GO131:

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GO131 International Relations Professor Walter
Hatch Colby College
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How Americans See the World
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(No Transcript)
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What in the world is IR?

• One of four fields in political science
• Had been the study of bipolar relations
• In late 80s, focused on international political
  economy
• After 9/11, refocused on security

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Studying IR after 9/11/01

• States still matter
• State territorial entity controlled by a
  government and inhabitated by a population
• State does not nation
• State exercises sovereignty answers to no higher
  authority
• IR deals with relations between sovereign or
  mostly sovereign states

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Origins of Interstate System

• Warring city-states
• Modern system grew through centralization of
  power
• Thirty Years War (1618-48)

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The Westphalian System

• Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
• 1700s Industrialization (Great Britain, France,
  Prussia or Germany)
• Napolean
• Congress of Vienna (1815)

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The System Fails

• Imperialism
• Continued great power conflict

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Explaining IRLevels of Analysis (Waltz)

• First Image The individual
• Second Image The State
• Third Image The international system

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IR Theories

• Realism
• Liberalism

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Realism Liberalism
1) International system characterized by anarchy 1) International system is a mix of anarchy and order
2) States are unitary actors and are central to the international system 2) States are not unitary/domestic politics matter
3) States are rational they seek survival through power in the short run. This is their national interest 3) States are rational if democratic, they seek peace and prosperity in the long run
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http//wps.ablongman.com/long_goldstein_ir_7