1. ESSENTIALS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. Chapter 3
Contending Perspectives: How to Think about International Relations Theoretically

3. What Is Theory? Making Sense of International Relations
Theory is a set of propositions and concepts which explains phenomena by specifying relationships among the concepts.
Theory generates hypotheses
Specific statements positing a relationship among variables
By testing interrelated hypotheses theory is verified and refined and new relationships found

5. The Individual Level of Analysis
Personality
Perceptions
Choices
Activities of decision makers

6. The State Level of Analysis
Characteristics of the state
Type of government
Type of economic system
Interest groups

7. The International Level of Analysis
General characteristics of the interactions among states and international organizations
Includes the distribution of power among these actors

9. Explanations for the United States’ Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Level of Analysis
Individual Level
Saddam was evil leader who committed atrocities
Saddam was irrational, otherwise he would have capitulated to superior capability of the U.S. and British coalition
G.W. Bush and his advisers have targeted Saddam since the late 1990s

10. Explanations for the United States’ Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Level of Analysis (cont.)
State Level
U.S. must protect its national security; Iraq’s weapons threaten U.S. security
Ousting Taliban from Afghanistan was first step in war on terrorism; Iraq is the second
U.S. must be assured of stable oil supply; Iraq has second largest oil reserves
U.S. must not permit terrorist states access to weapons
U.S. national interest to build progressive Arab regime

11. Explanations for the United States’ Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Level of Analysis (cont.)
International Level
UN resolutions condemning Iraq had to be enforced to maintain UN legitimacy
Unipolar international system is uniquely capable of responding to threats to stability
There is international moral imperative for humanitarian intervention to oust evil leaders and install democratic regimes

12. Development of the Liberal Tradition
18th century Enlightenment
individuals are rational
people have capacity to improve their condition
Kant — anarchy is overcome through collective action
19th century liberalism
individual freedom and autonomy in democratic state
free trade and commerce create interdependencies reducing likelihood of war
20th century idealism
Wilson — war is preventable

13. Neoliberal Institutionalism
Who do states choose to cooperate with?
Prisoner’s dilemma — cooperation because in self interest
Institutions may be established for cooperative purposes

14. Neoliberal Institutionalism
Liberalism /
Neoliberal Institutionalism

15. Realism: Basic Assumptions
Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War
State is principal actor
State is unitary actor
Decision makers are rational actors
States need to protect themselves from foreign and domestic enemies

16. Contributions Of Other Realist Theorists
St. Augustine — man is egoistic and selfish
Machiavelli — promote use of alliances and defensive strategies to promote the state
Hobbes — states exist in an anarchic international system

17. Contemporary Realism
Morgenthau, authored Politics Among Nations (the realist Bible)
— conflict is best managed through balance of power.
Kennan — author of U.S. containment policy to prevent the spread of communism.
Kissinger — practiced balance of power politics.

18. Not All Realists Agree On Policy
Offensive realists—cannot be certain of enemy’s intentions, so improve own power position.
Defensive realists—defensive postures (military, diplomatic, economic) do not directly threaten other states.

19. Neorealism Waltz, Theory of International Politics
Structure of the international system determines state behavior
System lacks an overarching authority
Importance of distribution of capabilities of states
Balance of power among states is determined by structure of the system
International cooperation is unlikely because of possibility of cheating

20. Many Realisms No single tradition of realism
Agree on unitary autonomous state in an international anarchic system

21. Realism / Neorealism

22. Radical Perspective Many radicalisms
Core set of beliefs found in historical analysis of Marx economic determinism, an international hierarchy, and a commitment to social change
Seek to explain relationship between means of production, social relations, and power

23. Contending Interpretations Of Radicalism
Wallerstein — historical development of world-capitalist-system division into core, semi-periphery, and periphery.
Hobson — explains roots of imperialism, economic expansion caused by overconsumption of goods and underconsumption in other areas of the world.
Dependency theories — states are constrained by international economic system, including multinational corporations; possibility of change is slim.

24. Radicalism / Dependency Theory

25. Constructivism
State behavior shaped by elite beliefs, identities, social norms
Individuals forge and change culture through ideas and practices
National interests are ever changing
Source of power is ideas
Material structures explain little; emphasis on normative structures

26. Theory in Action: 2003 Iraq War
Liberals emphasize individual and state levels of analysis
U.S. acts to eliminate threat of Saddam and his support to terrorists
Goal of spreading democracy to a vital region
Dismayed by the weak international coalition
Realists see international anarchy
Only the hegemonic U.S. can counter Iraqi threat;
US seek to protect self from Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and secure oil supplies
Radicals critical of U.S. need for Iraq oil

27. French View of U.S. Iraq Policy: Theory in Practice
Liberal View: France supports multilateral solutions and international law; without UN approval, U.S. actions are illegitimate; French public opposes U.S. action
Radical View: U.S. acting as imperial power; France opposes that exercise of power
Realist View: French opposition is based on its own self-interest; France has become less secure after the U.S. invasion; France seeks to balance U.S. power; encourage a multipolar system

28. Contending Theoretical Perspectives
Liberalism / Neoliberal Institutionalism
Realism / Neorealism
Radicalism / Dependency Theory
Constructivism
Key Actors
States, nongovernmental groups, international organizations
International system, states
Social classes, transnational elites, multinational corporations
Individuals, collective identities
View of the Individual
Basically good; capable of cooperating
Power seeking; selfish; antagonistic
Action determined by economic class
Major unit, especially elites
View of the state
Not an autonomous actor; having many interests
Power seeking; unitary actor; following its national interest
Agent of the structure of international capitalism; executing agent of the bourgeoisie
State behavior shaped by elite beliefs, collective norms, and social identity
View of the international system
Interdependence among actors; international society; anarchic
Anarchic; reaches stability in balance-of-power system
Highly stratified; dominated by international capitalist system
Nothing explained by international structures alone
Beliefs about change
Probable; a desirable process
Low change potential; slow structural change
Radial change desired
Belief in evolutionary change