AIR Lec eN e
Lecture 1 Introduction
Today
Wha ill e do in hi co e and ho can I cceed
Wha ba ic idea abo oli ic a e e e ed b he A henian and he Melian in hei dialog e
acco ding o Th c dide
To hich mode n ca e i hi Melian dialog e ele an
Focus of AIR
Conflic and coo e a ion be een a e
Wha fac o a he na ional and in e na ional le el ha e he likelihood and he fo m of conflic
and coo e a ion be een a e
Foc on e lana ion Wh and nde ha condi ion
Wh doe conflic ha en Unde ha condi ion a e e mo likel o ge conflic
De c i ion Wha hen and ho ine i abl e ill alk abo he e e ion b he e no
he foc of he co e
P e c i ion Wha i igh o de i able
Q e ion e ill be looking a
Wha fac o ha e in e na ional coo e a ion and oblem ol ing
Do in e na ional le and o gani a ion make a diffe ence
If a i o ho ible h i i o common
Wh i i o ha d o o ec he global en i onmen
Can in e na ional la e en h man igh ab e
Doe economic in e de endence omo e g o h o lne abili o bo h
Wha i he f e of IR
I Co ona i an fo ming o ld oli ic o i i j a ne oblem
Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War 31 0 BC
Wa be een o majo o e in a o ld of ci ae
S a a allie A hen allie
S a a A oc ac mili a go e nmen and majo land o e
A hen Democ ac and g o ing o e i h o e ea em i e
S a a on ea e ed i dominance o e he G eek o ld
Thucydides
A henian gene al in he Pelo onne ian Wa
Blamed fo an A henian defea e iled f om A hen
W o e a hi o ical in e e a ion of he a
Did no a ib e e en o god one of he fi mode n hi o ian
Thucydides explanation of the war
Wha made a ine i able a he g o h of A henian o e and he fea hi ca ed in S a a
The A henian made hi Em i e mo e and mo e ong n il finall he oin a eached hen
A henian eng h a ained a eak lain fo all o ee and he A henian began o enc oach on
, A henian eng h a ained a peak plain fo all o ee and he A henian began o enc oach pon
Spa a allie I a a hi poin ha Spa a fel he po i ion o be no longe ole able and decided
b a ing he p e en a o emplo all he ene gie in a acking and if po ible de o ing he
po e of A hen
In m Spa a a a dominan po e and A hen a a i ing po e hen he Spa an looked a
he i e of A hen he a acked A hen o o p e en i i e
Inspiration for a contemporary idea
Th c dide T ap The claim ha a i likel be een i ing and declining po e G aham Alli on
In he la ea ca e hen a i ing po e i alled a dominan po e of he e e l ed in
a
A oiding a eq i e g ea poli ical and p chological fle ibili
Thucydides & Allison
Wha do Th c dide d of a in ancien G eece and Alli on book on US China ela ion ha e in
common
S a e a ke ac o in in e na ional poli ic
Diffe ence in g o h a e of a e e di ib ion of po e among a e in e na ional conflic
B Th c dide i no be kno n fo hi He i be kno n fo he Melian Dialog e
The Siege of Melos (416 BC
Melo a helping Spa a b claimed ne ali Melo a o iginall a colon of Spa a b b hi
poin had been independen fo a long ime
A hen in i ed ha Melo ppo hem
Melo ef ed
A hen de o ed Melo killed he men and en la ed he omen and child en
Th c dide ec ea ed a dialog e be een ep e en a i e of A hen and Melo befo e he figh ing he
Melian Dialog e
The Melian Dialogue
The Melian Dialog e in ol e A hen a a pe po e of he ime and Melo a mall colon ha ied
o main ain i ne ali in he Peloponne ean Wa A hen a he Melian ne al po i ion a an
indi ec challenge o i dominion I ho gh of i a a ign ha a mall co n co ld def he ill of
he egion a pi ing hegemon A ch he A henian ga he ed hei fo ce and de cended pon he
mall a e i h an l ima m ende o he ill of A hen o face annihila ion
Th c dide offe ha i belie ed o be a d ama i a ion of he di c ion be een he ep e en a i e of
he o ide
The A henian en o peak i ho p e en e A hen come a a conq e o To en la e he Melian
o o end hem in o obli ion The en o p hi in clea e m b famo l all ding o he fac ha
he ong do ha hei po e ende po ible hile he eak ffe ha hei eakne en ail
Thi i of en an la ed a he ong do ha he can and he eak ffe ha he m
In e pon e o hi hocking f ankne he Melian a e p epa ed o p p a figh Thei ance o
e e coloni f om Spa a A hen i al Co pled i h hei p o imi o he Spa an mainland he
Melian belie e ha he a e no a eak a he ma eem o be Spa a ill come o hei aid in
o de o gain an all
A hen i no imp e ed Fo i i no j conq e o ha make a e men on he ba i of po e
P i l lli d h S j d lli i f d l A lli b
, Potential allies do the same. States judge alliances in terms of power and control. An alliance must be
a platform for expand their influence and forwarding their agenda. Mere intentions and good will do
not grant any kind of superiority when things are to be decided. Athens understands that and expects
Sparta to not interfere.
