Samenvatting Essentials of International Relations, ISBN: 9780393872200 International relations (FY)
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Cours
International relations (73210027FY)
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Universiteit Van Amsterdam (UvA)
Book
Essentials of International Relations
samenvatting van de eerste helft van het boek 1 t/m 7 en 9. voor het vak introduction to international relations . kleine aanvulling van de colleges hieraan toegevoegd over Marxisme en realisme.
Summary of Essentials of international relations
Mingst & McKibben (2021), chapter 1 till 7 and 9
Chapter 1: approaches to international relations
International relations are the study of the interactions among the various actors that
participate in international politics. It examines the behaviors of these actors as they
participate individually and together in international political processes. Historical
background is key in understanding current events and conflicts and sought for in times of
crisis. No important question in international relations can be answered by using one
method or approach.
Globalization – the growing integration of the world in terms of politics, economics, and
culture. States are confronted with issues that governments on their own cannot manage
(e.g., migration, environmental degradation). Financial markets and the production of goods
are intwined, causing them to be more effected by international forces.
Theoretical perspectives:
1. Realism
Pessimistic vision, based on the state, survival, and self-help. States exist in an
anarchic international system; there is no overarching hierarchical authority. Each
state bases its policies on an interpretation of its national interests defined in terms
of power. The international system is structured on the base of power. (e.g., In the
Vietnam war if the US used all its powers the outcome would have been different).
2. Liberalism
More optimistic vision. Conflict is not inevitable but try to avoid as much as possible.
Human nature is inherently good, from the individual, groups are formed, which
eventually makes states. These states follow norms and procedures that they agreed
upon (e.g., in the Vietnam war the US should have never invaded Vietnam since
there was no direct threat for the US).
3. Marxism
An analytical perspective (not communism or socialism) economic relations are the
driving force of political relations. The struggle between economic classes is crucial,
can be within or between states (e.g., rich vs poor). The working class is being
exploited and capitalists are dominant. With governments as agents of the ruling
class. Focusses on Dependency, inequality, and exploitation (ignored aspects in
realism and liberalism).
4. Constructivism
Fundamentally different ontological position. Social reality is created in the
perception of the observer (subjectively). The key structures in state systems are not
material but instead social and dependent on ideas. State interests are not fixed but
malleable and ever changing. If shared ideas change, the practice of IR can also
change. Therefore, it is all a social construct, shaped by ideas, identities, and through
interaction.
, 5. post-positivists:
Same as constructivism different ontological position. Social reality is objectively
observable (objective), no neutral ways to acquire knowledge. Focused on the discourse
and a variety of perspectives that question the main assumptions that we take for
granted. Using certain discourses makes certain choices seem logical and justified, and
marginalizes or criminalizes other choices or visions. These assumptions hide and
legitimize systems of power and domination (capitalism, liberal democracy and the
nation-state system).
Contributions from philosophers to international relations and their world views
Plato: society should be governed by people who understand philosophy and war
(philosophy-kings).
Aristotle: first to use the comparative method of research addressing the problem of order
between Greek-city states (Sparta and Athens). He observed multiple points in time and
suggested explanations for the patterns found.
Hobbes: in Leviathan he described life as solitary, selfish, and brutish in a world without
states – anarchy – or state of nature. Individuals and society can escape from the state of
nature through a unitarity state that holds absolute power and people are central, a
leviathan.
Rousseau: the solution to the state of nature, as stated by Hobbes, is the social contract,
whereby individuals gather in small communities were the “general will” is realized.
Kant: sees a world federation of republics bound by the rule of law. Keeping sovereignty and
creating a super-leviathan to keep order and peace. Though people are inherently selfish.
These philosophers allow us to speculate on normative/moral elements in political life (e.g.,
what should be the role of the state?). Develop rationales from core texts and analytical
thinking.
Behavioralism – proposes that idea that individuals/groups behave in
predictable/patternable ways, and so states could do too. Using empirical methods. Critique
on behavioral approaches: different data may lead to substantially different conclusions,
behavioralist research can be overwhelming due to the amount of data and methods.
Alternative methods – deconstruction of major concepts and the use of discourse analysis to
build thick description; finds voices of others (than we are used to hear in the global north).
Chapter 2: the historical context of contemporary international relations.
The thirty-year war was a religious dispute between Catholics and Protestants and ended
with the treaty of Westphalia. This treaty is seen as a benchmark for the contemporary
international relations because this treaty meant (1) the end of rule by religious authority in
Europe and the emergence of secular authorities (territorial integrity of states). States
gained the right to determine their own domestic policies, free from external pressure and
jurisdiction between their borders. (2) the emerging of national armies with more
centralized taxes and power. (3) The establishment of a core group of states that dominated
the world until the 19th century (e.g., England, France, Netherlands) by enslaving people in
Africa and selling them in the Americas. While the West of Europe embraced liberal
capitalism, the East (Prussia and Russia) shifted to feudal practices.
