Global Challenges and Public Policies
Week 1: Conflict and Cooperation
Literature
1. "Realism" - William C. Wohlforth
This article provides an in-depth exploration of realism in international relations, a
dominant theory that underscores much of the discipline. Wohlforth explains that
realism is not a single, unified theory but a tradition with deep historical roots
tracing back to thinkers like Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. The core
premises of realism include:
Groupism: Political life happens within and between groups, such as states, which
necessitates group solidarity but often leads to conflict.
Egoism: Political actors, be they individuals or groups, act primarily out of self-
interest.
Anarchy: In the absence of a global governing authority, international politics
takes place in a state of anarchy, where self-help is the primary strategy.
Power politics: The interaction of groupism and egoism in an anarchic system
leads to power politics, where conflicts arise over power and security.
Wohlforth stresses that realism provides a framework through which other
theories of international relations define themselves. It also underpins the notion
that conflict is an inevitable outcome in an anarchic system, unless a central
authority can enforce order. Realism remains influential, though scholars have
developed diverse schools within the tradition, including classical realism,
neorealism, and more recent variants like offensive and defensive realism.
2. Neoliberal Institutionalism: Arthur A. Stein
Arthur A. Stein's chapter on neoliberal institutionalism discusses how
international institutions shape global politics. The article highlights the
increasing importance of institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF in moderating
state behavior in an anarchic world. Neoliberal institutionalism differs from
realism by suggesting that institutions can foster cooperation, even in an
anarchic system where states are self-interested.
Key points include:
International Institutions: Institutions act as platforms for cooperation, helping
states mitigate the challenges of anarchy by setting rules, norms, and
expectations.
Regime Theory: Initially focusing on international organizations, this evolved into
regime theory, where the focus shifted to the principles and rules governing
interactions in issue areas such as security and economics.
Institutional Growth: Post-WWII saw a massive proliferation of international
organizations aimed at promoting peace and cooperation, such as the European
Union.
,Criticism from Realists: Despite their proliferation, realists argue that institutions
are often marginal or epiphenomenal, merely reflecting the interests of powerful
states rather than independently shaping global politics.
Neoliberal institutionalism provides an alternative to realism by emphasizing how
international cooperation can be sustained through institutions, even in the face
of the self-interest and power politics highlighted by realists.
3. Gender Make the World Go Round- Cynthia Enloe
Cynthia Enloe’s work explores how international politics is deeply gendered,
questioning where women are in discussions of global affairs. The chapter
encourages readers to imagine the experiences of women in various roles—
refugees, domestic workers, sex workers, diplomats—and shows how their lives
intersect with global political dynamics.
Enloe argues that:
Invisible Actors: Women often play invisible roles in international politics, from
secretaries in foreign ministries to sex workers near military bases. Their
contributions, though critical, are usually dismissed as trivial or "domestic."
Gender and Power: Enloe uncovers how international politics and gender relations
are intertwined, revealing that masculinized power structures dominate the field
while feminized labor remains underappreciated.
Feminist Curiosity: To truly understand international politics, Enloe argues for a
feminist curiosity that digs into the lives of women often overlooked by
mainstream analyses. This requires a rethinking of what is considered
“important” in global affairs.
Broader Implications: Enloe illustrates how everyday decisions, such as a British
woman choosing a vacation destination or an American teacher teaching
Pocahontas, are embedded in and help sustain global political and economic
systems, including tourism and colonial histories.
Enloe’s feminist perspective highlights the often-ignored roles of women in
international relations and challenges traditional understandings of power and
influence in global politics.
4. Postcolonialism and its Relevance for International Relatinos in a
Globalized World- Sankaran Krishna
This chapter examines postcolonialism as an alternative lens for understanding
global politics, particularly focusing on how colonial histories shape present
international relations. Sankaran Krishna critiques the dominant narratives in IR,
which tend to focus on nation-states and competition in an anarchic system, and
offers postcolonialism as a more nuanced perspective.
Key points include:
Critique of Mainstream IR: The mainstream IR framework is built on
methodological nationalism, where states act out of self-interest in a competitive,
anarchic system. This ignores the historical processes of colonialism and
capitalism that shaped the modern world.
