CH. 3: International Relations Theories

Realists point to two different kinds of balancing: (a) balancing involves making one's own state stronger to be better able to stand up to others, whereas (b) balancing involves allying with other states to keep even more powerful states in check.

(a) Internal. Internal balancing has the advantage of not requiring other states' participation. (b) External. External balancing can be effective if other states go along with it.

Within the radical theoretical perspective, (a) focuses more on explaining why economically dominant states have expanded, whereas (b) focuses more on the consequences of that expansion for the developing countries who have suffered from imperialism in the past.

(a) Marxism. Marxism is an older part of radicalism and has been a force in the world for a century and a half. (b) Dependency theory. Dependency theory highlights the damage that imperialism has left behind for developing countries to deal with.

There are many actors or entities that cross state boundaries. IBM and Hyundai are companies that do business in many countries and thus are examples of (a), whereas the United Nations and the European Union are examples of (b).

(a) Multinational corporations. There are many multinational corporations in our globalized world, and they are often difficult for states to regulate. (b) International organizations

The two most important factors for constructivist theories are (a), which are collective expectations for proper behavior, and group or individual (b)

(a) Norms. Norms can be difficult to study because we often notice them only when they are violated. (b) Identities. Identities, and the way individuals and societies define themselves, can powerfully affect international events.

Why do neoliberal institutionalists believe that international organizations and laws are so important?

- International institutions can make it in the self-interest of states to cooperate. Neoliberal institutionalists at least partially accept the realist framework of self-help states worried about their own survival, but they add that it may still be in a state's self-interest to cooperate. - Both international institutions and laws foster reciprocity among states. Reciprocity is an important norm in international relations for strengthening cooperation. - International institutions create a place for repeated interactions to occur between states. The more interactions states expect to have in the future, the more incentive they have to cooperate in the present. - International institutions can make it in the self-interest of states to cooperate.

What does "good theories are generalizable" mean?

A strong theory that can explain events across different times and in different places. The more generalizable a theory, the stronger we consider it to be.

Which theoretical perspective would most likely point to the tension between the pro-democracy identity of the West and the more autocratic leanings of Putin's Russia as a key cause of the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Constructivism. Constructivist explanations place heavy emphasis on norms, identities, and the power of words and discourse.

States constantly face challenges to their sovereignty, whether from multinational corporations, separatist groups within their borders, or transnational criminal or terrorist networks. The only reason states have sovereignty is because they continue to treat each other like they do. This idea of sovereignty being a fluid, developing concept is most consistent with what theoretical perspective in international relations?

Constructivism. Constructivists like to point out that terms do not have fixed meanings and that the language we use can affect the things we as an international society can accomplish.

Liberalism

Cooperation between international institutions can overcome anarchy. Liberalism includes idealism and neoliberal institutionalism.

Realists are primarily focused on (a) gains, whereas neoliberal institutionalists focus on (b) gains.

a. Relative - Realists believe that states are primarily driven by concerns over whether they are made better or worse off than other states, which is the essential nature of relative gains. b. Absolute - Neoliberal institutionalists point out that on most issues there are ways for all states to gain something, and that we routinely see states engage in agreements that lead to these kinds of absolute gains.

Radicalism

Economic exploitation underlies much of international affairs. Radicalism includes Marxism and dependency theory.

Over the past decades, many international relations scholars have investigated what is known as democratic peace theory. Under the strongest form of this theory, the argument is that democracies do not go to war with each other. What is the explanatory and dependent variable?

Explanatory: democracies. Democracies are an explanatory variable in this example because we believe that they explain why countries do or do not go to war. Dependent: Go to war.

Feminist critiques of international relations theories are primarily about representation of women in politics. (T/F)

False. Although some scholars have pointed out the disparity in the number of women involved in foreign policy decision making, many other scholars focus on issues such as the lack of female perspective in theoretical framing of foreign policies or the damage that the patriarchal nature of international relations can do to the world.

Theoretical perspectives focus on conceptual factors to explain why things happen internationally. (T/F)

False. Although some theoretical perspectives put heavy emphasis on conceptual factors, others favor material factors as explanatory variables.

Realists would find Russian identity and patriotism with regard to Crimea to be an important factor in explaining the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (T/F)

False. Identity is much more important to constructivist explanations than to realist ones.

Most realists agree that international institutions shape events in international relations. (T/F)

False. Realists pay little attention to such institutions as the UN, believing them to be less important than states in shaping outcomes.

Realists would find the wishes of domestic actors in Ukraine and Russia to be an important factor in explaining the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (T/F)

False. Realists tend to assume that the state is a unitary actor and thus place less emphasis on domestic politics.

There is one main theoretical perspective in international relations today. (T/F)

False. There are at least three major perspectives in international relations today.

Most versions of liberal theory agree that states are unitary actors. (T/F)

False. This is more of a realist assumption than a liberal one.

Realists and neoliberal institutionalists agree that cooperation is possible under anarchy. (T/F)

False. This statement fits a neoliberal institutionalist approach but not a realist one.

Realists and neoliberal institutionalists agree that absolute gains are not relevant to states.

False. This statement fits a realist approach but not a neoliberal institutionalist one.

States prioritize their own security above other concerns -> complex interdependence (T/F)

False. This statement is more indicative of a realist perspective, whereas complex interdependence comes from the liberal tradition.

Anarchy means that the international system is chaotic and lawless. (T/F)

False. While we often associate anarchy with "chaos," in international relations we do not mean that there is chaos and lawlessness in the international system, only that there is no single government or global police officer who can enforce their will on every state.

Constructivism

Ideas and culture are powerful concepts in international relations.

