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V&S Notes
Mohrman
menam
, Lecture 1 - Concepts and Approaches
johan galtung (1969) provides a compelling way to think about violence and peace
direct violence = behaviours carried out by a clearly identifiable agent with the intent to inflict bodily harm
structural violence = violence as present when humans systematically cannot fulfill their physical and
mental potential. violence does not require intent and does not require a clear agent
in this course, the focus is on direct violence and the forms of political violence
political violence occurs in wartime and in times of peace
i
(war = conflicts with 1000+ battle related deaths in a given year)
galtung (1969) talks about negative peace, the absence of direct violence, and positive peace
positive being a self-sustaining condition that protects the human security of a population
we are currently going through a spike of non-state conflict
the idea of paradigms comes from thomas kuhn (1962), being lenses through which we see the world
they contain assumptions about the most important actors, as well as their behaviours and motivations
what leads to war and violence
what allows for peace and security
realism
actors: the state is the principle actor of international politics
nature of the state: the state is a unitary and rational actor seeking to maximise its own interests
national security is a first order preference (i.e. it trumps it all)
understanding conflict/order:
the international system is characterised by anarchy. which means security is not garuenteed
“all states must constantly be ready to either counter force with force or pay the cost of weakness”
power (generally defined as material capabilities) is a central concern to realism, the key to security
the likelihood of war is shaped but the distribution of power in the international system
liberalism
actors: state and non-state actors are important (transnational advocacy networks)
nature of the state:
state preferences are a aggregate of preferences of a wide range of state and societal actors
preferences not necessarily opposing
i national security not always the most important
understanding conflict/order: conflict is not inevitable; cooperation and mutual gains are possible
order through economic interdependence and free trade / international and democratic institutions
constructivism
actors: actors and interests that drive them are socially constructed
political action is shaped by identities and interests which shapes what they view as appropriate
conflict and peace are shaped by the content of identities and interests
Lecture 2 - Violence and State Formation
in institutionalism elites as the primary explanatory variable for the presence / absence of conflict
assumptions about institutionalism elites seek to maximise political power and other material gains and will
foment violence to meet their interests
.
V&S Notes
Mohrman
menam
, Lecture 1 - Concepts and Approaches
johan galtung (1969) provides a compelling way to think about violence and peace
direct violence = behaviours carried out by a clearly identifiable agent with the intent to inflict bodily harm
structural violence = violence as present when humans systematically cannot fulfill their physical and
mental potential. violence does not require intent and does not require a clear agent
in this course, the focus is on direct violence and the forms of political violence
political violence occurs in wartime and in times of peace
i
(war = conflicts with 1000+ battle related deaths in a given year)
galtung (1969) talks about negative peace, the absence of direct violence, and positive peace
positive being a self-sustaining condition that protects the human security of a population
we are currently going through a spike of non-state conflict
the idea of paradigms comes from thomas kuhn (1962), being lenses through which we see the world
they contain assumptions about the most important actors, as well as their behaviours and motivations
what leads to war and violence
what allows for peace and security
realism
actors: the state is the principle actor of international politics
nature of the state: the state is a unitary and rational actor seeking to maximise its own interests
national security is a first order preference (i.e. it trumps it all)
understanding conflict/order:
the international system is characterised by anarchy. which means security is not garuenteed
“all states must constantly be ready to either counter force with force or pay the cost of weakness”
power (generally defined as material capabilities) is a central concern to realism, the key to security
the likelihood of war is shaped but the distribution of power in the international system
liberalism
actors: state and non-state actors are important (transnational advocacy networks)
nature of the state:
state preferences are a aggregate of preferences of a wide range of state and societal actors
preferences not necessarily opposing
i national security not always the most important
understanding conflict/order: conflict is not inevitable; cooperation and mutual gains are possible
order through economic interdependence and free trade / international and democratic institutions
constructivism
actors: actors and interests that drive them are socially constructed
political action is shaped by identities and interests which shapes what they view as appropriate
conflict and peace are shaped by the content of identities and interests
Lecture 2 - Violence and State Formation
in institutionalism elites as the primary explanatory variable for the presence / absence of conflict
assumptions about institutionalism elites seek to maximise political power and other material gains and will
foment violence to meet their interests
.