, Postcolonial Critique: Postcolonialism argues that modern international relations
cannot be understood without acknowledging the legacies of colonialism. The
exploitation and underdevelopment of colonized regions are directly linked to the
wealth and power of the West.
Colonialism’s Ongoing Impact: Colonialism is not merely a historical event but an
ongoing process that continues to affect global power dynamics, economies, and
cultural relations. Postcolonialism challenges the idea that former colonies have
achieved full sovereignty and independence.
Global Interconnectedness: Instead of viewing the world as a collection of
independent nation-states, postcolonialism emphasizes the global and
interconnected processes of development, underdevelopment, and exploitation.
Krishna’s postcolonial approach urges scholars to consider how historical
inequalities rooted in colonialism continue to structure international politics,
offering a more comprehensive understanding of global relations.
These summaries capture the essence of the four articles, each providing a
distinct lens—realist, neoliberal institutionalist, feminist, and postcolonial—
through which to view and understand international relations.
Seminar:
Theories
- Challenges as a series of collective action problems free rider problem. If
everybody thinks as a free riders, goals (e.g. carbon emission reduction)
won’t be achieved
- Explain how the world works rather than how it should work (positive, not
normative).
- What is the nature of the international system
(anarchy or organization?), do states think about themselves in an
uncoordinated manner, or with rules and shared commitments?
- What are the drivers of state behavior? (self-interest vs norms), is there
space for human rights or altruism.
- What is the relevant unit of analysis to explain international relations
(states vs domestic politics)
State of Nature
A world where the strong rule over the weak (Thomas Hobbes) is a giant
collective action problem; no public goods are produced.
Solution: A big central actor that rules from above who can punish actors
who don’t comply with the rules of society (Leviathan).
This central actor doesn’t exist on an international level (= realist theory), with
no authority to punish actors/states who don’t comply. The UN security doesn’t
have the power to punish Russia for example.
Realism: inability to address global issues
- Anarchy
- Groupism: collective unit (states). States are the major units of analysis.
- States are seen as actors with a stable coherent set of interests.
Week 1: Conflict and Cooperation
Literature
1. "Realism" - William C. Wohlforth
This article provides an in-depth exploration of realism in international relations, a
dominant theory that underscores much of the discipline. Wohlforth explains that
realism is not a single, unified theory but a tradition with deep historical roots
tracing back to thinkers like Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. The core
premises of realism include:
Groupism: Political life happens within and between groups, such as states, which
necessitates group solidarity but often leads to conflict.
Egoism: Political actors, be they individuals or groups, act primarily out of self-
interest.
Anarchy: In the absence of a global governing authority, international politics
takes place in a state of anarchy, where self-help is the primary strategy.
Power politics: The interaction of groupism and egoism in an anarchic system
leads to power politics, where conflicts arise over power and security.
Wohlforth stresses that realism provides a framework through which other
theories of international relations define themselves. It also underpins the notion
that conflict is an inevitable outcome in an anarchic system, unless a central
authority can enforce order. Realism remains influential, though scholars have
developed diverse schools within the tradition, including classical realism,
neorealism, and more recent variants like offensive and defensive realism.
2. Neoliberal Institutionalism: Arthur A. Stein
Arthur A. Stein's chapter on neoliberal institutionalism discusses how
international institutions shape global politics. The article highlights the
increasing importance of institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF in moderating
state behavior in an anarchic world. Neoliberal institutionalism differs from
realism by suggesting that institutions can foster cooperation, even in an
anarchic system where states are self-interested.
Key points include:
International Institutions: Institutions act as platforms for cooperation, helping
states mitigate the challenges of anarchy by setting rules, norms, and
expectations.
Regime Theory: Initially focusing on international organizations, this evolved into
regime theory, where the focus shifted to the principles and rules governing
interactions in issue areas such as security and economics.
Institutional Growth: Post-WWII saw a massive proliferation of international
organizations aimed at promoting peace and cooperation, such as the European
Union.
,Criticism from Realists: Despite their proliferation, realists argue that institutions
are often marginal or epiphenomenal, merely reflecting the interests of powerful
states rather than independently shaping global politics.
