Chapter 3

Front 1

Theory of international relations

Back 1

A set of ideas that explains how the international system works

Front 2

Why study ir theory?

Back 2

-to avoid future mass conflicts and ensure peaceful change

-improve understanding and assist in the development of better policies and practices

Front 3

Realism

Back 3

A school of thought that explains international relations in terms of power.

Emphasizes the inevitability of conflict among nations, the centrality of power, and the ever present threat of war

Front 4

Main beliefs of realism

Back 4

1. Pessimistic view of human nature: conflicts are unavoidable and that humans are flawed and imperfect.

2. Statism: realists believe that states are the main actor in international politics. State acts as a rational autonomous actor in pursuit of its own self-interest with a primary goal to maintain and ensure its own security.

3. Anarchy system: international system is governed by anarchic international system with no authority capable of regulating interactions between states. A struggle for power between self-interested states.

4. Self-help: no other states can be relied upon to help guarantee the state's survival. Defend their country by enhancing their levels of power through military, economy and political capabilities.

5. Security dilemma: a situation in which state's actions taken to ensure their own security threatens the security of other states.

Front 5

Balance power

Back 5

A situation in which states have roughly equal power.

Front 6

Summary

Front 7

Liberalism

Back 7

Believes in cooperation and peace among states. Its philosophy is based on a positive view of human nature, the inevitability of social progress, and the harmony of interests.

Front 8

Main beliefs of liberalism

Back 8

1. Positive view on human nature: liberals view people as rational, ethical and moral creatures capable controlling their impulse.

2. Human progress: liberals believe that human is changing and reduces the importance of force and war in relations among states.

3. Harmony of interest: liberalism emphasizes the existence of common interest among people and states.

4. Liberal institutionalism: liberals believe that international organization and institution plays a key role in cooperation and oeace among states.

Front 9

Summary

Back 9

Back (Definition)

Front 10

Marxism

Back 10

Social theory emphasizing the importance of social/economic class conflict for understanding social relations including international politics.

Front 11

Main beliefs of marxism

Back 11

1. Social class: marxist believes that society is divided into several classes. Bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and proletariat ( working class). Unequal and exploitative.

2. Class conflict: more powerful classes oppress and exploit the less powerful by denying them their fair share of the surplus they create.

3. Core and periphery: core(global north) is the small group of wealthy and poweful states exploiting the periphery(global south/third world countries) which is the larger group of weak and poor states.

Front 12

Summary

Back 12

Back (Definition)

Front 13

Feminism

Back 13

Focusing on issues of concern to women while emphasizing the importance of gender

Front 14

Types of feminism

Back 14

1. Difference feminists: there are real differences between the genders. The participation of large numbers of women would make the international system more peaceful.

2. Liberal feminists: men and women as equal. They disagree that women have different capibilities than men in IR. do not believe that including women would change the nature of the international system.

3. Postmodern feminists: women are not just passive bystanders or victims in war, but active participants in a system of warfare tied to both genders.

Front 15

Constructivism

Back 15

Back (Definition)

Front 16

Summary

Back 16

Back (Definition)