Resume
Summary History of International Relations
- Établissement
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Full summary of all classes + book
[Montrer plus]
Livre connecté
Titre de l’ouvrage:
Auteur(s):
- Édition:
- ISBN:
- Édition:
Aperçu du contenu
History of International RelationsIntroduction: Why history matters
Class 1 – sept 28:
GRADING
2/20 = seminars
18/20 = 100% WRITTEN exam!
5 close questions + open questions
Geography test: Online!
Dates to memorize? → those on slides! Memorize all slides perfectly: already get OK grades.
= example of open exam question. 1st: always start with main summary (see pt.1), 2) geography: says
‘no detail’ → Indian is subcontinent merged into Indian ocean, north Himalaya, south of Himalaya
Hindu-Gangetic plains, hills and mountains in between and around coast: cities and states throughout
history. → then important steps: 3) Vedic age, 4) Mahjanapadas, 5) Maurya, etc. up until arrival of EU
colonists. ➔ should be able to do this in 5mins! → then give conclusions & make links with India today,
etc. work VERY structured!!
Peace and war = core business of world politics.
At tipping point: 1) cosmopolitans 2) nationalists
1) After collapse SU (1991): EU: lead by example rather than by force | China: doctrine of peaceful rice
| US: liberal foreign policy → thought power politics & great wars have ended.
2) globalization (migrants & multinationals) = threat. → Shift: group grows
Meanwhile shift: military spending > Cold war.
1
,History: focus = Europe → outside: claim own strategic culture totally different from EU politics (e.g.
China: harmonious tradition | India: Gandhi: peace principle). → geographical limitation history =
misunderstanding
Writing history
UNDERSTAND ALL LAYERS WELL
S37: Holslag: aims book to combine all these different but interrelated layers:
S38: 1) Distribution of power: polity: influence over citizens (internal) & other polities (external).
Power = 1) inputs/capabilities (land & natural resources, military, political system…) → not static, but
shapes balance of power between polities 2) outputs/effective influence.
S39: 2) political organization: all kinds, and although state seemed to become irrelevant:
nationalism!
S40: 3) interaction between political units: why often stated IR become peaceful but war > peace.
S41: 4) relationship between people and the planet: global warming, food scarcity…
S42: 5) evolution of nature of world politics: after 1991: liberals: optimism, need democracy &
interdependence = no war. Constructivists: need international norms, NO selfish national interests
BUT focus common good. Realists: polities will always want autonomy, security… → peace &
corporation = unlikely. Idealists: institutions, cooperation, peace is possible & necessary.
→ shift from optimist idealism to pessimist realism.
Book: 3000 years, 1st millennium BCE until 21stC. Each chapter = 2-3 centuries, focus: most important
region. SO: sub-Saharan Africa & Americas: less focus.
Chapter 1: Heavens Obscured - The prelude: before 1000 BCE
Prior 1000 BCE = transition Bronze to Iron age = 1st period with widespread written evidence on foreign
relations. = in most primitive incarnation, e.g. among tribes = the natural state.
Then: shift to 1st cities, etc. End in 4 centres of political power: 1) Egypt, 2) fertile crescent of
Mesopotamia, 3) North China Plain, 4) Indo-Gangetic Plain.
1 Worlds apart
2 worlds/geopolitical complexes: 1) Eastern Hemisphere (Africa, Asia, Eu) 2) Western hemisphere
(Americas). → separate: no permanent trade until 16 thC.
1) cradle of civilization: Alpide Belt = mountain chain with perfect conditions for permanent human
settlement.
2) far later inhabited: at most: fruitful Mississippi.
Natural potential often NOT used effectively → Why? → only 60 million people = emptiness, AND
distributed unevenly.
Family clans: main social unit. Largest cities only 100,000.
2
,Most important: holy trinity of natural resources: water, fertile soil & temperate climate. → earliest
imperial powers: Egypt & Mesopotamia → already 1000 BCE: 1000yrs development. Also partly China,
Indo-Gangetic Plains, etc.
2 The natural state (‘age of innocence’)
= peace or war?
1) Rousseau: cooperation necessary to survive → evidence confirmed: tribes less fights than
developed societies because life = too precious. Messengers = privilege to cross borders. BUT
2) also war: scarce evidence: metal weapons (= symbols masculinity), women as slaves, mass graves
→ warfare before Iron Age often led to extermination of entire communities.
Causes? → theft of livestock, abduct women, competition natural resources, rivalry for leadership…
BUT aware of value of life.
3 Bringer of Spoils (= name for ‘Kings’)
Late 2nd millennium = minor kingdoms & trading cities = similar as tribes BUT more evidence: Homer:
Fortified cities in perpetual competition for wealth, power & honour.