Other than resist the impending Athenian onslaught, the Melians appeal to morality and the ideals of
Justice. To which Athens has an expectedly straightforward answer. Matters of justice only become
relevant between equals. Otherwise humans resort to their natural propensity of ruling and
dominating whenever they can.
Reflections on the Melian Dialog e
Disc ssion : Melian and Athenian views on neutrality, alliances, justice
Neutrality: How do superpowers treat small states that seek neutrality?
Melians argue they have been independent for centuries and want to stay independent; have no
interest in picking sides
Athenians argue they can’t afford to let Melians remain neutral; concerned with the message that
will be sent to other small states if they allow Melos to be independent, non-aligned, neutral,
other states will want the same thing; Athenians as a superpower want small states to line up
behind them
Alliances: Will a superpower help a small state?
Melians ask to be neutral, but the Athenians don’t allow it
Melians trust the Spartans to come to their aid; Athenians trust the Spartans to do what’s in their
best interest they doubt the Spartans will honor their historical ties to Melos — “Sparta first
foreign policy"
e.g. Will the US honor its commitment to countries like Japan?
Justice: What is its place in international relations?
Melians say they trust the gods will favor them and help them; Athenians say the gods help those
who can help themselves the gods justice are meaningless in relations between states
Disc ssion : Which modern cases appear similar? Cases that echo the Melian Dialogue
US policy toward Mexico
Texas Annexation 1845 and Mexican Cession 1848
18460-1848: War between US-Mexico
Treaty of Hidalgo 1848 : Mexico ceded a larger piece of land
President Porfirio Diaz: “Poor Mexico! So far from God inability of God claims to justice to
influence politics , so close to the US reference to the ability of a great power to do what it
wants ”
US embargo on Cuba
Castro overthrew Batista 1959 and declared a socialist revolution
US imposed an embargo that persists to this day
Russian actions in Chechnya 1991-2000
After the fall of the USSR, Chechnya started talking about independence
Russian government 1991, 2000 intervened in Chechnya and cracked down on independent
movement
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Ukrainian Revolution 2014 that moved the country in a more democratic direction; problems
with Russian-speaking population in the East; talks about joining NATO and building ties to the EU
, R ia ided ide l gical a d ili a e h ic R ia i ea e Uk ai e
e e all di ec R ia ili a i e e i i ea e i ce
I a i a da e a i f C i ea
I aeli lic a d Pale i ia
F decade Pale i ia ha e de a ded elf de e i a i I ael l g a a ch
a a he a I ael i e e f l a d ca d ha i a
Discussion 3: I i e a i al li ic eall all ab e
A he ia J ice i e f ced l a g h e h ca be e all c ai ed b i a d h e h
ha e e ei hile he eak ake c i e
T a la ed a The g d ha he ill he eak ffe ha he j ice ha le i
ld li ic
I ha a i hi e Wha d e hi e lai
Lecture 2: Theory and early theorists of IR Classical
approaches
On theory in IR
The ie i cial cie ce a e ed ee e hi g e clea l a d g ide he h ld
ha e a ch de ail a he eal ld he e a i lifica i f eali
What is a theory in social science?
