POSC 2200 – Theoretical POSC 2200 – Theoretical ApproachesApproaches

Russell Alan WilliamsRussell Alan Williams

Department of Political ScienceDepartment of Political Science

Unit Two: Unit Two: Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches

““Marxism and RadicalismMarxism and Radicalism””

Required Reading:Required Reading: Globalization of World PoliticsGlobalization of World Politics, , Chapter 9Chapter 9 Vladimir Lenin, Vladimir Lenin, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Imperialism, the Highest Stage of

CapitalismCapitalism, Chapter VII, , Chapter VII, ““Imperialism as a Special Imperialism as a Special stage of Capitalismstage of Capitalism”” (Available from: (Available from: http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch07.htm, or from the instructor), or from the instructor)

Outline:Outline: Introduction to RadicalismIntroduction to Radicalism Key AssumptionsKey Assumptions Contemporary ApproachesContemporary Approaches Conclusions Conclusions For Next TimeFor Next Time

1) Introduction to Radicalism:1) Introduction to Radicalism:

Marxism, radicalism, critical theory are all labels for a Marxism, radicalism, critical theory are all labels for a ““catch all categorycatch all category”” . . . . . . . .

= = Approach that questions the nature of existing global Approach that questions the nature of existing global relations – relations which are often taken for granted in relations – relations which are often taken for granted in realist and liberal scholarshiprealist and liberal scholarship Explore topics Explore topics ““made invisiblemade invisible”” by mainstream approaches by mainstream approaches

E.g. Economic inequalityE.g. Economic inequality

-General link to Marxist political economy . . . -General link to Marxist political economy . . .

Key Thinkers:Key Thinkers: LeninLenin Gunder FrankGunder Frank WallersteinWallerstein CoxCox

2) Key Assumptions:2) Key Assumptions:A) System of production central to IRA) System of production central to IR

““Means of ProductionMeans of Production”” = economic system = economic system ““Modes of ProductionModes of Production”” = social relations = social relations

=Heavy emphasis on economics and global capitalism=Heavy emphasis on economics and global capitalism=More relevance to IPE???=More relevance to IPE???

B) Importance of historical analysisB) Importance of historical analysis System of production changes over time . . .System of production changes over time . . . Will result in changes in international politics/foreign policyWill result in changes in international politics/foreign policy

Westphalian states Westphalian states ““NeoliberalNeoliberal”” states states

C) All politics driven by C) All politics driven by ““classclass”” struggle struggle Capitalism inherently exploitativeCapitalism inherently exploitative

IR can be seen as a IR can be seen as a ““subsetsubset”” of struggles among different of struggles among different classes – goal should be classes – goal should be ““emancipationemancipation””

D) Global system is VERY hierarchical - D) Global system is VERY hierarchical - states are states are not all the same . . . despite sovereigntynot all the same . . . despite sovereignty

““ImperialismImperialism””: Conquest or control of other societies: Conquest or control of other societies Driven by expansion of specific economic system Driven by expansion of specific economic system

= Capitalism= Capitalism

Marxist economics suggests capitalism prone to Marxist economics suggests capitalism prone to crises:crises:

Leads to depressions, dissatisfaction and Leads to depressions, dissatisfaction and revolutions . . . .revolutions . . . .

Can only be managed by state oppression and Can only be managed by state oppression and imperial expansion . . .imperial expansion . . .

D) Global system is VERY hierarchical . . . .D) Global system is VERY hierarchical . . . .

E.g. Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)E.g. Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) Architect of the Russian RevolutionArchitect of the Russian Revolution IR scholar(?) IR scholar(?)

Example:Example: ““LeninLenin’’s Theory of Imperialisms Theory of Imperialism””::Believed:Believed:

““Monopoly CapitalistMonopoly Capitalist”” phase had begun in great powers phase had begun in great powers

=Declining profits for proto-MNC=Declining profits for proto-MNC’’ss Elites demanded Elites demanded ““new imperialismnew imperialism”” of 19 of 19thth century for century for

““super-exploitationsuper-exploitation”” of south of south

Result:Result: > > Intensified imperial rivalriesIntensified imperial rivalries

> > World War IWorld War I

Implications:Implications:

Economic problems = Economic problems = ““ImperialismImperialism”” = War = War International power requires economic dominationInternational power requires economic domination

Communist revolution needed to end capitalism – this Communist revolution needed to end capitalism – this will end warswill end wars

D) Global system is VERY hierarchical . . . D) Global system is VERY hierarchical . . .

