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The 1 st Great Debate Visions of the future
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• Chapter 3
Middle Earth and Three Great Debates in International Relations
The Great Debatesin International Relations
1st Great Debate (20s & 30s)
2nd Great Debate (50s-80s)
3rd Great Debate (80s & on)
The 1st Great
Debate
Visions of the future
Classical Realism
Classical Liberalism
Marxism
CLASSICAL REALISM
• Humans are eternally aggressive
• Conflict is the normal state of the world
• States are primary actors in the international system
• Ends justify means
• People are inherently good, so conflict can be reduced through social learning
• Conflict is not the norm, but an aberration
• NGO’s & other non-state actors play a significant role in the international system
CLASSICAL LIBERALISM
MARXISM• Focuses on conflict
among different economic classes
• Social revolution promotes greater equality
• Trees in Fangorn resist perceived efforts to exploit them
The 2nd
Great Debate
Method:History vs.
Science
English School
Rational Choice
Neo-realism
Neo-liberalism
Neo-Marxism
English SchoolFocuses on
“international society” of states
Rational ChoiceUnbounded Rationality
Actors “maximize their
interests” through cost-
benefit analysis
Rational ChoiceBounded
RationalityCalculations are informed by self-awareness and
psychological factors
Neo-Realism
Inter-state conflict is inevitable because of anarchic structure of
international systemKey variable is
distribution of military powerUnder anarchy, lack of overarching power or government puts states
into a “security dilemma”
Defensive
Realism
States seek to increase power only
under certain circumstances
Offensive Realism
States seek to increase power to maximize
their security
Neo-Liberalism
Inter-state cooperation is feasibleGreater concentration on role of
international institutions in constraining behavior and
overcoming barriersThe more contact states have
through trade, investment, tourism, etc.,
the stronger the reciprocity
Neo-Marxism
Inter-state conflict is inevitable because of anarchic structure of
international systemKey variable is
distribution of military power
Under anarchy, lack of overarching power or government
puts states into a “security dilemma”
Gramscian
Dependency
World Systems
The 3rd Great
Debate
How knowledge is acquired
Constructivism
Critical Theory
Positivism
Constructivists
Emphasizes role of socially constructed ideas in shaping
International RelationsWithout a perceived security threat, warlike behavior isn’t considered
and the “norm” is peaceConstructed worlds can constrain behavior in international politics
Critical Theory
Questions rationalist state-centric framework and research agenda
Focuses on alternative issues and marginalized populations
Argue that normative concerns should be included in International
Relations
Where is IR theory
now?