Political Science and the Understanding of International Relations: An Introduction

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• Political Science and the Understanding of
  International Relations An Introduction
• Marwa Daoudy
• daoudy_at_hei.unige.ch
• daoudy_at_ceri-sciences-po.org

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Announcements

• Overview course, exam, readings
• Baylis Smith, eds., Globalization of World
  Politics, 2005 Battistella, 2004 on hold.
• Depts Web Site (slides)
• Office hours Wed. 230-330 PM
• Course assistant Andrew Prosser
• prosser0_at_hei.unige.ch

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Course Objectives

• Facts, Concepts Ideas
• Importance of Readings
• Identify Theories
• Sustain arguments

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The Study of International Relations

• I. What is IR? Political Science IR
• II. Theory Methodology - Value
• III. Main Theories
• IV. Three Paradigms

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I. What is International Relations?

• Relationships among worlds governments
• Relations among Actors
• Political Science IR

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II. Methods

• Descriptive immediate, short-term consequences
• Theoretical place event in context of more
  general pattern

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II. Value of Theory

• Transparency
• Enduring analytical tools

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II. Methodology

• Methods used in developing and testing various
  theories
• Induction building theories from facts
• Deduction predicting facts from theory

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Thinking Theoretically Empirically

• Generalize explanations
• Think critically about IR events
• Consider several diff. theoretical explanations
  for best explanation

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Summary

• What kind of international relations? What
  issue-areas are relevant?
• What do diff. theories have to say about scope of
  interactions and type of interactions?
• What kind of interactions mostly conflictual or
  cooperative?
• What are possible approaches and methods to the
  political study of IR?

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III. What are Main Theories?

• Origins
• Scope
• Type
• Institutions

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III. Three World Views (1)

• Conservative (preservation of order)
• Liberal (evolution of status quo)
• Revolutionary/Radical (overthrow of status quo)

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III. Three World Views (2)

• Realism, Liberalism, Radicalism
• Critical Approaches (postmodernism)
• Origins (intellectual heritage)
• Scope (issue-areas, sub-fields)
• Type (conflict vs. cooperation)
• Value of Institutions

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Liberalism (O)

• World War I
• League of Nations
• World War II
• United Nations
• Intellectual Heritage

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Liberalism (S)

• Security, economic, new issue-areas

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Liberalism (T)

• Actors will cooperate for common good

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Liberalism (I)

• International Institutions foster cooperation
• International Law constrains powerful states
• International law strong fairness element

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Realism (O)

• Skepticism about cooperation ancient
• Failure of League to prevent WWII
• Intellectual heritage

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Realism (S)

• Security affairs prime
• Economic cooperation relevant if security
  objectives advanced

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Realism (T)

• Human beings are power-seeking, aggressive and
  fearful
• Cooperation is ephemeral.

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Realism (I)

• International Institutions are inadequate, cannot
  foster cooperation
• International Law is a tool for powerful states.

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Radicalism (O)

• Discontent with workings of capitalism and
  dominance relations
• Intellectual heritage

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Radicalism (S)

• Economic relations prime, permeates other issues

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Radicalism (T)

• Conflict is sine qua non of the system
• Class determines interest

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Radicalism (I)

• Institutions help capitalists exploit workers.
• Institutions help rich countries exploit poor
  countries.

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Theories and Actors

• Different theoretical views on imp. of diff.
  actors
• Realists States
• Liberals States IOs MNCs
• Political Psychologists leaders, officials,
  individuals..