Theories of International RelationsTheories of International Relations

RealismRealism IdealismIdealism ConstructivismConstructivism

Realism IRealism I

Power: the ability to influence othersPower: the ability to influence others Irrelevance of morality and ethics and Irrelevance of morality and ethics and

lawlaw Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

Irrelevance of domestic political systemsIrrelevance of domestic political systems Why is power the only thing that Why is power the only thing that

matters?matters? Human natureHuman nature Anarchic world: no rulesAnarchic world: no rules

Realism IIRealism II

All nations are self-reliantAll nations are self-reliant To preserve peace use Balance of To preserve peace use Balance of

PowerPower US vs. USSR in Cold WarUS vs. USSR in Cold War US—China—Japan in East AsiaUS—China—Japan in East Asia

Unipolarity cannot lastUnipolarity cannot last Nations will balance against US powerNations will balance against US power

England’s Balancing ActEngland’s Balancing Act

EnglandEngland

RussiaRussia Prussia/Prussia/GermanyGermany

FranceFrance Austria-Austria-HungaryHungary

The Cold War Balance of Power The Cold War Balance of Power 1945-19901945-1990

IsraelIsrael Syria/EgyptSyria/Egypt

EthiopiaEthiopia SomaliaSomalia

TaiwanTaiwan ChinaChina

S. KoreaS. Korea N. KoreaN. Korea

S. Viet NamS. Viet Nam N. Viet NamN. Viet Nam

W. BerlinW. Berlin E. BerlinE. Berlin

W. GermanyW. Germany E. GermanyE. Germany

Britain/France/JapanBritain/France/Japan Poland/CzechPoland/Czech

USUS USSRUSSR

Unipolar WorldUnipolar World

EUEUJapanJapanRussiaRussiaChinaChinaIndiaIndia

USUS

Power?Power?

US: Weak Neighbors, Big OceansUS: Weak Neighbors, Big Oceans

Germany Germany Strong Neighbors, Easy AccessStrong Neighbors, Easy Access

Power?Power?

Power? Shanghai, ChinaPower? Shanghai, China

Power? Jaipur, IndiaPower? Jaipur, India

Power?Power? ThailandThailand Algeria Algeria South South

Korea Korea

Power?Power?

Idealism IIdealism I

Power is not the only thing that Power is not the only thing that matters matters

States have common interests and States have common interests and common valuescommon values

Trade is the key common interestTrade is the key common interest

Idealism IIIdealism II

Global MarketplaceGlobal Marketplace InterdependenceInterdependence Desire for rules Desire for rules Desire for predictability and stabilityDesire for predictability and stability International system is based laws International system is based laws

(Treaties) and institutions (UN, WTO)(Treaties) and institutions (UN, WTO) International lawInternational law

UN General Assembly, New YorkUN General Assembly, New York

International Court of Justice,International Court of Justice,The Hague, NetherlandsThe Hague, Netherlands

WTO, GenevaWTO, Geneva

Constructivism IConstructivism I

Nation-states are not all alikeNation-states are not all alike Political culture shapes foreign policyPolitical culture shapes foreign policy Form of government shapes foreign Form of government shapes foreign

policypolicy History shapes foreign policyHistory shapes foreign policy Domestic political trends and Domestic political trends and

debates shape foreign policydebates shape foreign policy

Constructivism IIConstructivism II

States have identityStates have identity State identity influences the way State identity influences the way

states interact with each otherstates interact with each other Examples:Examples:

China sensitivity to any policies of other China sensitivity to any policies of other states that threaten its unity and states that threaten its unity and sovereigntysovereignty

US desire to transform the worldUS desire to transform the world

Russian fear of invasionRussian fear of invasion

China 21China 21stst Century Century

Qin Dynasty 221-206 BCQin Dynasty 221-206 BC

China: Tang Dynasty 618-907China: Tang Dynasty 618-907

China: Qing Dynasty 1644-1911China: Qing Dynasty 1644-1911

China: ColonizedChina: Colonized

US: Woodrow Wilson, 1917US: Woodrow Wilson, 1917

““The world must be made safe for The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them. “freedom of nations can make them. “

US: GW Bush, 2005US: GW Bush, 2005

““And we have declared our own And we have declared our own intention: America will stand with the intention: America will stand with the allies of freedom to support allies of freedom to support democratic movements in the Middle democratic movements in the Middle East and beyond, with the ultimate East and beyond, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. “ goal of ending tyranny in our world. “