POLSCI 130
WORLD POLITICS

 

~ these notes most correspond to Allegheny's PSC 130: World Politics, Prof. Wesoky ~

 

 

MIDTERM REVIEW

Sovereignty characteristic that state is politically independent of all other states (equality and independence, regard and respect).

 

Challenges to sovereignty: cultural diversity, frozen boundaries, substantive inequality, evolution of world society.

 

Four characteristics of a state: territory, legitimate government, loyal population, recognition of other states.

 

Five values of state systems security, freedom, order, justice, welfare

          Security (power politics, conflict and war) realism

          Freedom (cooperation, peace and progress) liberalism

          Order and justice (shared interests, rules and institutions) int. society

          Welfare (wealth, poverty, equality) IPE theories

 

Balance of power when power of one (or group of) state is checked by the counteracting of other states

 

Core values of International Society: international peace and security, state sovereignty, self-determination, non-intervention, non-discrimination.

 

WESTPHALIAN SOCIETY:

 

-         peace of Westphalia in 1645. Marked the point of which the language of international society moved from Christianity to cultural diversity. Diversity became based on sovereignty.

 

-         Based on secular principles:

1.     King is emperor in his own realm every king is independent (kings were absolute rulers)

2.     Ruler determines religion of his own realm rulers decide on values and norms (can relate to human rights)

3.     Balance of power states would mutually make a rule that no hegemon would have absolute power

 

-         non-intervention states would not intervene with values of other states.

-         rulers have ultimate authority

 

Principals of Westphalian Society:

-         Equality all states are equal under int. law

-         Legitimacy all states are recognized as legitimate

-         Diplomacy system that managed relations between countries

-         Balance of power states will prevent creating of hegemon

 

- in 1960 this system became international law

 

MAJOR IR APPROACHES:

1.     realism

2.     liberalism

3.     international society

4.     international political economy (IPE)

 

 

REALISM

 

1.     States are principal actors. States are of central importance

2.     States are unitary and rational

3.     National security issues are most important

 

- international system : an anarchy no authority above states

- unitary: state speaks with one voice on human nature

- rational: a state will make the best decisions for its goals

- pessimistic view of human nature

- IR are conflictual and int. conflicts are solvable by war

- national security and state survival important issues

- billard ball view: when balls clash, it doesnt matter what goes on IN them, but which arrangement they end up in (not important HOW states come to a political views, just what ultimate decision is)

 

Classical realism:

1.     focuses on human nature

2.     allows to some extent values and norms

3.     power

 

-         Morgenthau 6 principles of classical realism

Ø      Human nature is unchanging, self-interested. It is what objectively determines politics.

Ø      In IP most important concept is power

Ø      Universally applied applies to all states

Ø      Politics does have moral implications, but leaders must focus on political rather than moral consequences

Ø      No universally agreed-upon moral principles

Ø      Political sphere is autonomous, independent of other spheres.

 

Neorealism:

-         structure anarchy. Anarchy determines behavior.

-         balance of power outcome of anarchy is balance of power.  Maintainance of balance of power is key to int. peace and security.

-         parable of stag-hunt a group of people have an option of cooperation to catch the stag that will feed them for a long time. Not possible if one member doesnt cooperate or gets side-tracked by a rabbit.

-         Ultimately, states will act to help themselves.

 

 

-         Security Dilemma: in an anarchic system a gain in one countries security system causes a loss in anothers. This leads to arms races battle between countries to get bigger and more powerful weapons.

 

-         Distribution of capabilities: balance of power

Ø      multipolar power divided by 3 or more countries (alliances more fluid since there is no ideological borders)

Ø      bipolar two states have almost same power and far more than other states (alliances not important since it does not affect top powers if they loose or gain an ally)

 

-         question of balance of power: voluntary or systematic

 

Critiques of realism:

 

1.     inherently moral (claims to be scientific and neutral but has moral qualities)

2.     deterministic (doesnt allow room for human choices and decisions)

3.     change in int. system and balance of power (realists cant explain changes except through war)

 

 

LIBERALISM

 

1.     non-state actors

2.     disagregate

3.     multiple issues: population growth, environmental, trade, hunger, welfare, human rights, monetary issues etc

 

-         human nature is not evil

-         peaceful and cooperative solutions are possible

-         belief in progress

-         humans and states can live harmoniously

-         states are NOT main actors. We do NOT live in an absolute anarchy

-         states arent unitary dont have single set of coherent issues. Might have diverse issues.