There are several kinds of factors that theories might use to explain international relations. Those with a physical presence, such as states, individuals, or international institutions are known as what kind of factors?

Material. Material factors are particularly important to realist, liberal, and radical theories.

When you meet someone for the first time in a business setting, the correct way of greeting them is shaped powerfully by the society in which you live. What is this collective expectation for proper behavior an example of?

Norm. There are many norms in the international realm. While they are not as strong as laws, they are often crucial to understanding why things happen the way they do.

What do realists mean when they say the state is a "unitary actor"?

Once the state has adopted a policy, it is assumed to be acting as one unit to achieve that goal. This is in contrast to other theoretical perspectives that argue that internal divisions can drive foreign policy decisions for states.

Which theoretical perspective focuses most on economic explanations of international relations?

Radicalism. Radicalism is rooted in discussion of economic structures and inequality; radicalism includes both Marxism and dependency theory.

What theoretical perspective believes that states' main focus is on their security?

Realism. Realism puts heavy emphasis on security and power.

Realism

Security is the primary concern of states. Realism includes such theories as neorealism, offensive realism, and defensive realism.

Gondor and Mordor are two nations bordering each other that have periodically been at war and consider each other enemies. Every time one of them develops a new weapon to give themselves a military advantage, the other side feels less safe than they did before and so they feel compelled to develop equally powerful, or even more powerful, weapons in response. This is an example of what dilemma?

Security. The security dilemma is directly tied into the idea of a zero-sum situation; that one state's increase in security and safety must necessarily make others less safe and secure.

What would a liberal explanation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict consider an important cause?

The important role played by international institutions, i.e. EU and NATO. Liberals believe that international institutions play a powerful shaping role on events.

The security dilemma is a good example of how states' concerns over absolute gains can drive their behavior. (T/F)

The security dilemma is more directly related to relative gains as it is all about how secure a state feels *relative* to the gain in security experienced by their neighbor or rival.

What would be most important to a neorealist in explaining events in international relations?

The structure of the international system. Neorealists start by examining the distribution of power in the international system.

What is a collection of propositions that combine to explain phenomena by specifying the relationships among a set of concepts?

Theory

Most realists agree that unitary states act in an anarchic system. (T/F)

To realists, states tend to act with one voice. Although initially there might be internal discussion and debate, once a decision is reached, most realist approaches assume that the state is working in unison to accomplish that decision.

Interconnectedness leads to a decline in the use of military force -> complex interdependence (T/F)

True. Because states have stronger ties than a strict focus on security might indicate, we end up with fewer military conflicts than we might otherwise.

Realists and neoliberal institutionalists agree that anarchy exists in the international system. (T/F)

True. Both theories accept anarchy but react to it in different ways.

Realists and neoliberal institutionalists agree that states rationally pursue their own self-interest. (T/F)

True. Both theories start from the assumption of states as rational actors.

Most versions of liberal theory agree that cooperation is possible even under anarchy. (T/F)

True. Contrast this with realism, where cooperation is seen as unlikely at best.

Although each perspective contains several theories, these theories tend to focus on similar factors in explaining international relations. (T/F)

True. For example, although there are many varieties of realism, they all put heavy emphasis on material factors in explaining why things happen.

Formal organizations, such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and treaties such as the Law of the Sea Treaty, are all examples of international institutions. (T/F)

True. International laws and regimes can act as institutions in that they set up rules that govern the behavior of states.

None of the major theoretical perspectives can, by itself, explain the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (T/F)

True. It is important to remember that there is no single, correct theoretical explanation of international relations. Different theories may be more or less persuasive, and may illuminate different events in different ways.

Most realists agree that power is vital for states to ensure their security. (T/F)

True. Most realist explanations at their heart are concerned with the security of the state and the power necessary to achieve it.

Most realists agree that states can manage the threat of war but can never eliminate it. (T/F)

True. Most realists believe that war and violence are inherent among humans.

Realists would find Russian's aggression in Ukraine helped strengthen its credibility with its neighbors. to be an important factor in explaining the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (T/F)

True. Offensive realists would argue that Russia's willingness to engage in military actions against Ukraine put other neighboring countries on notice and made these weaker neighbors more compliant to Russia's wishes.

Liberals are more likely than realists to believe that humans are capable of sustained cooperation. (T/F)

True. Realists are very pessimistic about cooperation succeeding, whereas liberals believe that even in a world where states cheat on agreements, it can still be rational for states to attempt to cooperate.

Anarchy exists at the international system level because there is no global police or government that can resolve disputes and enforce laws. (T/F)

True. There may be one or more superpowers, but even these superpowers lack the enforcement strength that, say, the government of the United States has over its citizens.

Realism and liberalism are among the major theoretical perspectives in international relations today. (T/F)

True. These two, along with constructivism, make up the major perspectives used by scholars today.

Realists would find NATO expansion into Russia's sphere of influence to be an important factor in explaining the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (T/F)

True. This expansion threatened Russia's security and thus would be relevant to realist explanations.

Most versions of liberal theory agree that states focus on things beyond security and survival. (T/F)

True. This is in sharp contrast to realism, which focuses heavily on security.

Most versions of liberal theory agree that actors in international relations are largely rational. (T/F)

True. This is something that most liberal theories have in common with most realist theories.

In domestic politics, anarchy is overcome by the government. (T/F)

True. This was not always the case. One does not have to go back too far in human history to find a time when centralized governments capable of enforcing laws were the exception rather than the rule.

Both liberals and realists agree that the international system is anarchic. (T/F)

True. While realists are more pessimistic than liberals about the ability of states to cooperate under anarchy, both accept that it exists.