Neoliberal institutionalism provides an alternative to realism by emphasizing how
international cooperation can be sustained through institutions, even in the face
of the self-interest and power politics highlighted by realists.
3. Gender Make the World Go Round- Cynthia Enloe
Cynthia Enloe’s work explores how international politics is deeply gendered,
questioning where women are in discussions of global affairs. The chapter
encourages readers to imagine the experiences of women in various roles—
refugees, domestic workers, sex workers, diplomats—and shows how their lives
intersect with global political dynamics.
Enloe argues that:
Invisible Actors: Women often play invisible roles in international politics, from
secretaries in foreign ministries to sex workers near military bases. Their
contributions, though critical, are usually dismissed as trivial or "domestic."
Gender and Power: Enloe uncovers how international politics and gender relations
are intertwined, revealing that masculinized power structures dominate the field
while feminized labor remains underappreciated.
Feminist Curiosity: To truly understand international politics, Enloe argues for a
feminist curiosity that digs into the lives of women often overlooked by
mainstream analyses. This requires a rethinking of what is considered
“important” in global affairs.
Broader Implications: Enloe illustrates how everyday decisions, such as a British
woman choosing a vacation destination or an American teacher teaching
Pocahontas, are embedded in and help sustain global political and economic
systems, including tourism and colonial histories.
Enloe’s feminist perspective highlights the often-ignored roles of women in
international relations and challenges traditional understandings of power and
influence in global politics.
4. Postcolonialism and its Relevance for International Relatinos in a
Globalized World- Sankaran Krishna
This chapter examines postcolonialism as an alternative lens for understanding
global politics, particularly focusing on how colonial histories shape present
international relations. Sankaran Krishna critiques the dominant narratives in IR,
which tend to focus on nation-states and competition in an anarchic system, and
offers postcolonialism as a more nuanced perspective.
Key points include:
Critique of Mainstream IR: The mainstream IR framework is built on
methodological nationalism, where states act out of self-interest in a competitive,
anarchic system. This ignores the historical processes of colonialism and
capitalism that shaped the modern world.
, Postcolonial Critique: Postcolonialism argues that modern international relations
cannot be understood without acknowledging the legacies of colonialism. The
exploitation and underdevelopment of colonized regions are directly linked to the
wealth and power of the West.
Colonialism’s Ongoing Impact: Colonialism is not merely a historical event but an
ongoing process that continues to affect global power dynamics, economies, and
cultural relations. Postcolonialism challenges the idea that former colonies have
achieved full sovereignty and independence.
Global Interconnectedness: Instead of viewing the world as a collection of
independent nation-states, postcolonialism emphasizes the global and
interconnected processes of development, underdevelopment, and exploitation.
Krishna’s postcolonial approach urges scholars to consider how historical
inequalities rooted in colonialism continue to structure international politics,
offering a more comprehensive understanding of global relations.
These summaries capture the essence of the four articles, each providing a
distinct lens—realist, neoliberal institutionalist, feminist, and postcolonial—
through which to view and understand international relations.
Seminar:
Theories
- Challenges as a series of collective action problems free rider problem. If
everybody thinks as a free riders, goals (e.g. carbon emission reduction)
won’t be achieved
- Explain how the world works rather than how it should work (positive, not
normative).
- What is the nature of the international system
(anarchy or organization?), do states think about themselves in an
uncoordinated manner, or with rules and shared commitments?
- What are the drivers of state behavior? (self-interest vs norms), is there
space for human rights or altruism.
- What is the relevant unit of analysis to explain international relations
(states vs domestic politics)
State of Nature
A world where the strong rule over the weak (Thomas Hobbes) is a giant
collective action problem; no public goods are produced.
Solution: A big central actor that rules from above who can punish actors
who don’t comply with the rules of society (Leviathan).
This central actor doesn’t exist on an international level (= realist theory), with
no authority to punish actors/states who don’t comply. The UN security doesn’t
have the power to punish Russia for example.
Realism: inability to address global issues
- Anarchy
- Groupism: collective unit (states). States are the major units of analysis.
- States are seen as actors with a stable coherent set of interests.