-         Rights and freedom of individual

-         Military force is not only way to influence: economic measures, NGOs, diplomacy etc.

-         Focus on causing of PEACE (why despite anarchy states arent at war with each other)

 

Sociological Liberalism:

-         transnationalism: relations that cross borders, not just state-state relations

-         relations between individuals, groups and societies

-         traits of modernization: internet, development of European society, transportation improvements, TV etc

-         globalization: emergence of global culture, economic transformation, global civic society, communication.

 

Interdependence Liberalism:

-         states depend on each other, result of the modern world

-         modernization increases level of interdependence between states

-         welfare not security is most important issue

-         focuses on economic interdependence

-         issues: environmental, trade (issues that arent solved by war)

1.     Functionalist view: more likely that technical experts rather than political will solve problems. Looks at interdependence as existing in functional areas.

2.     Neofunctionalist view: cooperation and integration are political, not purely technical. Optimistic idea of spillover cooperation in one state will lead to cooperation in others.

-         complex interdependence increasing role for economic relationships and transnational values.

(Realists see this as vulnerability if states depend on each other, they cant change their policies.

Liberals see this as sensitivity states who are interdependent will look at and adopt new policies in long run.)

 

Institutional Liberalism:

-         international institutions promote cooperation between states.

-         international inst. can emerge naturally, voluntarily, enabling states to cooperate with each other, promoting common good.

-         int. inst. reduce states fear of each other

 

Republican Liberalism:

-         democracies dont go to war with each other

-         economic ties, same values, idea of peaceful conflict resolution, citizen role in voting etc. (reasons why they dont)

 

Decision-making Liberalism:

-         how certain aspects of domestic decision-making influences important outcomes.

 

Critiques of liberalism:

1.     as long as there is anarchy, self help and the security dilemma are warranted.

2.     human nature highly complex

 

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

 

Mercantilism: economy should serve politics.

-         The US has a big trade deficit (more import than export) but still is the most powerful country - other reasons: strong military, domestically strong economy)

-         National interest rules over market place

-         States - main actors, state power - economic goal

-         Excessive economic dependence should be avoided

-         When economic and security interests conflict, security should have priority

-         Biggest debate: hegemonic stability - need for a strong state to create a smoothly functioning liberal international economy.

 

Economic liberalism: free market economy, minimum government interference

-         focuses on rights and freedoms of individual in economy as well as among states

-         market economy is an autonomous sphere of society

-         economy - sphere for cooperation and mutual benefit

-         Debates: many issues, economic globalization

-         economics sphere autonomous

-         individuals and private firms - main actors; maximum well being - economic goal.

 

MARXISM

 

-         economy is inequality between social classes

-         wealth of the rich is dependent on the poverty of the poor

-         politics is determined by socio-economic content.

-         main assumption: look at states and non-state actors, but in terms of classes cooperating in a capitalist system. How different classes interact within the global international system

-         importance of historical analasys: capitalism grew out of feudalism, socialism and communism follow capitalism. Historical evolution evolves from class differences, history is a series of inevitable changes.

-         Issues of war and peace deriving from economic causes.

-         2 elements of society: substructure (base) and superstructure. Base determines superstructure. Economic system produces effects in the political culture.

-         2 classes: bourgeoisie (own the means of production) and proleteriat (own only their labor power).

-         Most important debate: development and underdevelopment in Third World.

 

 

Imperialism:

-         territorial domination of one or more societies by more dominant societies

-         it's peak was at the end of XIX. century. Officially ended after WW2, but many Marxists believe it still exists today:

-         certain amount of economic domination taking place of territorial domination. New ways of rich exploiting the poor.

Cultural Imperialism:

-         spread of one culture into other countries to the point where it dominates local countries.

-         Marxists see cultural imperialism as an outgrowth of capitalism.

 

-         Marxist approaches were very influential until WW2 with the emergence of the Cold War when they lost their credibility. Then, the economic recession in the 70's caused a new interest in Marxism.

 

WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY

 

-         divides into 3 parts:

  1. the core (usually democratic states, with good welfare benefits, education etc)
  2. the periphery (poorest countries of the world, provide source of raw material for production in the core)
  3. the semi-periphery (intermediate, has industrial base, but provides cheaper source of labor)

 

Reasons why this is occurring:

-         view of declining terms of trade (raw material prices stay the same while the cost of products are increasing)

-         view of unequal exchange (wages and work rights do not match in the core and periphery)

 

DEPENDENCY THEORY

 

-         periphery most dependent on production of raw material

-         existence of separatist states despite capitalist theory of spreading:

  1. states provide legal systems
  2. states provide investments in certain things that are necessary for development
  3. competition between states ensures that states will not restrict capitalists.

