Theories of International Relations
48 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does Morgenthau identify as the fundamental driving force behind human political behavior?

  • Animus dominandi, or lust for power (correct)
  • Desire for cooperation and peace
  • Pursuit of justice and equality
  • Need for social harmony

    • What is the ultimate political environment that Morgenthau sees as necessary for security?

  • The independent state (correct)
  • A well-defined utopian society
  • A unified world government
  • Global cooperation among nations

    • Which of the following principles of political realism posits that politics is governed by laws rooted in human nature?

  • Politics operates in a vacuum devoid of historical context
  • Politics is governed by objective laws stemming from human nature (correct)
  • Politics is an artificial construct of human society
  • Politics is solely a social agreement among states

    • How does Morgenthau describe the state of international relations according to classical realism?

    <p>An anarchical system inviting conflict</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term Morgenthau uses to describe the human pursuit of power?

    <p>Animus dominandi</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which philosophers significantly influenced Morgenthau's views on political realism?

    <p>Hobbes and Machiavelli</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Morgenthau suggest is necessary for a state to maintain its interests?

    <p>Effective organization and power deployment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Morgenthau, which characteristic best describes human nature in relation to politics?

    <p>Flawed and self-centered</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do realists primarily focus on in international relations?

    <p>Conflict and the use of force among state actors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is often associated with military security and strategic issues in realism?

    <p>High politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key concept for realists regarding the power of states?

    <p>Material capabilities relative to other states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do structural realists, or neorealists, view the distribution of power?

    <p>As crucial for understanding international security</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary effect of the First World War on international thought?

    <p>It caused a rise in Liberal thinking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes 'The Great Debates' in International Relations theory?

    <p>Contradictory theories that emerged within International Relations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to realism, what is the 'struggle for power' considered to be?

    <p>The core of international relations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the image of a unified, rational state represent in realism?

    <p>An assumption used to build theories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two theories are contrasted in the first of 'The Great Debates'?

    <p>Realism and Liberalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes 'radical' realists within the realist framework?

    <p>Their focus on power and self-interest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the initial emergence of the International Relations discipline in 1919?

    <p>A foundation built on contradictory theories and processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In realism, the terms 'high politics' and 'low politics' typically refer to what?

    <p>Military issues versus economic issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant challenge faced by the League of Nations in the 1930s?

    <p>A coherent policy development in response to aggression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event was NOT cited as an outcome during the 1930s?

    <p>The establishment of a strong coalition against dictators.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of international relations did international historians express skepticism towards?

    <p>Liberal Internationalism as an orthodoxy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which claim can be made regarding the consensus among scholars in the field of International Relations?

    <p>There was significant division among scholars regarding predominant theories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does classical realism primarily attribute conflictual behavior in international politics to?

    <p>Human failings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to classical realists, how is interest defined in the realm of international politics?

    <p>In terms of power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key belief of classical realists regarding the nature of politics?

    <p>Politics is an autonomous sphere of action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Morgenthau suggest about the struggle for power?

    <p>It is a universal element present in both domestic and international politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does classical realism view the success of alliances and balances of power?

    <p>They often fail to keep the peace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of human nature does classical realism emphasize in the context of international relations?

    <p>Self-interest as a basic fact</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do classical realists view the concept of interests in international politics?

    <p>Interests are dynamic and context-dependent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What historical perspective does classical realism share with ancient thinkers like Thucydides?

    <p>A tragic view of international relations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does hierarchy imply about the relationships among parts of a system?

    <p>Parts have differentiated roles of super- and subordination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an anarchic order, what must every unit do?

    <p>Ensure self-sufficiency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes differences between states in international politics?

    <p>They are based on capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the central conclusion of structural realism regarding state behavior in anarchy?

    <p>States balance their power against stronger parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do ‘bandwagoners’ try to achieve in hierarchical political orders?

    <p>Secure favorable treatment from the victor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Prisoners' Dilemma illustrate about anarchy and cooperation?

    <p>Egoism and anarchy significantly hinder cooperation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might weak states prefer balancing over bandwagoning?

    <p>To avoid increasing their risk of destruction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do great powers tend to manage their security in an anarchic environment?

    <p>By reallocating resources for military strength.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of neoclassical realism in international relations?

    <p>Combining elements from neorealism and classical realism while incorporating domestic factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theorist's concepts are primarily referenced in the 'balance of interests' theory within neoclassical realism?

    <p>Randall Schweller</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do neoclassical realists differentiate between states?

    <p>By their status as either status quo or revisionist states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of state motivation do neoclassical realists emphasize in contrast to classical realism?

    <p>Domestically derived preferences and varying state ambitions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one critique neoclassical realism addresses regarding neorealism?

    <p>It lacks a comprehensive view of state behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do neoclassical realists refer to as the 'domestic transmission belt'?

    <p>The connection between resource endowments and power dynamics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to neoclassical realism, states decide on their foreign policies based on which factors?

    <p>An analysis of power and interests involving fear and greed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What foundational assumption does neoclassical realism share with other forms of realism?

    <p>International relations is fundamentally an anarchical system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Theories of International Relations

    • IR scholars seek to understand why international events occur as they do.
    • Questions like "Why did a certain war break out?" and "Why are some countries richer than others?" are central to the study.

