IR:
the study of relationships and interactions between countries and other organisations policies and
activities (eg NGOs, MNCs…). theoretical and practical or policy subject. either empirical or
normative or both approaches. Interdisciplinary (not only branch of political science but also
historical, legal, philosophical and economic perspective).
-focuses on the activities of nation-states in their external relations.
-the study of the nature and consequences of these international relations (adv and disadv of being
in a state system or isolated from it).
-the study of the global state system from various scholarly perspectives
WHY STUDY IR?
-population divided into separate political communities or independent countries (nation-states)
which affect the way ppl think and live. Population identifies with the nation-state, proud…
STATE involved in protecting population, security, economic prosperity and social welfare, taxing,
educating, regulating, keeping healthy… profound relationship which shapes their lives.
INDEPENDENT NATION OR STATE: unambiguous and bordered territory with permanent
population, under the jurisdiction of supreme government that is constitutionally separate from all
other govs= a sovereign state. those states together form an international state system that is
global. 200 independent states now.
states are independent of each other (at least legally)= they have sovereignty. MUST find ways to
coexist and deal with each other= they form an international state system. involved in international
markets that affect econ policies and welfare/wealth. People SUFFER if isolated or cut off from
state system (libya, north korea..).
state system organises political life. HOW?
1. CITIZEN EXPECTATIONS:
Need for basic values: security, freedom, justice, order and welfare.
SECURITY
‘security dilemma’= states can both defend or threaten people’s security—paradox—states present
problems as well as provide solutions.
‘national security’= challenged by nature of state—cooperation, peace vs hostility, aggressiveness.
States respond to this problem by having armed forces to coexist and deal with each other without
being subjugated or intimidated + may enter alliances (eg NATO) to increase national security.
MUST construct and maintain a balance of military power to prevent one state to dominate. Typical
REALIST approach= operates on the assumption that relations of states are characterised by a
world in which armed states are competing rivals and periodically go to war with each other.
FREEDOM/INDEPENDENCE
(personal and national)—we cannot be free unless our country is free too. PEACE fosters freedom
and makes progressive international change possible—fundamental values of ir.
LIBERAL approach= operates on the assumption that ir can be best characterised as a world in
which states cooperate with each other to maintain peace and freedom and to pursue progressive
change.
ORDER AND JUSTICE
=stability, certainty and predictability
-uphold international law, human rights
international society theories of IR approach= assumption that ir can be best characterised as a
world in which states are socially responsible actors and have common interest in preserving
international order and promoting int justice.
,SOCIO-ECONOMIC WEALTH AND WELFARE
= STANDARDS O LIVING, EMPLOYMENT, INFLATION…
Implementation of adequate policies
THEORIES:
realism= security
liberalism= freedom
international society= order and justice
IPE= welfare
TRADITIONAL VIEW: states are valuable and necessary institutions= provide values and people
benefit from the state system. Historicists and empiricists= peace of westphalia episode marks the
birth of modern statehood—occasion where sovereign state and anarchic state system came into
existence as the dominant political feature of the european world.
ALTERNATIVE or REVISIONIST VIEW: states and state system are social choices that create
more problems than they solve= majority of people suffer more than they benefit from state
system. Constructivists and critical theorists—view the peace of westphalia as a construction of ir
scholars that promotes their theoretical biases.
ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE
-good: increase freedom and wealth by increasing global marketplace thereby increasing
participation, specialisation, efficiency, productivity.
-bad: inequality by allowing rich and powerful countries to dominate poor and weak which lack
those advantages= national protectionism better response to financial and econ crises.
IPE (INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY) approach= operates on the assumption that ir is a
socio-economic world and not political and military.
people only become conscious of these values when something goes wrong (eg 20th century—
ww1 made it clear—warfare devastated living standards and welfare, ww2, great depression)
basic assumption: life inside properly organised and well-managed states is better than outside
states or without states at all= valuable core institution of modern life BUT if state system viewed in
different light may be considered as undermining basic values and conditions (non-western states
e.g. subsaharan africa and middle east)= awful conditions—highlight the faulty of system and puts
into question the credibility and legitimacy of state system (alternative view).
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
No clearly recognisable sovereign states before 16th century.
As modernity spread around the world, so did the state system with it.
first manifestation of state system is that of ancient greece (500-100bce) known as ‘hellas’=system
of many city-states. Were based on shared language and common religion. Destroyed by more
powerful empires (roman empire)= middle ages—era of empires and the relations and conflicts of
these.
e.g. medieval era= no clear power structure (king, knights etc), no single upholding of values—
delivered by different organisations which operated at different levels of social life. only became
state system once power and authority were concentrated into one= passage from medieval to
modern (identified with the 30 years war 1618-48 and Peace of Westphalia) involved the
construction of independent territorial states across europe—territory is consolidated, unified and
centralised under a sovereign government.
