Introduction to Political Science - Lecture 6 - 2024

Introduction to Political Science # Lecture 6: Security, International Relations and World Order 9 October 2024 1 Friday 11:30 Multiple-choice test 3 12:00 Response lecture (Q&...

Introduction to Political Science # Lecture 6: Security, International Relations and World Order 9 October 2024 1 Friday 11:30 Multiple-choice test 3 12:00 Response lecture (Q&A), online (Zoom)! Ask questions in advance via Canvas (no later than Thursday) Regarding exam: An example of a possible exam question is now available on Canvas Question usually contains: definition & comparison of concepts + example or critique During the exam, three questions will be asked, two of which must be answered (max. 250 words per question) Exam lasts 60 minutes 2 Last week Political consequences of social divisions and changes Relationship between media and politics Roundtable discussion on media and politics 3 Overview of disciplines in Political Science Political theory Comparative politics (International) Political economy International Relations Public Policy & Administration 4 Today National security Security and international relations Towards a new world order? Global governance 5 Topic both far Note: some of the topics of today’s away and lecture might cause distress very close by 6 WOOCLAP 7 8 Security & the State Security (being free from harm or threat) is a basic human need Internal: state maintains order within its borders (using police, judicial system, sometimes the military) 9  Sovereignty: absolute and unrestricted authority within defined territorial Internal borders Public institutions: responsible for features making and enforcing collective decisions of the Legitimacy: decisions of the state are accepted because they are supposed to reflect the common good state (p. Instrument of domination: monopoly on legitimate violence 58-59) Territorial association: jurisdiction is limited to specific territory and all citizens living within it 10 Security & the State Safety is a basic human need Internal: state maintains order within its borders (with the help of police, judicial system, sometimes the military) External: state provides protection against external threats (military) Tension between state sovereignty and international security 11  Sovereignty: absolute and unrestricted authority within defined territorial Internal borders Public institutions: responsible for features making and enforcing collective decisions of the Legitimacy: decisions of the state are accepted because they are supposed to reflect the common good state (p. Instrument of domination: monopoly on legitimate violence 58-59) Territorial association: jurisdiction is limited to specific territory and all citizens living within it 12 Tension between state sovereignty and international security This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history 13 Security & the State Safety is a basic human need Internal: state maintains order within its borders (with the help of police, judicial system, sometimes the military) External: State provides protection against external threats (military) Tension between state sovereignty and international security At the same time: no/less hard boundaries between internal and external security 14 15 Internal security: Police Civil policing as an alternative to military intervention Aims to fight crime and maintain law and order Routine and everyday Unarmed or armed for self-defense (but: militarization) 16  https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/05/01/france-slam med-at-un-over-racism-police-violence_6025018_7.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_officer#/media/Fi le:Very_friendly_MPS_officers_in_London.jpg 17 Perspectives on the role of the police How neutral or political are the police? Liberal perspective: police as a neutral body to protect citizens Conservative perspective: Police as enforcers of government authority, essential to quell unrest Radical perspective: police as an instrument of oppression (e.g. through institutional racism) 18 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defund_the_poli ce#/media/File:Defund_the_police.jpg 19 https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/05/01/f rance-slammed-at-un-over-racism-police-violence_60 25018_7.html 20 Kijktip: De blauwe familie & racisme binnen de Nederlandse politie https://www.2doc.nl/document aires/2022/05/de-blauwe-famili e.html 21 Police state Police operate outside the legal/rule of law framework and outside democratic control Fundamental civil rights are not guaranteed Climate of fear and intimidation Police as a private army under the control of the ruling elite 22 The army Instrument of war, virtual monopoly on legitimate use of weapons Tightly