Global and European
governance
Lecture 1: Introduction and states
The state - Cooperation game: risks of cheating as the benefits of cheating
are higher than the benefits of cooperation.
The Westphalia treaty (1648) was the start of the international - Coordination problem: difficult to find a common course of
system as we know it as it specified exclusive sovereignty of states. action, but it is easier to stick to one once it is found.
- External sovereignty: other states in the international system
recognize the authority of the state (between states) Anarchy is the lack of a higher authority in international relations.
- Internal sovereignty: the state is the ultimate sovereignty Meaning that international politics are horizontal, where domestic
within the given borders (between state and citizen). politics are hierarchical/vertical.
Within international relations states are currently acknowledged as
the primary actors. The Montevideo convention determined the Game theory
definition of the state in international law as: The actors within game theory can be varied (people, companies,
- Permanent population states etc), they are assumed to be rational (trying to maximize
- Defined territory profit), and they are informed regarding strategies and solutions.
- Government
- Capacity to enter a relation with other states Prisoner’s dilemma
However, a modern state also includes:
- Monopoly over the legitimate use of violence
- Bureaucracy as administration
- Political competition and contestation
Origins of the state Nash equilibrium:
War effort “war makes state and the state made war” none of the actors
Economic relation can increase their
pay-off by switching
- Domestic: interest of the capital class strategy
- International: trade and finance
Institutional necessity: solving coordination and cooperation problems
- The process of politics: interests > preferences > interaction of
preferences > outcomes best outcome
- This series of interactions can go in two ways: for both
o Cooperation: no one loses and at least one side wins
o Bargaining: one side wins at the expense of the other
- Cooperative interaction is a combination between coordination
and collaboration
Cooperation Battle of the sexes
There are several possible obstacles to cooperation:
- Free riding problem
- Collective action
- Transaction costs
- Lack of information
- Lack of trust
- Public goods > they are non-excludable thus people can free-
ride
States attempt to solve these problems by making and enforcing
laws. In international politics however cooperation happens through
treats, bribes, package deals and pre-emptive action.
,
, Lecture 2: realism and the UN security council
Paradox within security UN security council
Dilemma of interpretation: one country’s attempt to build security This is an organizational example of realism.
can make others feel insecure and thus they would build defenses
Dilemma of response: Realism considers institutions as a reflection of the current balance of
power. They are tools of great powers to project and increase their
Realism power. They do not necessarily bring peace.
Realism gives an explanation regarding a state’s behavior under The league of nations: created at the end of WW1 based on
anarchy. Woodrow Wilson’s principles (idealism). It collapsed in the interwar
- Actor: state (statism) period.
- Goal: survival
- Tool: self help United nations: (fixed the problems of the league of nations) was
Realists see international politics as a zero-sum game, this means created post WW2 in order to increase international order and
that there are only relative gains (one side wins at the cost of the spread the rule of law to attempt to prevent another war
other). This leads to hesitation in cooperation.
There is a balance of power in international politics, thus the ratio of The UN security council includes:
power of a state is balanced with that of other states. This means - A military committee
that there is a limit to a states power by a counterbalancing power - Counter terrorism committee
(USSR vs NATO). Or bandwagoning, meaning that states join an - Peacekeeping operations and political missions
arising power as states do not always feel threatened (rarely - Sanctions committee
happens though).
The structure of the council includes:
Different kinds of realism - 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members:
Classical realism: conflict is in human nature. o 2 Latin American and Caribbean Group
Hobbes: “during the time man live without a common power,, they o 3 African countries
are in that condition which is called war,, Every man against every o 2 Asia and the Pacific Group
man” o Western European and other group (WEOG)
Structural realism: it is the structure of the international system o Eastern European Group (EEG)
which is effected by great powers + states are security maximizers. - The resolutions taken on require 9/15 votes, however the
Neoclassical realism: there is an international structure with relative permanent members can veto and members can abstain from
power capabilities but there are intervening variables at unit level. voting.
- They have irregular meetings if requested by a UN member.
Defensive realism Offensive realism
Powers Limits to power
- Decisions made are binding to - Depends on member-states to
Survival by maximizing Survival by maximizing the UN members function (they are sovereign)
security power - Power to define existence and - Evasion of the resolutions
nature of security threat - Military forces of the UN can
Offence and defense can be World hegemony is possible - Structure to respond to a only do peacekeeping missions,
differentiated and provides the ultimate security treat military intervention is under a
security - Enforce its decisions by national flag
mandatory directives to UN
Balance of threat Balance of power members
Status quo Revisionist agenda
Critique of realism
- It is undefined (ex. what is power?)
- Realism only considered hard power, however soft power is
also significant
- Power does not equal capability
- States are not the only important actors, domestic politics
matter
- Military power is very costly to build compared to conflict
resolution etc
governance
Lecture 1: Introduction and states
The state - Cooperation game: risks of cheating as the benefits of cheating
are higher than the benefits of cooperation.
