• Chapter 3

Middle Earth and Three Great Debates in International Relations

The Great Debatesin International Relations

1st Great Debate (20s & 30s)

2nd Great Debate (50s-80s)

3rd Great Debate (80s & on)

The 1st Great

Debate

Visions of the future

Classical Realism

Classical Liberalism

Marxism

CLASSICAL REALISM

• Humans are eternally aggressive

• Conflict is the normal state of the world

• States are primary actors in the international system

• Ends justify means

• People are inherently good, so conflict can be reduced through social learning

• Conflict is not the norm, but an aberration

• NGO’s & other non-state actors play a significant role in the international system

CLASSICAL LIBERALISM

MARXISM

• Focuses on conflict among different economic classes

• Social revolution promotes greater equality

• Trees in Fangorn resist perceived efforts to exploit them

The 2nd

Great Debate

Method:History vs.

Science

English School

Rational Choice

Neo-realism

Neo-liberalism

Neo-Marxism

English School

Focuses on “international society”

of states

Rational ChoiceUnbounded Rationality

Actors “maximize their

interests” through cost-

benefit analysis

Rational ChoiceBounded

Rationality

Calculations are informed by self-awareness and

psychological factors

Neo-Realism

Inter-state conflict is inevitable because of anarchic structure of

international system

Key variable is distribution of military power

Under anarchy, lack of overarching power or government puts states

into a “security dilemma”

Defensive

Realism

States seek to increase power only

under certain circumstances

Offensive Realism

States seek to increase power to maximize

their security

Neo-Liberalism

Inter-state cooperation is feasible

Greater concentration on role of international institutions in constraining behavior and

overcoming barriersThe more contact states have

through trade, investment, tourism, etc.,

the stronger the reciprocity

Neo-Marxism

Inter-state conflict is inevitable because of anarchic structure of

international systemKey variable is

distribution of military power

Under anarchy, lack of overarching power or government

puts states into a “security dilemma”

Gramscian

Dependency

World Systems

The 3rd Great

Debate

How knowledge is acquired

Constructivism

Critical Theory

Positivism

Constructivists

Emphasizes role of socially constructed ideas in shaping

International RelationsWithout a perceived security threat, warlike behavior isn’t considered

and the “norm” is peace

Constructed worlds can constrain behavior in international politics

Critical Theory

Questions rationalist state-centric framework and research agenda

Focuses on alternative issues and marginalized populations

Argue that normative concerns should be included in International

Relations

Where is IR theory

now?