E.g. Dependency Theory (Gunder Frank)E.g. Dependency Theory (Gunder Frank)

Logical successor to Lenin:Logical successor to Lenin:

Capitalist imperialism = war & Capitalist imperialism = war & underunderdevelopmentdevelopment

= southern states will be systematically exploited= southern states will be systematically exploited

Labour and natural resources produce Labour and natural resources produce ““super profitssuper profits”” necessary for capitalismnecessary for capitalism

Example: Gunder Frank & the challenge of Example: Gunder Frank & the challenge of developmentdevelopment

Argued: Careful study of history showed that south was Argued: Careful study of history showed that south was systemically underdeveloped, not undevelopedsystemically underdeveloped, not undeveloped

E.g. Northern E.g. Northern ““Multinational CorporationsMultinational Corporations”” undermined natural undermined natural local developmentlocal development

Implications: Implications: Northern development strategies would Northern development strategies would never work in south!!never work in south!!

Policy?Policy?

Southern states could only develop by isolating Southern states could only develop by isolating themselves from global capitalism?themselves from global capitalism?

RevolutionsRevolutions or or ProtectionismProtectionism

Example: Gunder Frank & the challenge of Example: Gunder Frank & the challenge of developmentdevelopment

Problems:Problems: Dependency strategies not successful (?)Dependency strategies not successful (?) Success of East Asian states since 1970s (?)Success of East Asian states since 1970s (?)

Remains a popular method for understanding IR, but less Remains a popular method for understanding IR, but less popular as an economic strategy . . .popular as an economic strategy . . .

D) Global system is VERY hierarchical . . . D) Global system is VERY hierarchical . . .

World Systems TheoryWorld Systems Theory (Wallerstein)(Wallerstein)

Argues: World organized into single global capitalist systemArgues: World organized into single global capitalist system Capitalism determines statesCapitalism determines states’’ position in international position in international

hierarchy – only hierarchy – only corecore countries have power and countries have power and realreal sovereigntysovereignty

CoreCore: Wealthy : Wealthy ““metropolitan countriesmetropolitan countries”” = Advanced = Advanced industry and bankingindustry and banking

E.g. United StatesE.g. United States Semi-PeripherySemi-Periphery: Weaker countries with some industry – : Weaker countries with some industry –

partially exploited by corepartially exploited by core E.g. Brazil? Indonesia? Canada?E.g. Brazil? Indonesia? Canada?

PeripheryPeriphery: Poor countries – mainly exploited for natural : Poor countries – mainly exploited for natural resourcesresources

Change in position possible, but change is slow . . .Change in position possible, but change is slow . . .

3) Contemporary Approaches:3) Contemporary Approaches:Two Two ““families of thoughtfamilies of thought””::

““New MarxismNew Marxism””

““GramscianismGramscianism””

A) A) ““New MarxismNew Marxism””

Evidence of Evidence of ““decolonizationdecolonization””, , ““NICNIC”” development and development and ““globalizationglobalization”” shift focus from interstate hierarchy shift focus from interstate hierarchy

Modern approach is a more direct critique of mainstream Modern approach is a more direct critique of mainstream ““IRIR””, and , and ““NeorealismNeorealism”” in particular in particular

IR is based on IR is based on ““badbad”” history, nature of states is history, nature of states is constantly changing as technology and production constantly changing as technology and production changeschanges

Transition toTransition to ““neoliberalneoliberal”” state just the latest evolution state just the latest evolution E.g. E.g. ““sovereigntysovereignty”” no longer as important as servicing no longer as important as servicing

capitalismcapitalism ““Credit CrunchCredit Crunch”” (2008) (2008) ““East Asian Financial CrisisEast Asian Financial Crisis”” (1998) (1998)

Different forms of state are not a product of Different forms of state are not a product of ““anarchyanarchy””, , ““interdependenceinterdependence”” or or ““globalizationglobalization”” but are part of class but are part of class struggle = we can make different states . . . .struggle = we can make different states . . . .

