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CHAPTER 1

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International Relations Defined

Study of the interactions among various actors that

participate in international politics

States

International organizations

Nongovernmental organizations

Subnational entities

Individuals

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Studying International Relations

How does international relations affect you every day?

What questions does the study of internationalrelations seek to answer?

What tools and methods do we use to study

international relations?

What theoretical approaches do we use to study

international relations?

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Foundational Questions of

International Relations

How can human nature be characterized?

What is the relationship between the individual andsociety?

What is the relationship between societies?

What are the characteristics and role of the state?

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Foundational Questions of

International Relations

How is the international system organized?

How might international society be structured to obtainand maintain peace?

How do individuals, states, and various internationalorganizations impact international relations?

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Answering the

Foundational Questions

Using history to examine patterns of past behavior

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War

Using philosophy to analyze ideas

Plato, The Republic

Using international relations theory to discoverpatterns and causes of individual, group, and state

behavior and events in international relations

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History and the Study of

International Relations

Knowing past history is fundamental for explainingpatterns in, and background to, existing conflicts and

current events in international relations

BUT history may be a poor guide for predictingcontemporary policy choices

History lessons are not clear-cut or simpleExample: Compare Vietnam and Iraq War

lessons

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Contributions of the Philosophers

Plato: society should submit to philosopher kings

Aristotle: use comparative method to discern theideal political order

Hobbes: society can escape from state of nature in

unitary state with centralized power

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Contributions of the Philosophers

Rousseau: small communities in which the general

will can be obtained lead to fulfillment of

an individuals self-interests

Kant: advocated federation of sovereign republics

bound by rule of law

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Functions of

International Relations Theory

To describe what is happening

To explain why events are occurring, who keyactors are, and which choices have been made

To explain what choices should be made

To predict what will happen in the future

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Contending Theories:

The Basics

Liberalism/neoliberal institutionalism

States generally cooperate and follow mutuallyagreed-upon international norms

Human nature is basically good

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Contending Theories:

The Basics

Realism

States exist in anarchic international system

State bases policy on own national interest defined

in terms of power

International system determined by distribution ofpower among states

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Contending Theories:

The Basics

Radical Theory

State is agent of international capitalism

International system is stratified between haves

and have-nots

Haves dominate international relations

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Contending Theories:

The Basics

Constructivism

Key structures in state and international systemsare intersubjective and social

Interests of states and other actors are malleable

and ever-changing

Explores how ideas shape identities and analyzes

the impacts of culture, norms, procedures, and

social practices

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Methods: Behavioralism vs.

Postmodernism

Behavioralism

Assumes individuals and societies act in patternedways

Uses scientific method to describe and explain the

patterns

Utilizes empirical methods such as data collection

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Methods: Behavioralism vs.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism

Seeks to deconstruct basic concepts tounderstand and clarify hidden meanings

Looks for voices of the marginalized and

disenfranchised (ex: women)

Uses thick description from multiple sets of data

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Why Does War Happen?

Correlates of War projectuses history andbehavioral approaches

Codes historical data on wars, 18161965:

Deaths, magnitude, severity, intensity

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Why Does War Happen?

Develops hypotheses for outbreak by examiningcorrelations:

Relationship between number of wars and severity

Relationship between presence of alliances andwar

Purpose: If we can explain correlates of war, then wecan begin to explain why and when it breaks out, thusenabling future predictions and avoidance of war

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