 

Critiques of Marxism:

  1. Empirical problems - most economic relations in the world are between rich countries (not between rich and poor as Marxists would say)
  2. Economic determinism - idea that larger structures determine particular outcomes: - doesn't allow other influences in politics; - blames capitalist system for poverty, which means that domestic affairs aren't considered.
  3. Anomalities - There are some countries that don't fit into the Marxist model, countries that move into the semi-periphery or core ("4 tigers").

 

Debates in IPE:

  1. hegemonic stability
  2. development and underdevelopment
  3. globalization and changing role of states

 

FINAL REVIEW:

Old Identification Terms:

 

SOVEREIGNTY - a state's characteristic of being politically independent of all other states

BALANCE OF POWER - idea that states would present creating of a hegemon. When power of one state is checked bu the counteracting of other states.

HEGEMON - one state that is very powerful and much more powerful than other states.

UNITARY - state speaks with one voice on foreign politics

BILLARD BALL VIEW - states are like billiard balls; when balls clash, it doesn't matter what goes on inside of them, but in which arrangement they end up in: not important how states come to a political view, but what the ultimate decision is.

RATIONAL - a state will make the best decisions for its goals. Assumes states will choose best policies, view the world accurately, don't have misperceptions etc.

PRESTIGE - ability of a state to win not by power but with diplomacy

SECURITY DILEMMA - in an anarchic system a gain in once country's security is a loss in another's. This is what leads to ARMS RACES - battle between countries to get bigger and more powerful weapons.

COGNITIVE BIAS - dissonance - we tend to assimilate incoming information with our already existing beliefs, which can lead to COGNITIVE CLOSURE.

PERIPHERY - poorest countries in the world; provides source of raw material for production in the core

CORE - the richest countries, usually democratic, with good education, welfare benefits etc

SEMI PERIPHERY - intermediate, has industrial base, but provides much cheaper source of labor than the periphery.

VULNERABILITY - one state's gain is another's loss; states are not all-powerful in terms that they can be hurt by the international system.

WORLD SOCIETY - due to globalization and modernization, there is an evolution of a world society that is overcoming absolute anarchy.  Certain system of norms, values and common good that are beneficial to every state.

SELF HELP SYSTEM - because of anarchy, states will ultimately act to help themselves.

BOURGEOISIE - own the means of production

PROLETERIAT - own only their labor power

 

IR

-          Characteristics of a state: territory, legitimate government, loyal population, recognition of other states

-          Values of state systems: security (realism), freedom (liberalism), order and justice (int. society), welfare (IPE)

-          Values of international society: international peace and security, state sovereignty, self-determination, non-intervention, non-discrimination

Westphalian Society

-          Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Set the principles of sovereignty.

-          Based on secular principles: every king is independent, ruler decides on values and norms, states would mutually assure balance of power

-          Non-intervention: states would not intervene with values of other states

-          Principles: equality, legitimacy, diplomacy, balance of power

-          In 1960 this system became international la

Realism

-          states are principal actors, of central importance

-          states are unitary and rational

-          national security issues are most important

-          international system is an anarchy, no authority above states

-          pessimistic view of human nature

 

Classical Realism - focuses on human nature, as unchanging and self-interested. Allows to some extent certain values and norms, universally applied. Most important concept in international politics is power. Political sphere is autonomous, independent on other spheres.

Classical Realists: Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes (Security Dilemma),

 

Neorealism - structure - anarchy. Anarchy determines behavior. Outcome of anarchy is balance of power. Maintenance of balance of power is key to int. peace and security. Ultimately states will act to help themselves.

Neorealists: Morgenthau, Waltz, Mearscheimer

 

-          multipolar: power divided by 3 or more countries

-          bipolar: two states have almost same power and much more than other states

Liberalism

 

-          non state actors more important

-          multiple issues: environmental, population growth, trade, human rights etc

-          human nature is not evil

-          belief in progress and peaceful and cooperative solutions

-          states are not main actors, we do not live in absolute anarchy

-          rights and freedoms of individual

 

Classical Liberalists: Locke, Bentham, Kant.

 

Sociological Liberalism: relations between individuals, groups & societies. Transnationalism - relations that cross borders, not just state-state relations. Traits of modernization - Internet, development of European society. Globalization - emergence of global culture, economic transformation, global civic society.

