1. Critique of realism Are states the only actors No; international relations is a ‘cobweb’ of interactions and linkages between multiple actors – firms, individuals, groups

2. Review - Realism States are the actors The ‘competitive pursuit of the national interest’ is the how states achieve their goals States exist in an anarchical system; there can only be limited order and this will be on the basis of the ‘balance of power’

3. Alternative theories to realism ‘Liberalism’ ‘ the tradition of optimism - from liberal internationalism to idealism to liberal institutionalism The liberty of the individual is at the centre of this philosophy How to reconcile ‘order’ and ‘justice’ within the international system remains a key problem

4. Liberalism Who are the actors? The state-centric view is rejected; this thesis is put forward by Keohane and Nye ( 1972) when they argue that other actors – interest groups, transnational corporations, international non-governmental organisations – must be taken into account;

5. Liberal institutionalism Who are the actors? The state-centric view is rejected; this thesis is put forward by Keohane and Nye ( 1972) when they argue that other actors – interest groups, transnatinoal corporations, international non- governmental organisations – must be taken into account; Burton’s image of ‘the cobweb’ model, with diverse actors linked through multiple channels of interaction reflects the complexity of the world today Little 1996 ‘we are all now caught up in a complex systemic web of ineractions such that changes in one part of the system have direct and indirect consequences for the rest of the system’

6. Actors… There is an increase in the importance of international organisations, can be the catalysts for forming coalitions to express views Transgovernmental policy networks create problems for centralised control by governments and this of course challenges realist assumptions, which ‘self’, which ‘interest’

7. Liberalism – complex interdependence The characteristics of the global political process An absence of hierarchy amongst issues

8. Liberalism – complex interdependence The characteristics of the global political process An absence of hierarchy amongst issues; this means there are multiple issues, not organised hierarchically; military security is not going to dominate the agenda; e.g. economic security, ecological security

9. Liberalism - interdependence The characteristics of the global political process: A bluring of the distinction between foreign and domestic policy;

10. Liberalism - interdependence The characteristics of the global political process: A bluring of the distinction between foreign and domestic policy; several departments of government are involved in international affairs; for different issues there are different coalitions, both within governments and outside of them. This creates a problem in producing a consistent and coherent foreign policy E.g. WTO

11. Liberalism - interdependence The characteristics of the global political process: Issues may not threaten ‘national security’ and so there is a minor role for military force;

12. Liberalism - interdependence The characteristics of the global political process: Issues may not threaten ‘national security’ and so there is a minor role for military force; - military force is irrelevant for economic issues because of the intensity of relationships between individual states; there is also the fact that conventional force has its limitations, e.g. Vietnam and thus can have a negative affect on achieving goals This means that linkage strategies by large states is much more difficult because military force cannot always apply to non-military issues

13. Liberalism - interdependence Outcomes – the nature of the world system: This varies but there is seen to be a reduction in the international hierarchy of powers

14. Liberalism - interdependence Outcomes – the nature of the world system: This varies but there is seen to be a reduction in the international hierarchy of powers; a more diffuse international system; No hierarchy, domestic groups can impact the foreign policy agenda ( European Courts, International Courts, Green Movement Shifts also in the distribution of power sources – OPEC etc

15. International Relations: theories