Marxism Ir

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Critical theory definition

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Questions the structural conditions in which problems in traditional theories are found. Historicises and contextualises. Seeks to understand power structures which inhibit actors' abilities to see the structure that they are in.

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Classic theories of imperialism

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Luxembourg, Burkharin, Lenin etc.
Argued that advanced processes of capital accumulation were driving the major capitalist states to colonial expansion.
Neo-Gramscian perspective: hegemony not just within the state but is a transnational phenomenon.

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World Systems Theory

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Wallerstein deviated from the Marxist norm of treating individual societies as units of analysis, instead seeing historical social relations of a global scope.
Core and periphery.
Argued that the dev of the world system had been shaped by the rise and decline of relatively low-overhead economic systems centred on a globally powerful state which did not impose universal authority: Holland then Britain then USA.

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Western Marxism and critical theory

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Frankfurt School and critical theory:
Horkheimer and Adorno
Formed in early 1920s in context of Stalinisation and the left losing faith with the revolutionary potential of the working class.
Suspicious of the idea that knowledge could be arrived at independent of the social context.
Gramsci:
Placed knowledge-construction in historical contexts.
Argued that Marxism was not the objective truth but a way of telling the story of history from within a capitalist historical perspective which would lead to people considering future possibilities post-capitalism.
Developed theory of hegemony reliant more on consent than coercion: it spreads through popular culture, education, etc. therefore making coercive power unnecessary (link to Foucault?)

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Contemporary critical analysis of world politics

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Cox:
- NR describes patterns of power among states without looking at the social relations through which that power is produced
- These relations have a history, which need not remain there forever

Therefore critical theory takes a relational, process-orientated approach and seeks to show how social forces, states and world orders are bound up together in constellations of historical structures.

Justin Rosenberg critique of realism:
- Perceives that the state can mobilise the economy when in fact the economy is part of the whole which produces political effects independently of the agents of the state.

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Case study: War on Terror

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9/11 and Iraq due to historical, human-constructed capitalist system: the American fordist industrial system which set global standards.
Post-war the West was created on this model. Unions tolerated so workers became part of the process.
These historical structures embedded a culture of mass consumerism.
Due to capitalism's relative advantage in productivity, the reason why the West defeated autarky and communism.
Once the fordist model was under threat from diminishing oil supplies within the US, it sought to establish Middle Eastern dominance through relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Thus, historical structures led to Bush doctrine:
"we will actively work to bring the hope of democracy, development, free markets, and free trade to every corner of the globe" (White House, 2002).
It was thought invading and democratising Iraq would give America better access to oil and therefore in the future give it a better position when dealing with future allies and rivals.