1 / 12

International Relations

International Relations. PSC 124.200: Introduction. Today. Are you registered for this class? Digital pictures Overview of the syllabus Index cards Nau, preface and introduction. The question for this course. Are international relations undergoing fundamental and irreversible changes?

Samuel
Download Presentation

International Relations

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. International Relations PSC 124.200: Introduction

  2. Today • Are you registered for this class? • Digital pictures • Overview of the syllabus • Index cards • Nau, preface and introduction Hans Peter Schmitz

  3. The question for this course • Are international relations undergoing fundamental and irreversible changes? • Is the international system shifting away from state-centrism? • Are non-state actors effectively challenging states? Hans Peter Schmitz

  4. Are you Hans Peter Schmitz

  5. What are international relations? • Political: States, IGOs, and NGOs • Traditional (states only): War, diplomacy, sanctions, foreign aid, military alliances, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) • Non-traditional (including non-state actors): Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), terrorism, drug trade • Economic: Multinational corporations (MNCs) • Trade in goods, financial services, remittances, sanctions, drug trade • Social/Cultural: Ideas and individuals • Migration, tourism, professional organizations, human rights, adoptions, religion, etc. Hans Peter Schmitz

  6. In the past Actors: States Issues: War and Peace Principles: State sovereignty and self-interst Power based on: military strength and economic development PBS frontline (video selection) In the future? Actors: States, International organizations, business corporations, NGOs Issues: Trade, environment, global justice, development, etc. Principles: Interdependence and human rights Power based on: Capacity to cooperate; technologies to solve global problems From inter-national politics to global affairs? Hans Peter Schmitz

  7. Why theories? Purpose of theories in international relations: • Positivism: Explain and predict by reducing the complexity of reality (examples: Neorealism, Institutionalism). • Normativism: Challenge reality with reference to normative standpoints/values and develop strategies of fundamental global change (examples: Feminism and gender equality; Marxism and class struggle; Idealism and human rights). Hans Peter Schmitz

  8. Nau’s approach (preface) • Theories and ‘facts’ • Three perspectives: power, institutions, and ideas • Three theories: realism, institutionalism, and constructivism (idealism) Hans Peter Schmitz

  9. Chapter 1: Perspectives • What do perspectives do? • They help us reduce complexity and choose a specific lens (example: Darfur) • Understand how leaders think • Identify the primary causes of conflict Hans Peter Schmitz

  10. Chapter 1: Levels of Analysis • Individual level (first image): psychology of leaders • Domestic level (second image): characteristics of the political system (example: democracy) • International level (third image): character of the international system (example: anarchy) Hans Peter Schmitz

  11. Chapter 1: Theories • Realism: power struggles among states; solution: balance of power • Institutionalism: self-interested cooperation among states; solution: regimes based on shared interests • Constructivism (idealism, identity perspective): differences in identities; solution: shared norms Hans Peter Schmitz

  12. Who, what, why, and how? Hans Peter Schmitz

More Related