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Summary Key Terms International Relations
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Key Terms for International Relations:Realism: Believe that states are the primary actors in international relations and that they
pursue their national interests, such as security and survival, above all else.
• Emphasizes the importance of power and self-interest in the behaviour of states.
• Realists assume that the international system is anarchic: There is no higher authority
above states that can enforce international law or order.
o In this environment, states must rely on their own resources, such as military
strength and economic power, to ensure their security and prosperity.
• Emphasizes the role of competition and conflict in international relations.
o They believe that states are constantly vying for power and influence, and that
this competition often leads to conflict, both direct and indirect.
o Realists therefore see war as an inevitable part of international relations, and
emphasize the importance of deterrence and military preparedness.
• Offensive realism: States should adopt aggressive strategies to maximize their power
and expand their spheres of influence.
o This can include the use of military force or coercive diplomacy to achieve
their goals.
• Defensive realism: The international system is inherently anarchic and that states are
primarily concerned with their survival and security.
o Defensive strategies to protect themselves, such as building up their military
capabilities and forming alliances with other states.
Liberalism: The more cooperation, the less conflict you will have → Mutual benefits &
interdependence between states.
• Urges international trade and everything that has to do with international cooperation.
o Unlike realists, liberals believe that the external behaviour of a state is
crucially influenced by its political and constitutional make-up.
o However, places democracy as central concept, as they think democracies do
not go to war against each other.
• R. Keohane (Neoliberalism: Emphasizes the role of international institutions in
facilitating cooperation among states.) felt that the liberal world order that has been
constructed will prevail, regardless of who the hegemon is.
• Three types of liberalism:
o Interdependence/commercial liberalism: Emphasizes the economic and
international benefits of free trade, leading to mutual benefit and general
prosperity as well as peace amongst states.
o Institutional/regulatory liberalism: An approach to study that emphasizes the
role of institutions (both formal and informal) in the realization of liberal
principles and goals.
▪ Facilitate information exchange.
▪ Formalize agreements.
▪ Enhance cooperation.
o Republican liberalism: Centred on states as democracies, who would be less
likely to go to war with each other → Democratic Peace Theory.
, ▪ Democracies tend to share values so that in case of conflict,
negotiations and peaceful solutions are chosen rather than war.
▪ Wars are caused by selfish militaristic and undemocratic governments.
Constructivism: Emphasizes the role of ideas, norms, and beliefs in shaping the behaviour of
states and other actors in the international system.
• The international system is not solely defined by material factors such as military
power or economic resources, but also by the norms and ideas that states and other
actors hold.
• Looks at own identity, as well as relationship with others.
o Historical, cultural and social context.
o Collective understanding of how to understand past, situate the present, and act
towards the future.
o Part of critical theory.
• States interpret one another in their relations and, in doing so; construct the
international anarchy that defines their relations.
o State A may be considered to be an enemy by state B simply based on state B’s
perceptions of state A, which led to the conclusion that “state A is a rival”.
• Social constructivism: Deny that the state has a fixed and objective character; rather,
the identity of the state is shaped by a variety of historical and sociological factors,
and these, in turn, inform the interests of the state and its actions.
o Wendt, distinguished between the social identity of the state (shaped by the
status, role or personality that international society ascribes to a state) and its
corporate identity (shaped by internal material, ideological and cultural
factors).
Critical theory: Expose and challenge the power dynamics and inequalities that underlie the
international system → Argue that dominant discourses and narratives can perpetuate unequal
power relations.
• Social construction of actors.
• Emphasises the economic factors that shape international relations, and seeks to
expose the power dynamics and inequalities that result from capitalist structures. It
argues that international relations are dominated by class struggle and that the global
economy is shaped by the interests of dominant capitalist powers
• Critiques traditional theories of international relations, such as realism and liberalism,
for failing to adequately address issues such as imperialism, colonialism, and social
inequality.
o Critical theorists argue that power and inequality are not just the result of
material factors such as military strength or economic resources, but are also
shaped by social and cultural factors such as language, identity, and discourse.
• Examples of critical theories within the field of international relations:
o Marxist Theory: Emphasises the economic factors that shape international
relations, and seeks to expose the power dynamics and inequalities that result
from capitalist structures.
, ▪ It argues that international relations are dominated by class struggle and
that the global economy is shaped by the interests of dominant
capitalist powers.
o Postcolonial theory: This theory examines the legacy of colonialism and
imperialism, and its continuing influence on global politics and culture.
▪ It emphasises the importance of understanding the experiences and
perspectives of colonised peoples and cultures, and the need to
challenge dominant Western perspectives on international relations.
o Feminist Theory: This theory seeks to expose and challenge patriarchal
structures and practices in international relations, and to promote gender
equality.
▪ It stresses the importance of understanding how gender shapes
international politics, and the need to address the marginalisation of
women in global decision-making.
▪ Liberal feminists believe that it is possible to reform the state from
within, by increasing female representation at all levels.
▪ Radical feminists highlighted structural links between the state and the
system of male power, believing that the state has an intrinsically
patriarchal character.
State-centrism: Assumes that states are the main actors in international relations, and that
their interests and actions are the primary drivers of global politics.
• Refers to the tendency of international relations theory to prioritize the state as the
primary unit of analysis and to view the international system as a system of states.
• Emerged as a dominant perspective in international relations theory during the Cold
War, when the bipolar power structure of the international system reinforced the idea
that states were the main actors in international relations.
→ Critics argue that this perspective overlooks the importance of other actors and factors in
shaping global politics, such as non-state actors, transnational networks, and global
institutions (neglects the perspectives and interests of marginalized groups and actors)
Mixed Actor- Model: International politics is shaped not only by states (counters thus the
state-centric approach) but by a much broader range of interests and groups, such as NGOs,
international organizations, multinational corporations, and individuals.
• Recognizes the diversity of actors within international relations.
→ Critics of the mixed actor model argue that it can be difficult to identify and analyse the
complex interactions among diverse actors in global politics, and that the approach risks
diluting the importance of the state as a primary actor in international relations.
Containment: Aims to prevent the expansion of a rival power or ideology by containing its
influence through diplomatic, economic, and military means.
• The containment strategy was implemented through a range of policies, including
military alliances such as NATO, economic aid programs such as the Marshall Plan,
and diplomatic initiatives such as the establishment of the United Nations.
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