B) B) ““GramscianismGramscianism”” (Robert Cox)(Robert Cox) Modern approach popular in Canada and Britain:Modern approach popular in Canada and Britain:

Focus on global class relations and ideology – often Focus on global class relations and ideology – often linked to linked to ““constructivismconstructivism””

Less Less ““state centricstate centric”” than other IR theories – including than other IR theories – including ““New MarxismNew Marxism”” . . . . . . . .

Transnational Capitalist Class (MNCTransnational Capitalist Class (MNC’’s)s) $$$$ = power in politics and international institutions$$$$ = power in politics and international institutions $$$$ = $$$$ = ideological dominationideological domination over subordinate over subordinate

classesclasses==““HegemonyHegemony””: understood as the ideological : understood as the ideological

generation of generation of ““consentconsent”” by elites in society by elites in society State State ““coercioncoercion”” and imperialism not and imperialism not

necessary as most accept prevailing ordernecessary as most accept prevailing order

B) B) ““GramscianismGramscianism””

E.g. E.g. ““Washington ConsensusWashington Consensus”” = = ““neoliberalneoliberal”” development strategydevelopment strategy

Lower taxes, remove tariffs, remove obstacles to MNC Lower taxes, remove tariffs, remove obstacles to MNC activity and cut social programs etc. and development will activity and cut social programs etc. and development will occuroccur=A development strategy designed by MNC=A development strategy designed by MNC’’s not the s not the

global poor . . . .global poor . . . .

B) B) ““GramscianismGramscianism””

Implications?Implications? International politics is a war of ideas between elites and International politics is a war of ideas between elites and

others – weaker groups must organize others – weaker groups must organize ““counter hegemonycounter hegemony”” supporting alternative ideassupporting alternative ideas

4) Conclusions:4) Conclusions:

Who are the actors of international politics?Who are the actors of international politics?

A) Social classes (Marx A) Social classes (Marx Gramscianism) Gramscianism)

B) CorporationsB) Corporations

C) States (Lenin C) States (Lenin World Systems Theory)World Systems Theory) However . . . states are However . . . states are agentsagents of economic elites not of economic elites not

independent independent actorsactors (?) (?)

D) Most important site of of analysis = D) Most important site of of analysis = ““CapitalismCapitalism”” Economic system and the political relations it createsEconomic system and the political relations it creates

4) Conclusions:4) Conclusions:

Strengths:Strengths:

Focus on issues ignored by Realism/LiberalismFocus on issues ignored by Realism/Liberalism Position of southern statesPosition of southern states

Clear normative position Clear normative position Purpose of international politics/foreign policy Purpose of international politics/foreign policy

should be to reduce exploitationshould be to reduce exploitation

Weaknesses:Weaknesses:

Unclear implicationsUnclear implications

Does capitalism cause war?Does capitalism cause war?Or,Or,

Does capitalism lead to peace driven by Does capitalism lead to peace driven by harmony of interests of harmony of interests of ““capitalist elitecapitalist elite””??

Unclear policy recommendationsUnclear policy recommendations What should southern states do????What should southern states do????

Pessimism about solutionsPessimism about solutions

5) For Next Time . . .5) For Next Time . . .

Unit Two: Unit Two: Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches

““Constructivism, Post Structuralism and FeminismConstructivism, Post Structuralism and Feminism””

Required Reading:Required Reading: Globalization of World PoliticsGlobalization of World Politics, Chapters 10, 11, 12 and , Chapters 10, 11, 12 and

17.17. Alexander Wendt, Alexander Wendt, ““Anarchy is what states make of it: Anarchy is what states make of it:

The social construction of power politics,The social construction of power politics,”” International International OrganizationOrganization, Vol. 46(2), (Spring 1992), Pp. 391-425. , Vol. 46(2), (Spring 1992), Pp. 391-425. (Available through e-journals, or as an excerpt available (Available through e-journals, or as an excerpt available from the instructor.)from the instructor.)