 

Interdependence Liberalism: states depend on each other. Modernization increases level of interdependence between states. Transnational actors important. Welfare not security most important issue.

 

Institutional Liberalism: international institutions promote cooperation between states. Reduce state's fear of each other. Can emerge naturally, voluntarily, promoting common good.

 

Republican Liberalism: Democracies won't go to war with each other. Democracies have economic ties, same values, idea of peaceful conflict resolution etc

 

Decision-making Liberalism: how certain aspects of domestic decision-making influences important outcomes.

International Society

-          middle way between realists and liberalists. IR a society of sovereign states

-          states are sovereign, but certain principles do exist

-          main actors - statespeople

-          values: order, justice, state sovereignty, human rights

-          main point - preservation and promotion of international order. Great powers have responsibility to sustain order between states.

-          Three types of responsibilities: national, international and humanitarian

 

International Societist: Hedley Bull ("International Society")

IPE

-          relationship between politics and economics

-          debates: hegemonic stability, development & underdevelopment, globalization & changing role of states

 

Mercantilism: economy should serve politics. National interests rule over market place. States are main actors, state power - economic goal. Excessive economic dependence should be avoided. When economic and security interests conflict, security should have priority.

 

Economic Liberalism: free market economy, minimum government interference. Economic sphere is autonomous. Individuals and private firms main actors. Market economy - autonomous sphere. Economic goal - maximum well-being. Adam Smith.

 

Marxism: economy is inequality between social classes. Wealth of rich is dependent on poverty of poor. Politics is determined by socio-economic content. Looks at states and nonstate actors in terms of classes cooperating in a capitalist system. Historical evolution evolves from class differences. Issues of war and peace deriving from economic causes. Two elements of society: substructure and superstructure. Two classes: bourgeoisie and proletariat. Most important debate - development and underdevelopment in the III world.

 

WORLD SYSTEM THEORY - divides the world into three parts - core, periphery and semi-periphery. Raw material prices stay the same while the costs of products are increasing. Unequal exchange - wages and work rights do not match in the core and periphery.

 

DEPENDENCY THEORY - periphery most dependent on production of raw material. Existence of separatist states despite capitalist theory of spreading

Methodology

-          the way we gather facts and knowledge influences outcome

-          conclusions are influenced by processes used to come to them.

 

Post-positive theories: critical theory, post-modernism theory, constructivism, and normative theory.

 

Critical theory: very critical of positivism - believes that positivists are so concentrated on status quo, too conservative. Should take broader viewpoint. All knowledge is biased. Knowledge inherently political.

 

Post-modernism theory: Rejects idea that objectivity is possible. Very critical of big theories of the world. Believe world is too biased and changing to have such broad and general theories. Theories contaminated by standpoints and prejudices.

 

Constructivism: our understanding of the world is a social construction. Emphasize role of shared knowledge and ideas of the social world. Anarchy is what states make of it (Wendt). If our shared knowledge of the world changes, we can also change.

 

Normative theory: moral aspects of international relations. Look at the world as it ought to be. Relationship between facts and values - they shouldn't be separated. Relativism - values are not universal, usually are specific to particular cultures, circumstances. Universalism - there are certain values that apply to all circumstances.

 International law sets normative framework

  1. laws of war (states won't attack each other unless in self defense). Borders sacred. Legal wars
  2. laws in war - what are legal and illegal forms of conduct in war. Can't kill non-combatants, protect civilians, soldiers have right to surrender, Red Cross territories respected as neutral etc.

Individuals as well as states can be held responsible for violating these laws.

Other Issues:

 

- Gender: Anne Tickner, reformulated Morgenthau's 6 principles of the realist view of the world. Feminists especially critical of realism. Liberal feminism: emphasizes equality between men and women. Examined in terms of sameness. Women need greater representation in arenas of w. politics. Women are underrepresented. Look at promoting more equality, increasing female roles in politics etc.

 

New identification terms:

 

IRREDENTISM - goal of regaining lost property

SECESSION - efforts by a sub state area to draw borders around itself and create own state

ETHNOCENTRISM - see own group favorably and out-group in unfavorable terms, even to point where other group is dehumanized so that it becomes feasible to violently attack.

DÉTENTE - regulating arms race - emergence of more cooperative relations between the US and Russia in the 1970's.

MAD - Mutually Assured of Destruction - During Cold War - both countries had far more than enough to massively retaliate

PROLIFERATION - spread of various types of weapons capabilities to states that had previously lacked these capabilities.