,Sovereignty – “the absolute and perpetual power vested in a commonwealth”, according to
Bodin. The sovereign is above the law and cannot be the subjected to commands of any
other. There is a nuance, the law of nature and the constitutional laws of the realms limit
the sovereign.
Perpetual – on going, eternal.
Adam Smith – each individual acts rationally to maximize their own interests. With groups of
individuals pursuing their interests, economic efficiency is enhanced. Explained with the
theory of the invisible hand.
Europe in the 19th century
Key aspects:
- American revolution against British rule
- French revolution against the rule of the king
- Napoleonic wars
- The expansion of imperial Europe
After the American and French revolution 2 core principles emerged:
- Absolute rule is subject to limits. John Locke argued that the state is an institution
created by rational individuals to protect both their natural rights (life, liberty,
property) and their self-interests. Political power ultimately rests with the people,
rather than the leader. The ruler derives legitimacy from the consent of the
governed.
- Nationalism, a sense of national consciousness placing a primary emphasis on a
common past, language, customs, and territory that create a nation. This motivates
individuals to participate actively in the political process. Legitimacy and nationalism
provide the foundation for politics in the 19th and 20th century. This puts the interests
of one nation over the another.
Napoleon used nationalism, new innovations, and well-equipped armies to invade many
parts of Europe within a few years.
Regional enemies: the British were rulers of the sea; the Spanish were also very nationalistic
and used guerilla attacks; and Russia was too large which resulted in the French army to not
successfully reach Moscow. Causing Napoleon to overstretch his hand and not reach
Moscow before winter and over through the Russian tsar ultimately led to the battle of
Waterloo which Napoleon lost in 1815.
After the Napoleon war (Treaty of Vienna), relative peace came and the rise of British
industrialization, which later spread across Europe and the US. The 5 main European
powers, Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria kept neutral in many wars and came
together in the ‘concert of Europe’ to talk on conflicts and divided Africa.
Three factors discouraged war in the 19th century:
1. European elites were united in their fear of revolution among the masses
2. The unification of Germany and Italy was supported by different powers. The
power of these new unified states was unknown making a war undesirable since
you do not know what to expect.
, 3. Imperial-colonialism, rivalries between European states were played out in
distant places.
European empires who concurred land in the ‘new world’ led to imperialism – the
annexation of distant territory (most often by force) and its inhabitants to an empire far
away.
Colonialism – often followed or accompanied by imperialism, where people from a home
country settle among indigenous people of a distant territory (Taking over power and
control with an unequal relationship between settlers and indigenous people).
In the 19th century almost, the entire globe was ‘ruled’ by European countries. The industrial
revolution made it possible to expand the territory. Imperialism has an economic (profits
and raw materials), cultural/religious (‘civilization’ to the black world, spreading religion),
and/or political (power) motivation.
China was not completely colonized but lost the Opium war with Britain and suffered under
unequal treaties from Japan and Britain.
The European identity – European, white, Christian created the feeling of ‘us’ vs. ‘others’.
Balance of power - A system that brings relative peace to Europe. Countries fearing a
hegemon made alliances; these alliances (if relatively equally strong) form stability. When
these become asymmetrical the chances of a new war would rise.
At the end of the 19th century the European powers made two camps: the triple alliance
(Germany, Austria – Hungary, and Italy) and the Dual alliance (France and Russia). Britain
became allies with Japan, against Russia. Britain also became allies with France called the
Entente Cordiale.
WW1 (1914-1918)
The final collapse of the balance of power system came with WW1. Germany rose to power
and had an intensified destabilizing impact of the hardening of alliances at the turn of the
20th century. Due to the tight system of alliances (Russia supporting Serbia), (Germany
supporting Austria-Hungary), (Britain supporting France which supported Russia, and
neutral Belgium), (Ottoman empire supporting Austria – Hungary), turning this war in to a
world war.
During WW1 Britain agreed with France and pre revolution Russia to divide the Ottoman
empire after the war. Britain would gain control over Palestine and claiming a land for the
Jews in (Balfour doctrine).
The interwar years 4 mayor highlights:
1. Three main empires strained and broke up, Austria – Hungary and the Ottoman
empire fell apart and the 1917 revolution in Russia turned it into a communistic
state. The end of the war led to intensified nationalisms and the desire for self-rule
of many European countries.
2. Dissatisfied Germany.
o Treaty of Versailles, making (mainly) Germany pay for the war damages.
o Hyperinflation in Germany, in combination with an unsatisfied and humiliated
country and people.
o Loss of military and occupation of the Ruhr Valley.
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