1. POLS 425 U.S. Foreign Policy Week 2: Major Worldviews. Part II January 17, 2007 Week 2: Major Worldviews. Part II January 17, 2007

2. 2 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction Worldviews and Theory: Liberalism  Four central premises of liberalism 1.Liberalism tells us that our focus should be on state-level factors 2.Liberalism tells us that values (including ideas) beyond national survival may matter 3.Liberals believe decision making is pluralistic 4.Liberals believe that most foreign policy decisions require “consent” of the governed; policy making is different between democratic and authoritarian regimes Worldviews and Theory: Liberalism  Four central premises of liberalism 1.Liberalism tells us that our focus should be on state-level factors 2.Liberalism tells us that values (including ideas) beyond national survival may matter 3.Liberals believe decision making is pluralistic 4.Liberals believe that most foreign policy decisions require “consent” of the governed; policy making is different between democratic and authoritarian regimes

3. 3 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction Worldviews and Theory: Liberalism  Implications of Liberal Theory  Rationality of policy-making process is complicated because of competing interests  War and peace are important, but other issues may be equally important to foreign policy process  Cooperation and “end of war” are possible Worldviews and Theory: Liberalism  Implications of Liberal Theory  Rationality of policy-making process is complicated because of competing interests  War and peace are important, but other issues may be equally important to foreign policy process  Cooperation and “end of war” are possible

4. 4 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction On Rationality Realists assume that war is rational for an entire nation Liberals, instead, ask: Who (specifically) benefits from war? Why do those who “lose” from war willingly participate?

5. 5 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  What is Marxism? Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  What is Marxism?

6. 6 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  Key Concept: Historical Materialism  Historical: based on the idea that the specific forces that shape the world are not always the same—e.g., the forces that governed feudal society are not the same forces that govern capitalist societies  Materialism: based on the idea that economic forces shape the world in fundamental ways, or put another way, economic forces are the motor of history Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  Key Concept: Historical Materialism  Historical: based on the idea that the specific forces that shape the world are not always the same—e.g., the forces that governed feudal society are not the same forces that govern capitalist societies  Materialism: based on the idea that economic forces shape the world in fundamental ways, or put another way, economic forces are the motor of history

7. 7 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  Key Concept: Class  Marxists argue that capitalist society is necessarily divided along class lines  Classes exist because all economic systems produces specific social relationships  These social relationships are organized around a system that privileges ownership and subordinates labor; it also privileges capital and subordinates other human values, such as social justice, equality, and freedom Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  Key Concept: Class  Marxists argue that capitalist society is necessarily divided along class lines  Classes exist because all economic systems produces specific social relationships  These social relationships are organized around a system that privileges ownership and subordinates labor; it also privileges capital and subordinates other human values, such as social justice, equality, and freedom

8. 8 U.S. Foreign Policy Introduction Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  Key Concept: Implications  Capitalist states exist to protect/promote the capitalist base of society, and not necessarily to protect the interests of all citizens  To understand foreign policy, then, one must understand that it is primarily a reflection of the interests of capitalists Worldviews and Theory: Marxism  Key Concept: Implications  Capitalist states exist to protect/promote the capitalist base of society, and not necessarily to protect the interests of all citizens  To understand foreign policy, then, one must understand that it is primarily a reflection of the interests of capitalists