Week 1 - Introduction to International Relations PDF

Introduction to International Relations Map: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/maps/world-regional/ **Volunteer Notetaker ** Source: Essentials textbook Sources: Essentials textbook; Penguin Random House Publishers, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com /books/302858/the-...

Introduction to International Relations Map: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/maps/world-regional/ **Volunteer Notetaker ** Source: Essentials textbook Sources: Essentials textbook; Penguin Random House Publishers, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com /books/302858/the-better-angels-of- our-nature-by-steven-pinker/ International Relations Who are the main actors in international relations? How do states interact with each other? How do states interact with non-state actors? What approaches to understanding these actors and their interactions offer the most explanatory leverage? What are the causes of war? What are the prerequisites for peace? What are the implications of globalization? Language of International Relations Realism Liberalism Constructivism Neorealism Approaches Neoliberalism Paradigms Feminism Worldviews Marxism English School World Systems Dependency Language of International Relations Realism States Liberalism Nations Constructivism International Neorealism organizations Neoliberalism Nongovernmental Actors organizations Feminism Multinational Levels of analysis Marxism corporations English School Non-state actors World Systems Bureaucracies Dependency Individuals Language of International Relations Realism States Institutions Liberalism Nations Norms Theories Constructivism International organizations Assumptions Neorealism Anarchy Neoliberalism Nongovernmental Zero-sum Key organizations Feminism Non-state actors Rationality terms Marxism Self-interest Bureaucracies Cooperation English School Elites Conflict World Systems Sovereignty Masses Dependency Hegemony  Focus: Interactions in International the interstate system Relations American Comparative Focus: Look within Politics Politics states; compare Political Science Public Political Administration Theory Policy International Relations Comparative Politics Global Political Economy Comparative Political Economy International trade, globalization, Economic and political monetary policy development Rising powers (e.g., BRICS) Protest, Unions, and Economics International Relations of the Middle Politics of the Middle East and North East Africa Politics of [Africa, China,…] International Security Political Violence, (Suicide) Terrorism Wars, warfare, insurgency Civil wars, insurgents, tactics of war International Organizations Political Parties  Key terms: frameworks, perspectives, approaches, interpretations Source: Essentials textbook  Paradigms in International Relations Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism Neorealism Neoliberal institutionalism Assumptions: Assumptions: Assumptions: - Anarchy - Anarchy - Ideas and interests - Self-interest - Self-interest change - Power (distribution of - Norms, agreements - “anarchy is what we power) - Mutual benefit make of it” - Winners and losers (positive-sum) - Socialization into (zero-sum) - Cooperation expectations - Conflict - Reality is constructed Anarchy in International Relations Lack of overarching authority Lack of hierarchy in interstate system Consider Hobbes vs. Rousseau vs. Kant (pp. 9-10): Hobbes’ “state of nature” with the “super-leviathan” Rousseau’s “common good” within smaller sovereign states Kant’s federations of states  Zero-sum vs. Positive-sum A gain by one state is matched by an A gain by one state may coincide with equal loss by other states. It is most gains by others. It is less important that important that states maximize their one state gains more than others, so power at the expense of others. Similarly, long as all states benefit something. if one state loses, others gain at their Cooperation may be mutually expense. beneficial. Constructivist approach and methods Discourse analysis “Thick description” with multiple data sources Study texts, interviews, archives Trace changes in ideas and how ideas may influence identities, cultures, societies, norms, institutions Approaches ≠ Methods Postmodernist approach and methods ‘Deconstruct’ meanings of key terms, identify changes in meanings and variations in usages Challenges understandings of terms that are central to other approaches Giving voices to less-heard actors Studying effects of weaker, marginalized actors Why does history matter in IR? Understanding outcomes requires understanding the precipitants (causes) or conditions under which these outcomes occurred. How do we know that what we observe is a ‘cause’ rather than a correlate, coincidence, or even an effect? There are similarities and differences across cases. Why does philosophy matter in IR? Foundations for comparative method Establishing norms – right vs. wrong; better vs. worse; universal or not Differing understandings of societies and individuals: How societies interact with societies How societies relate to individuals How individuals interact within a society What was the behavioral revolution? 1950s Focus on scientific approach Identifying patterns in behaviors Question: Do states behave in predictable ways? Behavioralism Patterns in human (and perhaps state) interactions Patterns > prediction (there’ve been issues with prediction) Patterns associated with generalizations Debate: More violent or more peaceful? Debate: Is the world becoming more violent or more peaceful? How would we know? How do we measure violence and peace? What varies? Approaches, data, timeframes? Example: Correlates of War Project Explain causes of war: Check this out: Correlates of War Define “war” Project – https://correlatesofwar.org/ Collect data on deaths and durations Collect data on other aspects of conflict (intensity, severity, magnitude) Measure intensity, severity, magnitude Generate hypotheses Collect more data relating to possible causes Cannot prove causes, but can find correlations and match these to theory, develop theory, and/or test theory Example: Explaining violations of human rights Possible explanations: No enforcement No intent Limited capacity Is there one answer or are there many (possibly competing) answers? Studying international relations Are there variations over time Are there variations across contexts Are there variations across types of war Are the measures capturing what the scholars want them to capture Is the data complete Do data and methods influence findings “Given the data-selection problem as well as other issues, there is disillusionment with behavioral approaches. Different data may lead to substantially different conclusions, just as described above” (Essentials, p. 13-14). Methods for studying international relations Qualitative (e.g., case studies) Quantitative (e.g., statistical analyses) Mixed methods (combining qualitative and quantitative methods) Formal modeling Other terms that are often conflated in speech… theory – approach – methods nation – state