GO131:International Relations

Professor Walter HatchColby College

How Americans See the World

What in the world is “IR?”

One of four fields in political science

Had been the study of bipolar relations

In late 80s, focused on international political economy

After 9/11, refocused on security

Studying IR after 9/11/01

States still matter

State = territorial entity controlled by a government and inhabitated by a population

State does not = nation

State exercises sovereignty; answers to no higher authority

IR deals with relations between sovereign or mostly sovereign states

Origins of Interstate System

Warring city-states

Modern system grew through centralization of power

Thirty Years War (1618-48)

The Westphalian System

Treaty of Westphalia (1648)

1700s: Industrialization (Great Britain, France, Prussia or Germany)

Napolean

Congress of Vienna (1815)

The System Fails

Imperialism

Continued great power conflict

Explaining IR:Levels of Analysis

(Waltz)

First Image: The individual

Second Image: The State

Third Image: The international system

IR Theories

Realism

Liberalism

Realism Liberalism

1) International system characterized by anarchy

1) International system is a mix of anarchy and order

2) States are unitary actors and are central to the international system

2) States are not unitary/domestic politics matter

3) States are rational; they seek survival through power in the short run. This is their “national interest”

3) States are rational; if democratic, they seek peace and prosperity in the long run

http://wps.ablongman.com/long_goldstein_ir_7