Important in early interstate relations: marriage as diplomatic partnerships. Messengers: treaties
based on oaths.
IR Ugarit (between Egypt & Mesopotamia): controlling trade, formed alliances, economic warfare
avant la lettre. BUT: collapse (by ‘Sea Peoples’), also Hattusha (capital of Hittites) → led to Dark ages
of the Eastern Mediterranean (1200-1000BCE) = begin of Bronze Age collapse. Cause: environmental
crisis, drought, mass migration-turned invasion, collapse of trade.
Treaty of Kadesh (1259) – world oldest peace treaty between Hittites & Egypt. BUT 1180: Hittites went
down.
4 Egypt
Agricultural centre, 1st imperial tradition because fertility: granary = power. 2 harvests/year. 3-4
million people around River Nile & its delta. BUT: disease & other: died before 30, periods of instability
& subjugation by foreign invaders. Egypt for outsiders was the ultimate trophy → most important for
rulers was to provide security, stability & harmony (meant hierarchy) = ‘Maat’. Clear Egyptian
supremacy over inferior kings AND subjects.
BUT: descent from golden age: anarchy & war fatigue arose from 13thC. Fatal blow: 10thC: Chief of
Libya – a foreign dynasty - became pharaoh of Egypt.
BUT imperial interpretation of Maat always lived on: conquerors preferred to adopt Egyptian imperial
tradition rather than destroying it.
3
, 5 Mesopotamia (Greek for land between the rivers)
More complex environment & geography. Between Tigris & Euphrates. Conquered by Akkadians,
Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians. Governance: against tax abuse income inequality, mistreatment
women… Under King Hammurabi 1750: oldest code of law on property, prisoners & rights of women.
After him, Babylon only downhill. As in Egypt, Iron age came in turmoil: drier climate, mass
migration…
6 China
North China Plain = 400,000km2 fertile land along Yellow river = 5% today’s China (only formed in
18thC). Mostly farmland by Wei & Qi, often war. Decline Shang dynasty, especially millions in battle of
Muye in 1046 → arrival Zhou: king was son of heaven; the centre off the world under heaven → China
= middle kingdom. Peace = goal.
China politics as Mesopotamia & Egypt when start Iron Age.
7 South Asia
Indo-Gangetic plain with rivers Indus, Ganges & Brahmaputra. Until EU colonists 16thC: only nomads
as external threats. Bronze age: Indus Valley = Harappa Civilisation (3000-1300BCE), after: only tribes
& little kingdoms. Slowly, migration/invasion (socially): of Vedic civilisation: foundation Hinduism. =
castes. 1st: anarchy, until 5thC: 1 state hegemony over neighbours, 4thC: large part subcontinent under
control 1 empire: Maurya.
Harmony = goddess of fortune, Lakshmi & husband Vishnu of peace & justice. Yet, often war.
4
Les avantages d'acheter des résumés chez Stuvia:
Qualité garantie par les avis des clients
Les clients de Stuvia ont évalués plus de 700 000 résumés. C'est comme ça que vous savez que vous achetez les meilleurs documents.
L’achat facile et rapide
Vous pouvez payer rapidement avec iDeal, carte de crédit ou Stuvia-crédit pour les résumés. Il n'y a pas d'adhésion nécessaire.
Focus sur l’essentiel
Vos camarades écrivent eux-mêmes les notes d’étude, c’est pourquoi les documents sont toujours fiables et à jour. Cela garantit que vous arrivez rapidement au coeur du matériel.
Foire aux questions
Qu'est-ce que j'obtiens en achetant ce document ?
Vous obtenez un PDF, disponible immédiatement après votre achat. Le document acheté est accessible à tout moment, n'importe où et indéfiniment via votre profil.
Garantie de remboursement : comment ça marche ?
Notre garantie de satisfaction garantit que vous trouverez toujours un document d'étude qui vous convient. Vous remplissez un formulaire et notre équipe du service client s'occupe du reste.
Auprès de qui est-ce que j'achète ce résumé ?
Stuvia est une place de marché. Alors, vous n'achetez donc pas ce document chez nous, mais auprès du vendeur lotusli. Stuvia facilite les paiements au vendeur.
Est-ce que j'aurai un abonnement?
Non, vous n'achetez ce résumé que pour €6,49. Vous n'êtes lié à rien après votre achat.
Peut-on faire confiance à Stuvia ?
4.6 étoiles sur Google & Trustpilot (+1000 avis)
81113 résumés ont été vendus ces 30 derniers jours
Fondée en 2010, la référence pour acheter des résumés depuis déjà 14 ans