    Answering "Why" Questions

    • One approach involves tracing immediate, short-term sequences of events and decisions leading to a specific outcome.
    • A second approach seeks broader, more general explanations and longer-term causes.

    Understanding IR

    • Comprehensive understanding requires both descriptive and theoretical knowledge.
    • Describing events alone isn't enough; generalizing and drawing lessons from experiences is vital.
    • Theories must be applicable to the complex real world.

    Theoretical Disagreements

    • IR scholars don't agree on a single set of theories or concepts.
    • Traditional theories, while influential, are often challenged by critics, particularly those focusing on power politics ("realism").
    • Many disagreements exist within and between realist and non-realist theories about "why" questions.

    Prominent Theories

    • Liberalism and neo-institutional liberalism
    • Realism and neorealism
    • Radical perspectives (rooted in Marxism)
    • Constructivism

    Theorizing

    • Theorizing fits individual events and cases into larger patterns to make generalizations about global politics.
    • International Relations specialists often ask, "Of what is this an instance?"
    • Theory simplifies reality by focusing on factors deemed important by theorists.

    Theory

    • A set of hypotheses explaining the interaction between variables.
    • Used to describe, explain, or predict phenomena.
    • Can be used for engineering positive changes.

    Types of Theory

    • Empirical Theory: Deals with what is, based on observable facts (e.g., history books, documents).
    • Normative Theory: Deals with what ought to be, based on values, logic, and beliefs, frequently concerning morality.

    Theory Purposes

    • Prediction: Forecasting events based on general principles.
    • Explanation: Identifying causes of events.
    • Prescription: Recommending policies to achieve goals.

    Methodology

    • Methodology refers to the rules and procedures for evaluating and testing theories.
    • Quantitative measures (e.g., statistics, statistical inference) are often employed, as are qualitative measures (e.g., detailed case studies).

    Levels of Analysis

    • Analysis can focus on individual policy-makers, states, the system of states, or the entire global system.

    Levels of Analysis - Individual Level

    • Exploring how individual characteristics (cognitive, emotional, and psychological factors, gender, group perceptions, etc.) affect policy.
    • Analyzing the traits of individual leaders as an important factor in international relations.

    Levels of Analysis - State Level

    • Analyzing how the structure and operations of a government (type of government - e.g., democracy vs. authoritarianism; crisis vs. non-crisis contexts, etc.) influences decision/policy making.
    • Including the influence of bureaucracies, interest groups, and the public.

    Levels of Analysis - Systemic Level

    • Focusing on external conditions and pressures that shape a country's practices and policies.
    • Analysing the organization of authority in the international system—whether anarchical or hierarchical, unipolar, bipolar or multipolar.

    The Development of International Relations Theory in the 20th Century

    • The formal academic study of IR emerged after World War I (1914-18).
    • The devastation of the war motivated scholars to understand the causes and potentially preventing future conflicts.
    • Liberal internationalism became a key early theory emerging from this time period, advocating for democracy and international institutions.
    • The 1930s witnessed the initial theoretical orthodoxy, although challenges emerged.

    The Great Debates in IR

    • Realism and liberalism have been the two central contending theoretical traditions—the "big debate(s)."
    • Traditionalism/Behavioralism debate challenged the methodological basis of IR.

    Realism (1)

    • A theory emphasizing the importance of power and self-interest in international relations.
    • Realism assumes states are principal actors in an anarchic system.

    Classical Realism: Machiavelli's Influence

    • Survival of the state is paramount. State security is paramount, which justifies actions that might be considered immoral for other actors
    • Decisions and policy should look to the lessons of history.
    • A 'realist' view of international relations, meaning to describe the world as it is, not the world as it should be.

    Realism (2): Hobbes's Influence

    • In a state of nature, without overarching government, international politics is a 'struggle for power'.
    • In the absence of an overarching world government, states must fend for themselves.
    • A 'pessimistic' view on how states interact in the international arena.

    Realism (3): Carr and Morgenthau

    • Carr argued that political thought needs to be grounded on both realism and utopia (ethics and power).
    • Morgenthau detailed 6 principles of political realism: rooted in an unchanging human nature, driven by self-interest, concern for power, and realism recognizes the tension between moral principles and the pursuit of national interest.

    Realism (4): Neorealism (Waltz)

    • Kenneth Waltz's theory, a structural approach arguing that the distribution of power among states is most crucial in shaping international relations.
    • Anarchy and distribution of capabilities are the constants.
    • States balance rather than band together with powerful states

    Realism (5): Defensive and Offensive Structural Realism

    • Defensive structural realism: emphasizes security.
    • Offensive structural realism: emphasizes the importance of gaining power.
    • These models disagree about the appropriate level of state power acquisition.

    Realism (6): Rise and Fall Realism (Gilpin and Organski)

    • Power transition theory: instability arises when there's relative parity between potential hegemonic powers and challenging states.

    Neoclassical Realism

    • An attempt to integrate classical realism and neorealism.
    • Emphasizes the importance of domestic politics in shaping state behavior within the constraints of international politics.
    • Accounts for diverse state motivations, roles of domestic politics, and leadership.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Theories of International Relations PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the various theories that underpin international relations and seeks to answer critical questions about world events. Participants will engage with both descriptive knowledge and theoretical underpinnings essential for understanding why conflicts and disparities occur between nations. Through analyzing different approaches, the quiz highlights the complexity and disagreements among IR scholars.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser