PLS 341: American Foreign PolicyPLS 341: American Foreign Policy

Theories in IRTheories in IR

The Idea-Based -isms

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Thus Far…

• On Friday, we discussed four realisms:– Classical Realism

– Liberal Realism

– Neorealism

– Neoclassical Realism

• On Monday, we discussed many of the idealism theories

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Today…

• Today, we will discuss some of the theories of International Relations that hold state action depends on common ideals and ideas– Constructivism

– Marxism

– Functionalism

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Constructivism

• Realism deals mainly with security and material power

• Liberalism looks primarily at economic interdependence and domestic-level factors

• Constructivism most concerns itself with the role of ideas in shaping the international system

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Constructivism

• Those ideas?– Goals, threats, fears, identities, and

other elements of perceived reality that influence states and non-state actors within the system.

• Example: Who would be more threatened by a US military buildup? Canada or Cuba? Why? How would that reflect in their actions?

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Constructivism

• Finally, constructivists do not see anarchy as the invariable foundation of the international system

• Anarchy is not inevitable

• We created it, and we can create its successor

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Marxism

• One of the Critical Theories– Critical Theories focus on critiquing

and changing society, as opposed to merely understanding it

• The focus is on economic concerns, on class

• The international system is a capitalist system whose purpose is accumulation (of wealth, power, etc.)

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Marxism

• The system is based on two classes of people– The bourgeoisie own the means of

production

– The proletariat do not

• Economic power is also political power– If you hold the capital, you also

hold the political power

– The proletariat do not hold the power

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Marxism (Central Ideas)

• Alienation– Separation of things that naturally

belong together

• Class consciousness– Class becoming aware of its place

in society

• Commodity Fetishism– Personal relationships become

centered on capital

• Hegemonic Culture– The ideas of the age are the ideas

of the rulers

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Functionalism

• Focus on states sharing common interests and needs– Response to loss of state

sovereignty (as caused by globalization)

– States are no longer absolutely sovereign (interdependence)

• Functionalism proposed to replace realism with linked authorities and needs from the international system

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Functionalism

• Emphasis on ‘low politics’– Low politics are economics and

social movements

• Dominant Goals of Actors– Peace and prosperity of the state,

which requires peace and prosperity in other states

• Instruments of State Policy– Economic instruments used to

further state policies

• International Organizations– Have a substantial role

– They join the states together

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Assignment

• Read Chapter 1 from the Chittick text

• This chapter explains how Chittick sees foreign policy decisions and lays out a structure of study

• It also tells us what Chittick thinks is most important in studying foreign policy