REVISIONIST VIEW: no solid historical evidence that the peace of westphalia marked the
beginning of state-systems.
during era of western imperialism the world came to be dominated by europeans and americans.
With asian and african decolonisation (after ww2) the state became a global institution.
,GLOBALISATION AND THE STATE SYSTEM
global ascendancy and supremacy of the West—control of most non-european political
communities.
-1st stage of state-system globalisation: incorporation of non-extern states that couldn't be
colonised by the west, even though they still had to follow their rules (ottoman empire—turkey,
japan, china).
-2nd stage: brought about via anti colonialism by the colonial subjects of western empires. self
determination—revolt against the west was main system by which state system expanded
dramatically after ww2.
-3rd stage: dissolution of the soviet union and breakup of yugoslavia and czechoslovakia at the
end of cold war.
=glob of the state vastly increased the variety of its member states and diversity.
IR AND THE CHANGING CONTEMPORARY WORLD OF STATES
state system is the main point of reference for both traditional and alternative approaches. BUT
must be alert that state and state system is a contested theoretical concept—multifaceted and
confusing entity.
1st dimension:
viewed from within/internally= the government: most important is state-society relations and
therefore relation between gov and population.
viewed internationally= populated territory with a national gov and a domestic society= a country.
=external aspect of the state where main questions concern interstate relations.
2nd dimension:
divides the external aspect into 2 categories. 1. juridical statehood= state viewed as a formal or
legal institution in its relation with other states—constitutional independence and recognition by
sovereign states. 2. empirical statehood= state viewed as a substantial political economic
organisation—extent to which states have developed popular unity and support for the state.
Quasi-states= posses juridical statehood but are severely deficient in empirical statehood (sudan,
congo).
-important difference is between the strong states with high level of empirical statehood vs weak
quasi-states= decolonisation contributed to deep internal division in the state system between rich
north and poor south.
REALISTS= focus on states at the centre of the system (major powers) as the peripheral ones do
not affect the system in any significant way.
LIBERALS AND INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY= see adverse conditions of quasi-states as
fundamental question for the state system which raises issues for international order, freedom and
justice.
IPE= underdevelopment and unequal relations between centre and periphery the crucial
explanatory element of their theory of the modern international system. legal equality and political
independence obscure the vulnerability of underdeveloped states and their domination and
exploitation by the rich capitalists of the west.
as underdeveloped countries coexist with the developed ones within the state system, as they
have problems, these become an international common issue.
some states have failed= erosion and sometimes collapse of gov power and authority in these has
created vacuums of power and auhority= emergence of armed terrorist organisations.
developments show how the world of states is dynamic and always changing. state system not
only reacts to change but also is a cause of change.
, IR reading 2/ Kurki, M. and Wight, C. (2013): International Relations and Social Science, in:
Dunne, T., Kurki, M. and Smith, S. (eds.): International Relations Theories. Discipline and
Diversity (3rd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 14-35.
meta-theory> explores underlying assumptions of all theory and attempts to understand
the consequences of such on the act of theorising and the practice of empirical research.
Theories about theories. They direct the manner in which people theorise and see the
world.
Assumptions about:
ONTOLOGY: theory of being-what is the world made of, what objects do we study
EPISTEMOLOGY: theory of knowledge-how do we come to have knowledge of the world
METHODOLOGY: theory of methods-what methods we use to discover data and
evidence
-on the basis of these, theorists come to see the world in different ways- have significant
consequences for social analysis.
1. Is IR a science or an art? What science is and what ir is-takes to the discussion of the
philosophy of science.
2. What does the scientific study of world politics entail?
1. Influence of positivism as a philosophy of science: has shaped how we theorise
about the subject and what counts as evidence and knowledge. Positivist model:
meanings and consequences are rudimentary (undeveloped) AND has been
discredited as a valid account of scientific practice; this view is highly contested
and there is no reason all research should fit this model. SCIENCE based on
constant critique.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN IR: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
4 great debates:
1. exchanges between the realists and idealists before, during and after ww2:
primariliy on the role of international institutions and likelihood that causes of war
might be ameliorated.
2. 1960s-traditionalists (defend humanistic methodology) vs modernisers
(methodological rigour)
3. (interparadigm debate) 1970-80s-disagreements among realist, pluralist and
Marxist perspectives on how best to understand and explain international
processes
4. disagreements about what the discipline should study and how it should study it
SCIENCE AND THE FIRST DEBATE
-idealists: desire to develop a set of institutions, procedures, and practices that could
eradicate or control war in the international system—learn from ww1 and believe there is
the study of relationships and interactions between countries and other organisations policies and
activities (eg NGOs, MNCs…). theoretical and practical or policy subject. either empirical or
normative or both approaches. Interdisciplinary (not only branch of political science but also
historical, legal, philosophical and economic perspective).