A a al ical l ha e e ake e e f a c le ld
A a ic la he a be ef l f e lai i g e le f a ei g e e i
b f he de a d IR e eed diffe e he ie ha de e di g he e i
ca d a hi ha he
N e f e a le f G d be e
N eali ic d e e d ce eal ld de ail
Elements of theories
A i Wha i ake f g a ed b ildi g bl ck f he he he ba i f h e
a i he ie gge ce ai ela i hi
All he ie a e ba ed e e ed a ed a i ab eali
The e a i h ld be
E lici
Pla ible
Rela i hi H he a e f X cha ge i X a e f Y cha ge i Y
L gic Wh X i ela ed Y i hi a e
Functions of theory in social science
P i ci al T e able de a di g e la a i
Diffe e e la a i f he a e c e
The A X Y
Th B X Y
Lecture 1 Introduction
Today
Wha ill e do in hi co e and ho can I cceed
Wha ba ic idea abo oli ic a e e e ed b he A henian and he Melian in hei dialog e
acco ding o Th c dide
To hich mode n ca e i hi Melian dialog e ele an
Focus of AIR
Conflic and coo e a ion be een a e
Wha fac o a he na ional and in e na ional le el ha e he likelihood and he fo m of conflic
and coo e a ion be een a e
Foc on e lana ion Wh and nde ha condi ion
Wh doe conflic ha en Unde ha condi ion a e e mo likel o ge conflic
De c i ion Wha hen and ho ine i abl e ill alk abo he e e ion b he e no
he foc of he co e
P e c i ion Wha i igh o de i able
Q e ion e ill be looking a
Wha fac o ha e in e na ional coo e a ion and oblem ol ing
Do in e na ional le and o gani a ion make a diffe ence
If a i o ho ible h i i o common
Wh i i o ha d o o ec he global en i onmen
Can in e na ional la e en h man igh ab e
Doe economic in e de endence omo e g o h o lne abili o bo h
Wha i he f e of IR
I Co ona i an fo ming o ld oli ic o i i j a ne oblem
Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War 31 0 BC
Wa be een o majo o e in a o ld of ci ae
S a a allie A hen allie
S a a A oc ac mili a go e nmen and majo land o e
A hen Democ ac and g o ing o e i h o e ea em i e
S a a on ea e ed i dominance o e he G eek o ld
Thucydides
A henian gene al in he Pelo onne ian Wa
Blamed fo an A henian defea e iled f om A hen
W o e a hi o ical in e e a ion of he a
Did no a ib e e en o god one of he fi mode n hi o ian
Thucydides explanation of the war
Wha made a ine i able a he g o h of A henian o e and he fea hi ca ed in S a a
The A henian made hi Em i e mo e and mo e ong n il finall he oin a eached hen
A henian eng h a ained a eak lain fo all o ee and he A henian began o enc oach on
, A henian eng h a ained a peak plain fo all o ee and he A henian began o enc oach pon
Spa a allie I a a hi poin ha Spa a fel he po i ion o be no longe ole able and decided
b a ing he p e en a o emplo all he ene gie in a acking and if po ible de o ing he
po e of A hen
In m Spa a a a dominan po e and A hen a a i ing po e hen he Spa an looked a
he i e of A hen he a acked A hen o o p e en i i e
Inspiration for a contemporary idea
Th c dide T ap The claim ha a i likel be een i ing and declining po e G aham Alli on
In he la ea ca e hen a i ing po e i alled a dominan po e of he e e l ed in
a
A oiding a eq i e g ea poli ical and p chological fle ibili
Thucydides & Allison
Wha do Th c dide d of a in ancien G eece and Alli on book on US China ela ion ha e in
common
S a e a ke ac o in in e na ional poli ic
Diffe ence in g o h a e of a e e di ib ion of po e among a e in e na ional conflic
B Th c dide i no be kno n fo hi He i be kno n fo he Melian Dialog e
The Siege of Melos (416 BC
Melo a helping Spa a b claimed ne ali Melo a o iginall a colon of Spa a b b hi
poin had been independen fo a long ime
A hen in i ed ha Melo ppo hem
Melo ef ed
A hen de o ed Melo killed he men and en la ed he omen and child en
Th c dide ec ea ed a dialog e be een ep e en a i e of A hen and Melo befo e he figh ing he
Melian Dialog e
The Melian Dialogue
The Melian Dialog e in ol e A hen a a pe po e of he ime and Melo a mall colon ha ied
o main ain i ne ali in he Peloponne ean Wa A hen a he Melian ne al po i ion a an
indi ec challenge o i dominion I ho gh of i a a ign ha a mall co n co ld def he ill of
he egion a pi ing hegemon A ch he A henian ga he ed hei fo ce and de cended pon he
mall a e i h an l ima m ende o he ill of A hen o face annihila ion
Th c dide offe ha i belie ed o be a d ama i a ion of he di c ion be een he ep e en a i e of
he o ide
The A henian en o peak i ho p e en e A hen come a a conq e o To en la e he Melian
o o end hem in o obli ion The en o p hi in clea e m b famo l all ding o he fac ha
he ong do ha hei po e ende po ible hile he eak ffe ha hei eakne en ail
Thi i of en an la ed a he ong do ha he can and he eak ffe ha he m
In e pon e o hi hocking f ankne he Melian a e p epa ed o p p a figh Thei ance o
e e coloni f om Spa a A hen i al Co pled i h hei p o imi o he Spa an mainland he
Melian belie e ha he a e no a eak a he ma eem o be Spa a ill come o hei aid in
o de o gain an all
A hen i no imp e ed Fo i i no j conq e o ha make a e men on he ba i of po e
P i l lli d h S j d lli i f d l A lli b
, Potential allies do the same. States judge alliances in terms of power and control. An alliance must be
a platform for expand their influence and forwarding their agenda. Mere intentions and good will do
not grant any kind of superiority when things are to be decided. Athens understands that and expects
Sparta to not interfere.
