lOMoARcPSD|19695644
POLI-D306 – Introduction to International Relations
Introduction aux relations internationales (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
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messages.studocu_not_sponsored_or_endorsed_by_college
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, lOMoARcPSD|19695644
POLI-D306 – Introduction to International Relations
1. International Relations : a brief history of the discipline
1.1. The emergence of an independent body of knowledge : a recent discipline with
a contested history
The traditional story :
The aftermath of WWI : the emergence of the discipline of international relations
Creation of the League of Nations (1920) : regulate and civilise international relations
to avoid a new war
First IR Chair in Wales and then in the US to study and promote world peace
Pacifist research programmes : analysis of the causes of war and study of the ability of
law and international institutions to regulate IR
The idealist school of thought : moral purpose in the study of IR to avoid new wars ; a
new world order should be created by democratising IR
The shock of WWII : the emergence of the realist research tradition :
Failure of the pacifist movement
Realists accuse idealists to have a normative bias which prevent them from analysing
the events that led to WWII
While idealists believe that states and citizens share the interests of promoting security
for all, realists believe that states are driven by their self(national)-interest
While idealists believe in the possibility of humanising states struggle for power
through international law, realists believe this is impossible
1
messages.downloaded_by
, lOMoARcPSD|19695644
Realists event accused idealists to be partly responsible for WWII because of their
naivety
An alternative story :
This traditional story is seen as foundational myth for a field with a much darker
history
They situate the emergence of IR in the history of colonial administration and the
study of imperialism
Beginning of the 20th century : period of world war but also empire, theft of land,
belief in white supremacy…
Acknowledging this other context gives a better understanding of the role of academic
IR : it can be about understanding the causes of war and promoting peace, but it can
also be about justifying international hierarchy and racism
This is why we should be aware of where theories come from and how they emerged
Knowledge about world politics has a history and a politics
The main theories of IR were developed by intellectuals and practitioners in specific
circumstances for concrete and political reasons
1.2. The evolution of realism and liberalism : the neo-neo debate
Realism and Neo-realism :
Main object of analysis = relations between states in an anarchic international system
(as opposed to domestic hierarchy rules by law)
States pursue their national interest (survival) which leads to power politics and war
because of diverging interests
Study of ‘big’ questions : war & peace ; the balance of power ; military alliances ;
nuclear dissuasion
2
messages.downloaded_by
, lOMoARcPSD|19695644
Scientific method to study international relations ; Better explanation & prediction
Liberalism and Neo-liberalism :
Focused on the role of institution mediating power politics & on economic
interdependence
State constituted by a plurality of economic and societal interests
Study : international organisations and governance, etc.
Scientific method to study international relations
Better explanation & prediction
1.3. Rationalists vs Constructivists and Reflectivists
Rationalists (Neo-rationalists and Neo-liberals) :
State as rational actors pursuing their never changing interests (survival and wealth)
Objective reality = the international system is anarchic
Scientific method to study international relations - better explanation & prediction
Constructivists and Reflective approaches :
State’s interests and identity are socially constructed – they are the production of their
interactions and of the context in which they find themselves
State’s interest and identity can change
The international system does not have to be anarchic, it can be cooperative
International politics is not susceptible to explanation, only to interpretation
3
messages.downloaded_by
POLI-D306 – Introduction to International Relations
Introduction aux relations internationales (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
messages.pdf_cover_qr_code_label
messages.studocu_not_sponsored_or_endorsed_by_college
messages.downloaded_by
, lOMoARcPSD|19695644
POLI-D306 – Introduction to International Relations
1. International Relations : a brief history of the discipline
1.1. The emergence of an independent body of knowledge : a recent discipline with
a contested history
The traditional story :
The aftermath of WWI : the emergence of the discipline of international relations
Creation of the League of Nations (1920) : regulate and civilise international relations
to avoid a new war
First IR Chair in Wales and then in the US to study and promote world peace
Pacifist research programmes : analysis of the causes of war and study of the ability of
law and international institutions to regulate IR
The idealist school of thought : moral purpose in the study of IR to avoid new wars ; a
new world order should be created by democratising IR
The shock of WWII : the emergence of the realist research tradition :
Failure of the pacifist movement
Realists accuse idealists to have a normative bias which prevent them from analysing
the events that led to WWII
While idealists believe that states and citizens share the interests of promoting security
for all, realists believe that states are driven by their self(national)-interest
While idealists believe in the possibility of humanising states struggle for power
through international law, realists believe this is impossible
1
messages.downloaded_by
, lOMoARcPSD|19695644
Realists event accused idealists to be partly responsible for WWII because of their
naivety
An alternative story :
This traditional story is seen as foundational myth for a field with a much darker
history
They situate the emergence of IR in the history of colonial administration and the
study of imperialism
Beginning of the 20th century : period of world war but also empire, theft of land,
belief in white supremacy…
Acknowledging this other context gives a better understanding of the role of academic
IR : it can be about understanding the causes of war and promoting peace, but it can
also be about justifying international hierarchy and racism
This is why we should be aware of where theories come from and how they emerged
Knowledge about world politics has a history and a politics
The main theories of IR were developed by intellectuals and practitioners in specific
circumstances for concrete and political reasons
1.2. The evolution of realism and liberalism : the neo-neo debate
Realism and Neo-realism :
Main object of analysis = relations between states in an anarchic international system
(as opposed to domestic hierarchy rules by law)
States pursue their national interest (survival) which leads to power politics and war
because of diverging interests
Study of ‘big’ questions : war & peace ; the balance of power ; military alliances ;
nuclear dissuasion
2
messages.downloaded_by
, lOMoARcPSD|19695644
Scientific method to study international relations ; Better explanation & prediction
Liberalism and Neo-liberalism :
Focused on the role of institution mediating power politics & on economic
interdependence
State constituted by a plurality of economic and societal interests
Study : international organisations and governance, etc.
Scientific method to study international relations
Better explanation & prediction
1.3. Rationalists vs Constructivists and Reflectivists
Rationalists (Neo-rationalists and Neo-liberals) :
State as rational actors pursuing their never changing interests (survival and wealth)
Objective reality = the international system is anarchic
Scientific method to study international relations - better explanation & prediction
Constructivists and Reflective approaches :
State’s interests and identity are socially constructed – they are the production of their
interactions and of the context in which they find themselves
State’s interest and identity can change
The international system does not have to be anarchic, it can be cooperative
International politics is not susceptible to explanation, only to interpretation
3
messages.downloaded_by