-focuses on the activities of nation-states in their external relations.
-the study of the nature and consequences of these international relations (adv and disadv of being
in a state system or isolated from it).
-the study of the global state system from various scholarly perspectives
WHY STUDY IR?
-population divided into separate political communities or independent countries (nation-states)
which affect the way ppl think and live. Population identifies with the nation-state, proud…
STATE involved in protecting population, security, economic prosperity and social welfare, taxing,
educating, regulating, keeping healthy… profound relationship which shapes their lives.
INDEPENDENT NATION OR STATE: unambiguous and bordered territory with permanent
population, under the jurisdiction of supreme government that is constitutionally separate from all
other govs= a sovereign state. those states together form an international state system that is
global. 200 independent states now.
states are independent of each other (at least legally)= they have sovereignty. MUST find ways to
coexist and deal with each other= they form an international state system. involved in international
markets that affect econ policies and welfare/wealth. People SUFFER if isolated or cut off from
state system (libya, north korea..).
state system organises political life. HOW?
1. CITIZEN EXPECTATIONS:
Need for basic values: security, freedom, justice, order and welfare.
SECURITY
‘security dilemma’= states can both defend or threaten people’s security—paradox—states present
problems as well as provide solutions.
‘national security’= challenged by nature of state—cooperation, peace vs hostility, aggressiveness.
States respond to this problem by having armed forces to coexist and deal with each other without
being subjugated or intimidated + may enter alliances (eg NATO) to increase national security.
MUST construct and maintain a balance of military power to prevent one state to dominate. Typical
REALIST approach= operates on the assumption that relations of states are characterised by a
world in which armed states are competing rivals and periodically go to war with each other.
FREEDOM/INDEPENDENCE
(personal and national)—we cannot be free unless our country is free too. PEACE fosters freedom
and makes progressive international change possible—fundamental values of ir.
LIBERAL approach= operates on the assumption that ir can be best characterised as a world in
which states cooperate with each other to maintain peace and freedom and to pursue progressive
change.
ORDER AND JUSTICE
=stability, certainty and predictability
-uphold international law, human rights
international society theories of IR approach= assumption that ir can be best characterised as a
world in which states are socially responsible actors and have common interest in preserving
international order and promoting int justice.
,SOCIO-ECONOMIC WEALTH AND WELFARE
= STANDARDS O LIVING, EMPLOYMENT, INFLATION…
Implementation of adequate policies
THEORIES:
realism= security
liberalism= freedom
international society= order and justice
IPE= welfare
TRADITIONAL VIEW: states are valuable and necessary institutions= provide values and people
benefit from the state system. Historicists and empiricists= peace of westphalia episode marks the
birth of modern statehood—occasion where sovereign state and anarchic state system came into
existence as the dominant political feature of the european world.
ALTERNATIVE or REVISIONIST VIEW: states and state system are social choices that create
more problems than they solve= majority of people suffer more than they benefit from state
system. Constructivists and critical theorists—view the peace of westphalia as a construction of ir
scholars that promotes their theoretical biases.
ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE
-good: increase freedom and wealth by increasing global marketplace thereby increasing
participation, specialisation, efficiency, productivity.
-bad: inequality by allowing rich and powerful countries to dominate poor and weak which lack
those advantages= national protectionism better response to financial and econ crises.
IPE (INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY) approach= operates on the assumption that ir is a
socio-economic world and not political and military.
people only become conscious of these values when something goes wrong (eg 20th century—
ww1 made it clear—warfare devastated living standards and welfare, ww2, great depression)
basic assumption: life inside properly organised and well-managed states is better than outside
states or without states at all= valuable core institution of modern life BUT if state system viewed in
different light may be considered as undermining basic values and conditions (non-western states
e.g. subsaharan africa and middle east)= awful conditions—highlight the faulty of system and puts
into question the credibility and legitimacy of state system (alternative view).
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
No clearly recognisable sovereign states before 16th century.
As modernity spread around the world, so did the state system with it.
first manifestation of state system is that of ancient greece (500-100bce) known as ‘hellas’=system
of many city-states. Were based on shared language and common religion. Destroyed by more
powerful empires (roman empire)= middle ages—era of empires and the relations and conflicts of
these.
e.g. medieval era= no clear power structure (king, knights etc), no single upholding of values—
delivered by different organisations which operated at different levels of social life. only became
state system once power and authority were concentrated into one= passage from medieval to
modern (identified with the 30 years war 1618-48 and Peace of Westphalia) involved the
construction of independent territorial states across europe—territory is consolidated, unified and
centralised under a sovereign government.
