International Relations Theory
CLASS 1: BUILDING BLOCKS
0. Why International Relations Theory?
International Relations Theory
- (International Relations) theories make claims about the ontology of
international politics
o = the reality
o Ontology = “how does international politics actually work?”
- ≠ Methodology, which deals with epistemology
o Epistemology = “how can we know international politics?”
- Theories can contribute in various ways:
o 1. Analytical
Offering an analytical framework
Offering definitions & concepts
o 2. Explanatory
Offering explanations for the observed phenomena
(Try to) make predictions
Many theories try to generalize across cases
o 3. Normative
Prescribing ‘wise’ policy
Ethical assessments
Some, not all, of our theories are active on the three dimensions
Examples of questions asked by International Relations
- Why do wars occur?
- Under which conditions does international cooperation occur?
- Do international organizations have power?
- Would more women in power positions make the world more peaceful?
- Can activists change the world?
- …
Additional remarks
, - 1. Each theory tries to explain how the world works
o Each theory focuses on specific
elements/factors/dimensions/dynamics as the main causes
They are like different lenses
o BUT every theory has his bias
Every theory has his short-comings because they work like
specific lenses that ignore other important factors
Other theories focus on the other factors that are
ignored
- 2. The relevance of theories can vary across time and space
o Certain theories will help to explain the complexities of the 19th
century
o Certain theories will help to explain the occurrence of conflicts
o Certain theories will help to explain peace
o ….
- 3. Theories offer insight into the motives of actors
o Theories causes empathy, theories make sure we ‘understand’ why
actors do certain things
o ≠ approving the things that actors do!!!!
It’s important to use International Relations and other theories in bachelor
and master dissertation
This course offers a general introduction
o Because IR is a universe of literature this course will just focus on
the most important things
o Consult literature for sophisticated elaborations
1. Block 1: Levels of analysis
Definition of ‘levels of analysis’
- A definition of ‘levels of analysis’ is not completely settled in literature yet.
- The definition we use:
o Levels of analysis in international politics are those spheres in
social reality – from the individual (bv. citizen, policy worker) to the
entire world history – where causes for international political
phenomena are located.
There are various levels of analysis
The individual
The state
….
, It’s possible to find causal factors at all levels, but one level
may weigh more than others
It depends on what the school is most interested in
Important: levels of analysis have explanatory value!
Kenneth Waltz & levels of analysis
- Waltz: NOT the first but a very important author about IR!
- 1959: book on Three Images (= 3 levels of analysis)
o First Image: Nature of humankind & individuals
He mixes up both!
o Second Image: the State
You shouldn’t look at individuals
Perhaps: more looking at the level of the state
o Third image: the International System
For him the most important: the structure of the international
system
o But! Reality is more complicated than these 3 potential levels of
analysis
These 3 are important but there are more levels
It NOT not advisable to reduce Levels of analysis to this
three-tiered representation
1.1. The nature of humankind (= Human nature)
- Classical Realism: “Many humans/statespersons are bad by nature”
o We can’t get rid of wars new wars keep occurring
Reason: war is inherent by humankind
As long as human species exist, there will be war
o This belief leads to fatalism and defeatism
- Liberalism: “Humans are good by nature; or at least, they can
improve/learn, thanks to Reason”
o Liberalists do NOT agree that humans are bad by nature they
claim that humans are good by nature
Humans can learn and can make progress, making use of
Reason
o More optimistic view
- Feminism has joined this debate
, oBut important question: Does the difference between men and
women matter for explaining foreign policy/IR?
BUT: the explanatory value of human nature is limited
o This can NOT explain specific wars or periods of peace &
cooperation?
1.2. Individuals
- When we talk about individuals there is a variety of personalities
o We are more interested in the personality of people (= ‘looking into
the mind of leaders’)
- BUT there are institutional constraints of leaders
o Bv. In many countries, a head of state has little personal power
based on the constitution
- Examples of interesting personalities: Adolf Hitler, Mikhail Gorbachev,
Donald Trump, etc.
o The more individual power a leader has the more useful to study
their personality
- Insights from psychological studies, biographies
1.3. The state
- Many theorists and politicians have sought the main explanations for
international politics at that level
o Bv. Democratic governments (US, UK) have blamed the authoritarian
character of others (Germany) for WWI
o Bv. Communist governments have blamed capitalist ones to be
inherently aggressive
- States are power-greedy
o NOT ONLY to survive this is rooted in the characters of humans
- There are different kinds of states
o Democratic Peace Theory: democratic states <-> authoritarian
states
o Historical: capitalist states <-> communist states
Reason: history, sociology and culture, collective emotions,…
These aspects are relatively stable over time
o Domestic institutions are also important
CLASS 1: BUILDING BLOCKS
0. Why International Relations Theory?
International Relations Theory
- (International Relations) theories make claims about the ontology of
international politics
o = the reality
o Ontology = “how does international politics actually work?”