organized and disciplined Serves national security in the public interest https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/ove rdefensie/het-verhaal-van-defensie/wat-d 23 oet-defensie The military and internal security Emergency aid 24 The military and internal security Emergency aid Maintaining law and order in the event of major internal unrest Support for dictatorial regimes Military regime 25 International Security & International Relations 26 Realism in International Relations (IB) "Realist" perspective on international relations -> power realism Each state is power-oriented and rationally pursues national self-interest Its main purpose is to maintain national security International conflicts can only be contained by a balance of power 27 Explanations for Russia's invasion of Ukraine Realism: pre-emptive strike because of concerns about its own security following a rapprochement between Ukraine and NATO/EU 28 Liberalism in IR "Idealistic" approach Optimistic view of human rationality and moral goodness (-> most people don't want war) Acting in self-interest results in a balance Importance of national political situation (democratic peace thesis) Liberal Institutionalism: an international regime to impose order (United Nations) 29 Explanations for Russia's invasion of Ukraine Realism: pre-emptive strike due to concerns for own safety Liberalism: consequence of authoritarian regime in Russia and weakness of international institutions 30 Critical Approaches in IR Constructivism: Interactions between states are not shaped by rational self-interests, but by beliefs, values, and assumptions Wendt (1992): "Anarchy is what states make of it" 31 Explanations for Russia's invasion of Ukraine Realism: pre-emptive strike due to concerns for one's own safety Liberalism: Consequence of growing Russian authoritarianism and weakness of international institutions Constructivism: motivated by national identity and historical narratives about the great Russian empire to which Ukraine would also belongs 32 Kritische benaderingen in IB Constructivism: Interactions between states are shaped by beliefs, values, and assumptions Wendt (1992): "Anarchy is what states make of it“ Feminist Approaches in IB: Mainstream IR implicitly normalizes masculine emphasis on rivalry, competition and conflict Militarism and the security paradox: A focus on building military capacity will encourage other states to do the same Women’s participation in foreign policy is associated with less aggression and more durable peace agreements 33 https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/arti cle/3170500/how-putins-toxic-masculinity-ha s-driven-his-violent-policies 34 Current/new security risks 35 'New' wars? ‘”New” wars tend to be civil wars’ (Heywood 2019: 428) -> False for two major current armed conflicts Power asymmetry Use of guerrilla tactics 36 37 'New' wars? ‘”New” wars tend to be civil wars’ (Heywood 2019: 428) -> False for two major current armed conflicts Power asymmetry Use of guerrilla tactics Reaction / consequence: War amongst the people 38 39 'New' wars? ‘”New” wars tend to be civil wars’ (Heywood 2019: 428) -> False for two major current armed conflicts Power asymmetry Use of guerrilla tactics Reaction / consequence: War among the people Cyber war 40 41 Transnational terrorism Used in anti-colonial and/or by ethnic minority nationalism (IRA, ETA, FARC), Islamic extremists (IS) Transnational terrorism leverages global movements of people, goods, money, technology, and ideas State responses: Extension of the legal powers of governments: surveillance, border control 42 43 44 Transnational terrorism Used in anti-colonial and/or by ethnic minority nationalism (IRA, ETA, Hamas, FARC), and by Islamic extremists (IS) Leverages global movements of people, goods, money, technology, and ideas State responses: Extension of the legal powers of governments: surveillance, border control Military responses: "war on terror" > but often counterproductive 45 46 Transnational terrorism Used in anti-colonial and/or by ethnic minority nationalism (IRA, ETA, Hamas), and by Islamic extremists (IS) Leverages global movements of people, goods, money, technology, and ideas State responses: Extension of the legal powers of governments: surveillance, border control Military responses: "war on terror" > but often counterproductive Political negotiations and agreements - > often the only lasting solution 47 48 Questions? 