Other than resist the impending Athenian onslaught, the Melians appeal to morality and the ideals of
Justice. To which Athens has an expectedly straightforward answer. Matters of justice only become
relevant between equals. Otherwise humans resort to their natural propensity of ruling and
dominating whenever they can.
Reflections on the Melian Dialog e
Disc ssion : Melian and Athenian views on neutrality, alliances, justice
Neutrality: How do superpowers treat small states that seek neutrality?
Melians argue they have been independent for centuries and want to stay independent; have no
interest in picking sides
Athenians argue they can’t afford to let Melians remain neutral; concerned with the message that
will be sent to other small states if they allow Melos to be independent, non-aligned, neutral,
other states will want the same thing; Athenians as a superpower want small states to line up
behind them
Alliances: Will a superpower help a small state?
Melians ask to be neutral, but the Athenians don’t allow it
Melians trust the Spartans to come to their aid; Athenians trust the Spartans to do what’s in their
best interest they doubt the Spartans will honor their historical ties to Melos — “Sparta first
foreign policy"
e.g. Will the US honor its commitment to countries like Japan?
Justice: What is its place in international relations?
Melians say they trust the gods will favor them and help them; Athenians say the gods help those
who can help themselves the gods justice are meaningless in relations between states
Disc ssion : Which modern cases appear similar? Cases that echo the Melian Dialogue
US policy toward Mexico
Texas Annexation 1845 and Mexican Cession 1848
18460-1848: War between US-Mexico
Treaty of Hidalgo 1848 : Mexico ceded a larger piece of land
President Porfirio Diaz: “Poor Mexico! So far from God inability of God claims to justice to
influence politics , so close to the US reference to the ability of a great power to do what it
wants ”
US embargo on Cuba
Castro overthrew Batista 1959 and declared a socialist revolution
US imposed an embargo that persists to this day
Russian actions in Chechnya 1991-2000
After the fall of the USSR, Chechnya started talking about independence
Russian government 1991, 2000 intervened in Chechnya and cracked down on independent
movement
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Ukrainian Revolution 2014 that moved the country in a more democratic direction; problems
with Russian-speaking population in the East; talks about joining NATO and building ties to the EU
, R ia ided ide l gical a d ili a e h ic R ia i ea e Uk ai e
e e all di ec R ia ili a i e e i i ea e i ce
I a i a da e a i f C i ea
I aeli lic a d Pale i ia
F decade Pale i ia ha e de a ded elf de e i a i I ael l g a a ch
a a he a I ael i e e f l a d ca d ha i a
Discussion 3: I i e a i al li ic eall all ab e
A he ia J ice i e f ced l a g h e h ca be e all c ai ed b i a d h e h
ha e e ei hile he eak ake c i e
T a la ed a The g d ha he ill he eak ffe ha he j ice ha le i
ld li ic
I ha a i hi e Wha d e hi e lai
Lecture 2: Theory and early theorists of IR Classical
approaches
On theory in IR
The ie i cial cie ce a e ed ee e hi g e clea l a d g ide he h ld
ha e a ch de ail a he eal ld he e a i lifica i f eali
What is a theory in social science?
A a al ical l ha e e ake e e f a c le ld
A a ic la he a be ef l f e lai i g e le f a ei g e e i
b f he de a d IR e eed diffe e he ie ha de e di g he e i
ca d a hi ha he
N e f e a le f G d be e
N eali ic d e e d ce eal ld de ail
Elements of theories
A i Wha i ake f g a ed b ildi g bl ck f he he he ba i f h e
a i he ie gge ce ai ela i hi
All he ie a e ba ed e e ed a ed a i ab eali
The e a i h ld be
E lici
Pla ible
Rela i hi H he a e f X cha ge i X a e f Y cha ge i Y
L gic Wh X i ela ed Y i hi a e
Functions of theory in social science
P i ci al T e able de a di g e la a i
Diffe e e la a i f he a e c e
The A X Y
Th B X Y
