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Introduction to IR Theory
MDAW 2013: DCH & MBK
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Major Schools of IR Theory
Realism Idealism Liberalism Marxism Critical Theory(s)
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Realism
Posits that states are motivated by a desire for military and economic power / security
Assumes that the following things are true: The international system is anarchic Sovereign states are the dominant actors in the
international system States are rational, unitary actors that maximize
their own interests The overriding interest of each state is its
security/survival States pursue security by amassing resources Relations between states are governed by their
relative power
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Realism, cont’d
Defensive Realism Offensive Realism
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Liberalism
Idealism (Wilsonianism)—a state should make its internal political philosophy the goal of its foreign policy Is an important precursor of liberalism Has been embraced by left- and right-
wing perspectives Liberalism: state preferences, rather
than state capabilities, are the primary determinant of state behavior
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Liberalism, cont’d
Liberalist theories assume… States are not unitary actors Preferences vary from state to state,
depending on culture, economic system, government type, etc.
Interactions between states are determined by culture, economic exchange, etc—not just “diplomacy” and “high politics”
The international system has an underlying order
Cooperation can generate absolute gains
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Marxism
Rejects the focus on states and instead explains global politics based on the economic/material aspects of the international system and how that system is connected to class structures at the local, state, and trans-state levels
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Marxism, cont’d
Assumes that economics trumps all other concerns—class is the focus of explanation
Posits that the international system is an integrated order designed to protect/facilitate capital accumulation
Strongly informed dependency theory— Wealthy countries maximize their power by
penetrating Southern countries with political advisors, experts, MNCs, etc.
Designed to appropriate natural resources and foster dependency of the South on the North
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Critical Theories
Schools of thought that criticize traditional conceptions of international politics
Often share a “constructivist” orientation—assume that ideas/language/ideology shape international politics
Feminisms Post-colonialisms Queer IR Post- and anti-modern political theory as
applied to IR (Foucault, Heidegger, Nietzsche, etc.)
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