SELF DETERMINATION - group that feels dominated might want greater influence in decisions.

CULTURAL RELATIVITY - idea that there are certain cultural practices that can't be judged by other countries

UNIVERSALISM - idea that there are particular norms and they should be universal to all countries.

SEPARATISM - when a group of people wants own territory

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to fulfill their needs.

DESPARITY - differences in wealth

THE COMMONS - areas of the world that arent individually owned (oceans etc)

COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE - production of a good service at a lower cost than the competitions.

DETTERENCE - when a state presents a credible military threat to its potential enemy

GNP - Gross National Product - total monetary value of all goods and services produced by economy in given year.

HARD CURRENCY - currencies used in international markets -corporations and governments accept them

IMPORT SUBSITUTION - an economic strategy to avoid trade but work on development - developing local industries to replace imports

EXPORT LED GROWTH - country will develop industries that can compete in world market.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE - the original people of an area who have lost political control over their ancestral lands (ex. Nunavut in Canada)

IMF - International Monetary Fund - provides loans to other members to stabilize their currency

GLOBALIZATION - spread of a culture to other states, emergence of one world-dominant culture.

PATERNALISM - acting as a father, doing for someone's "own good".

NATIONALISM - and individual's feeling of identity within an ethnic group based on shared traits - language, religion, culture, history

PERCEPTUAL SELECTIVITY - some information gets to through to conscious thought, while other facts may be ignored or misinterpreted.

IGO - International Governmental Organization - where states are members (UN, EU)

NGO - Non Governmental Organization - where individuals or private groups are members (Red Cross etc)

PROTECTIONISM - a government policy using tariffs and other regulations to restrict imports and keep out foreign competition.

ASSIMILATION - a view that people will people will eventually give up customs of inferior culture to become members of a superior one.

RACISM - judging of groups or individuals based on culturally defined understandings of biological differences.

COMMUNITARIALISM - view that a group is more important than the individual when thinking about rights.

TOLERANCE - acceptance of cultural differences without ethnocentric judgment.

 

Ethnicity and Global Diversity

-          Hunters and gatherers:  People in bands share with one another. All benefit from the successes of any one individual. Once the plats and animals of one area are depleted, they are forced to move their camps to a new place. No designated leaders in bands. Competition between bands is minimal. Cooperation is essential ideal.

-          Agriculturalists: own personal possessions. Some are more prestigious than others. Poorer clans become dependent on the generosity of richer ones in times of need. Equality not an ideal. Social rank becomes issue. Outstanding individuals are recognized and followed.

-          Pastoralists: farmers as well, but consider farming secondary in status to herding cattle. Nomadic movement. Differences in wealth are clear, dictate difference in status. Raiding is common.

-          State organization: primitive states are dependent on agriculture as major source of food. Economic specialization and market exchange. Certain groups of people are considered inherently better than others. Warfare common. Industrialism changes focus from farm to factory.

 

Biologically there is only once race - homo sapiens, all closely related. The typical division of races are social arrangements. Typical race categories in US: Native American, American Asian, African, Hispanic, Caucasian. These differences are largely social, not created by biological differences.

Forces that give a nation a sense of collective identity: religion, language, history etc.

Classes: ascribed status - born into, already have royal titles or wealth. Achieved status - one earned by actions of individual.

 

CULTURAL RELATIVITY - idea that there are certain cultural practices that can't be judged by other cultures. (cultural pluralism)

UNIVERSALISM - idea that there are particular norms that could and should be universal to all countries. (global unity).

 

 

Perspectives: state primacy, global unity, cultural pluralism

 

State primacy - ultimate goal:state sovereignty. Patriotism. Seeks to strengthen present system. Sees states as important to world peace. Sees current system as good.

 

Global Unity - goal: unified world system. Assimilation. Seeks political integration. Sees states as artificial constructs. Sees current system as overly differentiated.

 

Cultural Pluralism - goal: cultural autonomy. Tolerance and diversity. Seeks to increase power of ethnic groups. Sees states as artificial constructs. Sees current system as overly centralized.

 

NATIONALISM

 

-          positive vs. negative

Positive: provides sense of belonging. In inter-state systems states seen as more legitimate when nations are presented by states. Create inspiration - music, literature.

Negative: promotes ideas of chauvinism (belief that nation is superior), xenophobia (hate of foreigners), militarism (solving my military means). Threat to peace, promotes break up of states, makes it more difficult for states to cooperate.

 

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