Lecture 2 The International System March 31, 2010

Systems an aggregation of units that interact an aggregation of units that interactComponents the units (states) the units (states) relative power relative power nature of interactions nature of interactions

Units States: political units that maintain a monopoly of violence within their borders and make rules governing their populations States: political units that maintain a monopoly of violence within their borders and make rules governing their populations Historically: empires, city-states, duchies, principalities Historically: empires, city-states, duchies, principalities

Sources of National Power Power: “A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something B would not otherwise do.” –Robert Dahl Military: size, technology, organization Military: size, technology, organization Economic: GDP/capita, population Economic: GDP/capita, population “Soft” power (legitimacy) “Soft” power (legitimacy) Foreign policy Foreign policy Providing public goods/aid Providing public goods/aid Diplomacy/persuasion Diplomacy/persuasion Ideology Ideology Culture /media image Culture /media image Shared values/culture Shared values/culture

Increases in power Economic development and growth Economic development and growth Technology Technology Expansion of territory and acquisition of new resources Expansion of territory and acquisition of new resources Unification/nationalism Unification/nationalism

Declines in power Slow economy Slow economy Internal problems Internal problems Overextension of empires Overextension of empires Not enough investment Not enough investmentImplications Institutions frozen in time, but not power Institutions frozen in time, but not power Since 1970s: dispersion of power Since 1970s: dispersion of power

Interaction I: Institutions Set of principles, rules and procedures Set of principles, rules and procedures Facilitate cooperation Facilitate cooperation In principle, make everyone better off In principle, make everyone better off Formal and informal Formal and informal

Interaction II: Norms Consensus about appropriate behavior Consensus about appropriate behavior Automatic and internalized Automatic and internalized Punished by disapproval Punished by disapproval International norms Can come into conflict with each other Can come into conflict with each other Norm of sovereignty in question Norm of sovereignty in question

Interaction III: Ideology Idea about how a political system should be Idea about how a political system should be In 20 th century, major competition over ideologies In 20 th century, major competition over ideologies Today, smaller ideological disagreements Today, smaller ideological disagreements Identity politics replacing ideology? Identity politics replacing ideology?

Interaction Before 1914 Politics: Balance of power, British supremacy, imperialism Politics: Balance of power, British supremacy, imperialism Economy: free trade, globalization, gold standard Economy: free trade, globalization, gold standard + nationalism