- ≠ Methodology, which deals with epistemology
o Epistemology = “how can we know international politics?”
- Theories can contribute in various ways:
o 1. Analytical
Offering an analytical framework
Offering definitions & concepts
o 2. Explanatory
Offering explanations for the observed phenomena
(Try to) make predictions
Many theories try to generalize across cases
o 3. Normative
Prescribing ‘wise’ policy
Ethical assessments
Some, not all, of our theories are active on the three dimensions
Examples of questions asked by International Relations
- Why do wars occur?
- Under which conditions does international cooperation occur?
- Do international organizations have power?
- Would more women in power positions make the world more peaceful?
- Can activists change the world?
- …
Additional remarks
, - 1. Each theory tries to explain how the world works
o Each theory focuses on specific
elements/factors/dimensions/dynamics as the main causes
They are like different lenses
o BUT every theory has his bias
Every theory has his short-comings because they work like
specific lenses that ignore other important factors
Other theories focus on the other factors that are
ignored
- 2. The relevance of theories can vary across time and space
o Certain theories will help to explain the complexities of the 19th
century
o Certain theories will help to explain the occurrence of conflicts
o Certain theories will help to explain peace
o ….
- 3. Theories offer insight into the motives of actors
o Theories causes empathy, theories make sure we ‘understand’ why
actors do certain things
o ≠ approving the things that actors do!!!!
It’s important to use International Relations and other theories in bachelor
and master dissertation
This course offers a general introduction
o Because IR is a universe of literature this course will just focus on
the most important things
o Consult literature for sophisticated elaborations
1. Block 1: Levels of analysis
Definition of ‘levels of analysis’
- A definition of ‘levels of analysis’ is not completely settled in literature yet.
- The definition we use:
o Levels of analysis in international politics are those spheres in
social reality – from the individual (bv. citizen, policy worker) to the
entire world history – where causes for international political
phenomena are located.
There are various levels of analysis
The individual
The state
….
, It’s possible to find causal factors at all levels, but one level
may weigh more than others
It depends on what the school is most interested in
Important: levels of analysis have explanatory value!
Kenneth Waltz & levels of analysis
- Waltz: NOT the first but a very important author about IR!
- 1959: book on Three Images (= 3 levels of analysis)
o First Image: Nature of humankind & individuals
He mixes up both!
o Second Image: the State
You shouldn’t look at individuals
Perhaps: more looking at the level of the state
o Third image: the International System
For him the most important: the structure of the international
system
o But! Reality is more complicated than these 3 potential levels of
analysis
These 3 are important but there are more levels
It NOT not advisable to reduce Levels of analysis to this
three-tiered representation
1.1. The nature of humankind (= Human nature)
- Classical Realism: “Many humans/statespersons are bad by nature”
o We can’t get rid of wars new wars keep occurring
Reason: war is inherent by humankind
As long as human species exist, there will be war
o This belief leads to fatalism and defeatism
- Liberalism: “Humans are good by nature; or at least, they can
improve/learn, thanks to Reason”
o Liberalists do NOT agree that humans are bad by nature they
claim that humans are good by nature
Humans can learn and can make progress, making use of
Reason
o More optimistic view
- Feminism has joined this debate
, oBut important question: Does the difference between men and
women matter for explaining foreign policy/IR?
BUT: the explanatory value of human nature is limited
o This can NOT explain specific wars or periods of peace &
cooperation?
1.2. Individuals
- When we talk about individuals there is a variety of personalities
o We are more interested in the personality of people (= ‘looking into
the mind of leaders’)
- BUT there are institutional constraints of leaders
o Bv. In many countries, a head of state has little personal power
based on the constitution
- Examples of interesting personalities: Adolf Hitler, Mikhail Gorbachev,
Donald Trump, etc.
o The more individual power a leader has the more useful to study
their personality
- Insights from psychological studies, biographies
1.3. The state
- Many theorists and politicians have sought the main explanations for
international politics at that level
o Bv. Democratic governments (US, UK) have blamed the authoritarian
character of others (Germany) for WWI
o Bv. Communist governments have blamed capitalist ones to be
inherently aggressive
- States are power-greedy
o NOT ONLY to survive this is rooted in the characters of humans
- There are different kinds of states
o Democratic Peace Theory: democratic states <-> authoritarian
states
o Historical: capitalist states <-> communist states
Reason: history, sociology and culture, collective emotions,…
These aspects are relatively stable over time
o Domestic institutions are also important