REVISIONIST VIEW: no solid historical evidence that the peace of westphalia marked the
beginning of state-systems.
during era of western imperialism the world came to be dominated by europeans and americans.
With asian and african decolonisation (after ww2) the state became a global institution.
,GLOBALISATION AND THE STATE SYSTEM
global ascendancy and supremacy of the West—control of most non-european political
communities.
-1st stage of state-system globalisation: incorporation of non-extern states that couldn't be
colonised by the west, even though they still had to follow their rules (ottoman empire—turkey,
japan, china).
-2nd stage: brought about via anti colonialism by the colonial subjects of western empires. self
determination—revolt against the west was main system by which state system expanded
dramatically after ww2.
-3rd stage: dissolution of the soviet union and breakup of yugoslavia and czechoslovakia at the
end of cold war.
=glob of the state vastly increased the variety of its member states and diversity.
IR AND THE CHANGING CONTEMPORARY WORLD OF STATES
state system is the main point of reference for both traditional and alternative approaches. BUT
must be alert that state and state system is a contested theoretical concept—multifaceted and
confusing entity.
1st dimension:
viewed from within/internally= the government: most important is state-society relations and
therefore relation between gov and population.
viewed internationally= populated territory with a national gov and a domestic society= a country.
=external aspect of the state where main questions concern interstate relations.
2nd dimension:
divides the external aspect into 2 categories. 1. juridical statehood= state viewed as a formal or
legal institution in its relation with other states—constitutional independence and recognition by
sovereign states. 2. empirical statehood= state viewed as a substantial political economic
organisation—extent to which states have developed popular unity and support for the state.
Quasi-states= posses juridical statehood but are severely deficient in empirical statehood (sudan,
congo).
-important difference is between the strong states with high level of empirical statehood vs weak
quasi-states= decolonisation contributed to deep internal division in the state system between rich
north and poor south.
REALISTS= focus on states at the centre of the system (major powers) as the peripheral ones do
not affect the system in any significant way.
LIBERALS AND INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY= see adverse conditions of quasi-states as
fundamental question for the state system which raises issues for international order, freedom and
justice.
IPE= underdevelopment and unequal relations between centre and periphery the crucial
explanatory element of their theory of the modern international system. legal equality and political
independence obscure the vulnerability of underdeveloped states and their domination and
exploitation by the rich capitalists of the west.
as underdeveloped countries coexist with the developed ones within the state system, as they
have problems, these become an international common issue.
some states have failed= erosion and sometimes collapse of gov power and authority in these has
created vacuums of power and auhority= emergence of armed terrorist organisations.
developments show how the world of states is dynamic and always changing. state system not
only reacts to change but also is a cause of change.
, IR reading 2/ Kurki, M. and Wight, C. (2013): International Relations and Social Science, in:
Dunne, T., Kurki, M. and Smith, S. (eds.): International Relations Theories. Discipline and
Diversity (3rd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 14-35.
meta-theory> explores underlying assumptions of all theory and attempts to understand
the consequences of such on the act of theorising and the practice of empirical research.
Theories about theories. They direct the manner in which people theorise and see the
world.
Assumptions about:
ONTOLOGY: theory of being-what is the world made of, what objects do we study
EPISTEMOLOGY: theory of knowledge-how do we come to have knowledge of the world
METHODOLOGY: theory of methods-what methods we use to discover data and
evidence
-on the basis of these, theorists come to see the world in different ways- have significant
consequences for social analysis.
1. Is IR a science or an art? What science is and what ir is-takes to the discussion of the
philosophy of science.
2. What does the scientific study of world politics entail?
1. Influence of positivism as a philosophy of science: has shaped how we theorise
about the subject and what counts as evidence and knowledge. Positivist model:
meanings and consequences are rudimentary (undeveloped) AND has been
discredited as a valid account of scientific practice; this view is highly contested
and there is no reason all research should fit this model. SCIENCE based on
constant critique.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN IR: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
4 great debates:
1. exchanges between the realists and idealists before, during and after ww2:
primariliy on the role of international institutions and likelihood that causes of war
might be ameliorated.
2. 1960s-traditionalists (defend humanistic methodology) vs modernisers
(methodological rigour)
3. (interparadigm debate) 1970-80s-disagreements among realist, pluralist and
Marxist perspectives on how best to understand and explain international
processes
4. disagreements about what the discipline should study and how it should study it
SCIENCE AND THE FIRST DEBATE
-idealists: desire to develop a set of institutions, procedures, and practices that could
eradicate or control war in the international system—learn from ww1 and believe there is