49 World order and global governance https://www.laprogressive.com/war-and-peace/mutually-assured-d 50 estruction World order and global power World order = distribution of power between and between states and other key actors, creating a relatively stable pattern of relationships and behavior Types of power: Military power (size and effectiveness of the armed forces; access to advanced weapons) Economic power (size of the economy that leverages trading partners) Structural power (the ability to decide how things are done, for example in international organisations) Soft power (the ability to influence the preferences of others) 51 Cold War: Bipolar World Order US/NATO vs. Soviet Union/Warsaw Pact Both had great economic and, above all, military power Balance of terror; "Mutually Assured Distruction” MAD 52 53 Distribution of nuclear weapons https://fas.org/initiative/status-world-nuclear-forces 54 / Cold War: Bipolar World Order U.S./NATO vs. Soviet Union/Warsaw Pact Both have great economic and, above all, military power Balance of terror; "Mutually Assured Distruction” Proxy-wars (Korea, Vietnam) 55 After 1991: A unipolar world? U.S. leadership "to protect the international legal order" or to legitimize U.S. hyperpower? 56 US “War on terror” After 9/11 War in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) Led to more terror ("arc of extremism") Undermining America's "soft power" https://www.georgewbushlibrary. 57 gov/research/topic-guides/global- https://www.dw.com/en/are-western-double-standa 58 rds-undermining-the-global-order/a-70289453 Towards a multipolar world order? The decline of the U.S.: Dominance of military/destructive force remains But combined with political weakness Relative economic decline The Rise of China: Rapid economic growth Growing soft power Emergence of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) 59 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/07/bi 60 den-to-visit-angola-as-global-powers-vie-for-african Towards a multipolar world order? The decline of the U.S.: Dominance of military/destructive force remains But combined with political weakness Relative economic decline The Rise of China: Rapid economic growth Growing soft power Emergence of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Current status quo: unstable multipolar world order 61 Global governance 62 Global governance Process of interactive decision-making that enables sovereign states to engage in sustainable cooperation and (sometimes) collective action "Intergovernmental“ Polycentric Emergence of international organizations (from 123 in 1949 to 378 in the mid- 1980s). Because: Liberals: cooperation yields absolute gains Realists: cooperation only realized because of U.S. interests Critical Approaches: Just Structures That Support Hegemonic Power of Neoliberalism 63 Wooclap Which intergovernmental organisations do you know? 64 Global economic governance Massive global economic interdependence Bretton Woods system (1944) International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank GATT - > WTO Followed by: Washington Consensus > Free Market for Everything Organizations have considerable economic and structural power (especially in economically vulnerable countries) 65 United Nations Founded in 1945 193 Member States (which States are not members?) Objectives: Ensuring peace and security Protecting human rights Promoting international cooperation on a wide range of themes https://www.un.or g/en/about-us 66 General Assembly All 193 Member States have one vote Decisions based on simple or two-thirds majority (but usually without voting, based on consensus) Resolutions are not binding on Member States 67 Security Council 5 permanent members (United States, Russia, Great Britain, France, China) 10 rotating members Majority is constituted by 9 out of 15 votes, but permanent members have veto power Resolutions are binding on member states 68 Secretariat Secretaris Generaal: Antonio Guterres Preparation and implementation of decisions of the General Assembly and Security Council 69  Judiciary International Court of Justice International Criminal Court Decides on interstate Tries individuals suspected disputes of war crimes and crimes Decisions are binding (in against humanity theory) 70 71 COP28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBxJ7lzplr8&t=138s 72 COP29 73 How effective/relevant is the UN? What do you think? What is the added value of the UN? 74 How effective/relevant is the UN? Mechanism for peaceful conflict resolution Unique forum for contact and exchange (see climate negotiations) Even when it lacks economic, military and structural power, it has soft power: agenda-setting with regard to climate change, gender inequality, etc. 75 What about the European Union? Has significantly more economic and structural power Much more about that in block 2! 76 Friday 11:30 Multiple-choice test 3 12:00 Response lecture (Q&A), online (Zoom)! Ask questions in advance via Canvas (no later than Thursday) 77 Next week: exam Be on time! (20 minutes in advance) Bring student card + ID! 78 Thank you! 79