavily upon the example of economic theory in building up modelseconomic theory in building up modelsbased upon procedural rulesbased upon procedural rules


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Sample Work:Sample Work: Anthony Downs Anthony Downs Economic Theory of Economic Theory of DemocracyDemocracy (1957)(1957)


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Strengths:Strengths:-- introduces greater rigor into the discussion of introduces greater rigor into the discussion of political phenomenapolitical phenomena

Weaknesses:Weaknesses:-- overestimates human rationalityoverestimates human rationality-- unable to take into account the psychologicalunable to take into account the psychologicalcomplexity and frequent irrationality of humancomplexity and frequent irrationality of humanbeingsbeings-- pays insufficient attention to social andpays insufficient attention to social andhistorical factorshistorical factors


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6 . Feminism6 . Feminismpicks out and problematizes thepicks out and problematizes the

fundamentally political relationshipfundamentally political relationshipbetween gender and powerbetween gender and poweraims to enhance women s status andaims to enhance women s status andpowerpower


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Sample Work: JoanSample Work: JoanTronto sTronto s MoralMoralBou ndaries: TheBou ndaries: ThePolitical Arg u ment forPolitical Arg u ment foran Ethic of Carean Ethic of Care(1993)(1993)


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Strengths:Strengths:-- raises fundamental questions about raises fundamental questions about

political sciencepolitical scienceWeaknesses:Weaknesses:-- lack of a coherent approach to politicslack of a coherent approach to politics

-- fails to bring about significant change infails to bring about significant change inmainstream political sciencemainstream political science


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77. Interpretive Theory. Interpretive Theoryfocus on the meanings that shape actionsfocus on the meanings that shape actions

and institutions and the ways in whichand institutions and the ways in whichthey do sothey do sostudies beliefs, ideas or discoursesstudies beliefs, ideas or discoursesthrough narrativesthrough narratives


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Sample Work: MichelSample Work: MichelFoucault Foucault

Governmentality Governmentality

(1991)(1991)


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Strengths:Strengths:-- can uncover antagonism and strugglescan uncover antagonism and struggles

for hegemony that conventional theoryfor hegemony that conventional theoryignoresignoresWeaknesses:Weaknesses:

-- operates on a high level of generalityoperates on a high level of generalityand abstractionand abstraction-- provide no basis for criticizing human lifeprovide no basis for criticizing human life


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No single approach can capture allNo single approach can capture all

the complexity of contemporarythe complexity of contemporaryworld politics. Therefore, we areworld politics. Therefore, we arebetter off with a diverse array of better off with a diverse array of competing ideas rather than acompeting ideas rather than a

single theoretical orthodoxy.single theoretical orthodoxy.

Stephen M. WaltInternational Relations: OneWorld, Many Theories(1998)


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DefinitionsDefinitions

International RelationsInternational Relations as a field of Politicalas a field of PoliticalScience, it studies the foreign policies of Science, it studies the foreign policies of countries, international organizations, andcountries, international organizations, andinternational law in order to learn more about international law in order to learn more about the interactions among states (Jackson &the interactions among states (Jackson &Jackson, 1997)Jackson, 1997)Global (or World) PoliticsGlobal (or World) Politics a more inclusivea more inclusive

term since it denotes the fact that the interest isterm since it denotes the fact that the interest isin the politics and political patterns in the world,in the politics and political patterns in the world,and not only those between nationand not only those between nation- -states ( Smithstates ( Smith& Baylis, 2005)& Baylis, 2005)


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Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches(Hay, 2002)(Hay, 2002)

IdealismIdealismK ey Ass umptions K ey Assumptions

St a t es are g o ver n ed by mo ral val u es an dSt a t es are g o ver n ed by mo ral val u es an dno rms no rms Peace c ou ld be s ec u red w it h t he crea tion Peace c ou ld be s ec u red w it h t he crea tion o f int er n a tion al institutions t ha t reg u lat eo f int er n a tion al institutions t ha t reg u lat eint er n a tion al a n archyint er n a tion al a n archySt a t es are w i llin g to coop era t e in aSt a t es are w i llin g to coop era t e in aco llecti ve re spons e to aggre ssion co llecti ve re spons e to aggre ssion


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Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical ApproachesR ealismR ealism

K ey Assumptions K ey Assumptions International relations has objective laws which can be rooted in

human nature (classical realism)A narchic international system determines state behavior (neo-realism)Pursuit of power is ubiquitous and unavoidable

Three Ss of Realism1. Statism - States are sovereign, rational and unified actors2. Survival - Principal national interest is that of survival/security3. Self-help - Survival or security can only be realized throughself-help


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Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches

NeorealismNeorealismK ey Assumptions K ey Assumptions

States are sovereign, unitary, rational actors,States are sovereign, unitary, rational actors,motivated solely by national interest motivated solely by national interest

Anarchic international system determines state Anarchic international system determines state

behaviorbehaviorStates see all other states as potential enemiesStates see all other states as potential enemiesand threats to their national securityand threats to their national securityState seek relative rather than absolute gainsState seek relative rather than absolute gains


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NeoliberalismNeoliberalismK ey Assumptions K ey Assumptions

States are key actors in international relations, but not States are key actors in international relations, but not the only significant actorsthe only significant actorsPower in the international system is diffuse and fluidPower in the international system is diffuse and fluidStates are rational or instrumental actors seeking toStates are rational or instrumental actors seeking tomaximize interests in all issue areasmaximize interests in all issue areasStates seek absolute rather than relative gainsStates seek absolute rather than relative gainsThe greatest obstacle to successful cooperation is nonThe greatest obstacle to successful cooperation is non- -compliance or cheating by statescompliance or cheating by statesStates create international institutions to mitigateStates create international institutions to mitigate

anarchyanarchy


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MarxismMarxismK ey Assumptions K ey Assumptions

World politics takes place within a world capitalisteconomyIn this world economy, the most important actors are notstates but classes

The behavior of all actors in the international system isexplicable by class forcesStates, multinational corporations, and even internationalorganizations represent the dominant class interest inthe world economic system


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ConstructivismConstructivismK ey Assumptions K ey Assumptions

International anarchy is what states make of itIdeas, norms and culture play an independent role inshaping perceptions of the material worldThe social and political world is a product of social

construction (inter-subjective agreement)There is no objective social or political realityindependent of understanding of itIdeational factors should be accorded as significant as

material factors


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PostmodernismPostmodernismK ey Assumptions K ey Assumptions

A ll power requires knowledge and all knowledge relieson and reinforces existing power relationsThere is no neutral vantage-pointA ll knowledge is partial, partisan and power-servingThere are no facts about the social and political world,only interpretationsThe social and political world is characterized bydifference, diversity and otherness


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C ase Study:

Iraq War Of 2003(Baylis & Smith, 2001)Realist Interpretations

Liberal InterpretationsMarxist InterpretationsConstructivist Interpretations

Postmodern Interpretations


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Basic Facts About The

Iraq War Of 2003Part of the US-led war on terror

A fter the military assault on A fghanistan, USPresident George W. Bush identified Iraq,together with Iran and North Korea, as part of anaxis of evil

Iraq allegedly possessed Weapons of MassDestruction (WMD) that pose a threat to USsecurity and that of their coalition/regional allies


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Basic Facts

Citing Iraqs refusal to comply with UN SecurityCouncil Resolution 1441 calling for UNverification of Iraqs possesion of WMD andmissiles, the US-led coalition of the willinglaunched an invasion of the countryThe invasion did not have the support of the UN

Security CouncilA fter less than two months, the invasion wascompleted and the occupation periodcommenced


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Realist Interpretations

Continuing A merican hegemonyThe Iraq War as not in line with the USnational interest


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Liberal Interpretations

Iraq invasion as humanitarian interventionA free Iraq as important for the spread of

democracy in the Middle EastUnited States as benign liberal empire


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Marxist Interpretations

Political-economic motives for the war Humanitarian reasons for invading Iraq as

hypocriticalSuffering of the Iraqi civilians


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C onstructivist Interpretations

Importance of law and international institutionsSocial construction of threatIdentity politics of the war


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Postmodern Interpretation

Truth of the threat posed by SaddamHussein


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C onclusionC onclusion

Theories are important tools in analyzingthe complex world of international relationsThe diversity of theoretical approaches inthe study of politics and internationalrelations reflects the level of debateamong scholars and practitioners which, inturn, contributes to the dynamism of thedisciplines of political science andinternational relations


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lecture no. 4 - approaches to polsc & ir

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