The Westphalia treaty (1648) was the start of the international - Coordination problem: difficult to find a common course of
system as we know it as it specified exclusive sovereignty of states. action, but it is easier to stick to one once it is found.
- External sovereignty: other states in the international system
recognize the authority of the state (between states) Anarchy is the lack of a higher authority in international relations.
- Internal sovereignty: the state is the ultimate sovereignty Meaning that international politics are horizontal, where domestic
within the given borders (between state and citizen). politics are hierarchical/vertical.
Within international relations states are currently acknowledged as
the primary actors. The Montevideo convention determined the Game theory
definition of the state in international law as: The actors within game theory can be varied (people, companies,
- Permanent population states etc), they are assumed to be rational (trying to maximize
- Defined territory profit), and they are informed regarding strategies and solutions.
- Government
- Capacity to enter a relation with other states Prisoner’s dilemma
However, a modern state also includes:
- Monopoly over the legitimate use of violence
- Bureaucracy as administration
- Political competition and contestation
Origins of the state Nash equilibrium:
War effort “war makes state and the state made war” none of the actors
Economic relation can increase their
pay-off by switching
- Domestic: interest of the capital class strategy
- International: trade and finance
Institutional necessity: solving coordination and cooperation problems
- The process of politics: interests > preferences > interaction of
preferences > outcomes best outcome
- This series of interactions can go in two ways: for both
o Cooperation: no one loses and at least one side wins
o Bargaining: one side wins at the expense of the other
- Cooperative interaction is a combination between coordination
and collaboration
Cooperation Battle of the sexes
There are several possible obstacles to cooperation:
- Free riding problem
- Collective action
- Transaction costs
- Lack of information
- Lack of trust
- Public goods > they are non-excludable thus people can free-
ride
States attempt to solve these problems by making and enforcing
laws. In international politics however cooperation happens through
treats, bribes, package deals and pre-emptive action.
,
, Lecture 2: realism and the UN security council
Paradox within security UN security council
Dilemma of interpretation: one country’s attempt to build security This is an organizational example of realism.
can make others feel insecure and thus they would build defenses
Dilemma of response: Realism considers institutions as a reflection of the current balance of
power. They are tools of great powers to project and increase their
Realism power. They do not necessarily bring peace.
Realism gives an explanation regarding a state’s behavior under The league of nations: created at the end of WW1 based on
anarchy. Woodrow Wilson’s principles (idealism). It collapsed in the interwar
- Actor: state (statism) period.
- Goal: survival
- Tool: self help United nations: (fixed the problems of the league of nations) was
Realists see international politics as a zero-sum game, this means created post WW2 in order to increase international order and
that there are only relative gains (one side wins at the cost of the spread the rule of law to attempt to prevent another war
other). This leads to hesitation in cooperation.
There is a balance of power in international politics, thus the ratio of The UN security council includes:
power of a state is balanced with that of other states. This means - A military committee
that there is a limit to a states power by a counterbalancing power - Counter terrorism committee
(USSR vs NATO). Or bandwagoning, meaning that states join an - Peacekeeping operations and political missions
arising power as states do not always feel threatened (rarely - Sanctions committee
happens though).
The structure of the council includes:
Different kinds of realism - 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members:
Classical realism: conflict is in human nature. o 2 Latin American and Caribbean Group
Hobbes: “during the time man live without a common power,, they o 3 African countries
are in that condition which is called war,, Every man against every o 2 Asia and the Pacific Group
man” o Western European and other group (WEOG)
Structural realism: it is the structure of the international system o Eastern European Group (EEG)
which is effected by great powers + states are security maximizers. - The resolutions taken on require 9/15 votes, however the
Neoclassical realism: there is an international structure with relative permanent members can veto and members can abstain from
power capabilities but there are intervening variables at unit level. voting.
- They have irregular meetings if requested by a UN member.
Defensive realism Offensive realism
Powers Limits to power
- Decisions made are binding to - Depends on member-states to
Survival by maximizing Survival by maximizing the UN members function (they are sovereign)
security power - Power to define existence and - Evasion of the resolutions
nature of security threat - Military forces of the UN can
Offence and defense can be World hegemony is possible - Structure to respond to a only do peacekeeping missions,
differentiated and provides the ultimate security treat military intervention is under a
security - Enforce its decisions by national flag
mandatory directives to UN
Balance of threat Balance of power members
Status quo Revisionist agenda
Critique of realism
- It is undefined (ex. what is power?)
- Realism only considered hard power, however soft power is
also significant
- Power does not equal capability
- States are not the only important actors, domestic politics
matter
- Military power is very costly to build compared to conflict
resolution etc
