I. to International Relations; II. International Relations Theory; III. International Political Economy; IV. International Political Systems; V. International Organizations; VI. National Security and Diplomacy; VII. International Law; VIII. International Negotiations; IX. Conflict Analysis and Resolution; X. Comparative Political Systems
GO21’S
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (IR) THEORY
I. WHAT IS THEORY? HOW IS IT APPLIED?
A.. WHAT IT IS. A theory is used to describe reality; in IR, the explanation is the reality of the international system. As a scientific theory, IR offers an account of why something has happened, more so than offer a prescription or prediction. Theories in IR will become more diverse as new patterns of reaction and behavior emerge; developing over time and / or place. What is the difference between a political discussion at the local bar and employment of theory? One is an opinion, and the other is a system of ideas used to explain a ‘thing’; based on general principles independent of the ‘thing’ described. For example, Balance of Power Theory could explain US support to Afghanistan’s Mujahedeen against the Soviet Union throughout the ’80s (the ‘thing’); by presenting the Soviet support to North Vietnam against the US in the late ’60s (independent of the ‘thing’); two different events in time and space with the same theoretical explanation.
B. HOW IT IS APPLIED. In social science, predicting events with the human behavior component can be rather daunting, so choosing a theory is generally used because it also comes with a history. In other words, a particular theoretical model covers a substantial group of occurrences confirmed by a considerable number of observations. One of the most common types of theory is ‘explanatory theory’ (i.e. vice descriptive); this is probably the type of theory most students initially think of when they use the term theory. Explanatory theory attempts to ‘explain’ events by providing an account of causes in a temporal sequence. Of the several theories in IR, many can fall into a -sub- variety of Realism or Liberalism. The below introduction covers Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism as the most common theories applied in explanatory IR.
II.THEORIES IN IR?
Caveat: It is a mistake to equate Liberalism and Realism in IR in the same left and right dichotomy of domestic politics. Many US Presidents’ domestic policies are “right-wing” but pursue liberal foreign agendas, and the opposite is true of domestically “left-wing” US Presidents with real-politik international agendas.
A. REALISM. This theory is considered by many as a pessimist’s worldview; in the anarchy of the IR system, competition for resources and survival force nations to pursue national self-interest first. The realist theory in IR describes the international stage as a self-help system where the pursuit – or preservation – of power is leveraged. Each nation-state is obligated to first protect its borders and citizens, which in IR is conducted internationally between the interactions of governments. For example, former President Trump’s “American 1st” strategy.
B. LIBERALISM. This theory is considered by many as an optimist’s worldview. In the anarchy of the IR system, cooperation is employed to form political, economic, and security agreements. An example of this are the many international organizations that establish cooperative norms which bring order to the anarchy. The liberal view that sovereign nation-state competition is an obstacle to global governance is seen in the US security strategy of spreading democracy. An example of the President Biden’s administration.
C. CONSTRUCTIVISM. This theory views the state as a social construct. Construction over time has formed a nation-state’s identity and history whose interests emerge/evolve out of interaction(s). In other words, there is a process in the international political system that continues to globalize into a ‘more perfect union’ despite the conflicts, which is part of the process. Constructivism focuses on actors (= individuals, states, organizations) as agents who created the same structures that allow for the rule of law. Institutional reform and socio-economic cycles are examples of constructivism; nations go through cycles that shed or change their system due to constructive socio-economic or institutional changes. For instance, Nationalism is a construct of shared identity and history as a member of a nation-state. Still, there are elements of super-Nationalism with constructed institutions, like the European Union. For constructivists, anarchy exists because humans agree with -or conform to- a narrative; in other words, IR is not independent of human interaction and thus it is a social construct.
KEY TAKEAWAYS.
1. Theory explains why something has happened and is central to IR Academia. Theories have a history with observation and measurement of general patterns that produce principles used independently of the thing being explained.
2. Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism Theories are the most common theories in IR. The focus is on how states compete, cooperate, and develop institutionally
For Citation (APA):
GO21, (2021) “Introduction International Relations Theory” Global Ontology of the 21st Century. Lecture 2 of 10. 1 October 2021. https://go21stcentury.com/