Theories of International RelationsRealismIdealismConstructivism

Realism IPower: the ability to influence othersIrrelevance of morality and ethics and lawKellogg-Briand Pact (1928)Irrelevance of domestic political systemsWhy is power the only thing that matters?Human natureAnarchic world: no rules

Realism IIAll nations are self-reliantTo preserve peace use Balance of PowerUS vs. USSR in Cold WarUSChinaJapan in East AsiaUnipolarity cannot lastNations will balance against US power

Englands Balancing ActEngland

RussiaPrussia/GermanyFranceAustria-Hungary

The Cold War Balance of Power 1945-1990IsraelSyria/EgyptEthiopiaSomaliaTaiwanChinaS. KoreaN. KoreaS. Viet NamN. Viet NamW. BerlinE. BerlinW. GermanyE. GermanyBritain/France/JapanPoland/CzechUSUSSR

Unipolar WorldEUJapanRussiaChinaIndiaUS

Power?

US: Weak Neighbors, Big Oceans

Germany Strong Neighbors, Easy Access

Power?

Power? Shanghai, China

Power? Jaipur, India

Power? Thailand Algeria South Korea

Power?

Idealism IPower is not the only thing that matters States have common interests and common valuesTrade is the key common interest

Idealism IIGlobal MarketplaceInterdependenceDesire for rules Desire for predictability and stabilityInternational system is based laws (Treaties) and institutions (UN, WTO)International law

UN General Assembly, New York

International Court of Justice,The Hague, Netherlands

WTO, Geneva

Constructivism INation-states are not all alikePolitical culture shapes foreign policyForm of government shapes foreign policyHistory shapes foreign policyDomestic political trends and debates shape foreign policy

Constructivism IIStates have identityState identity influences the way states interact with each otherExamples:

China sensitivity to any policies of other states that threaten its unity and sovereigntyUS desire to transform the world

Russian fear of invasion

China 21st Century

Qin Dynasty 221-206 BC

China: Tang Dynasty 618-907

China: Qing Dynasty 1644-1911

China: Colonized

US: Woodrow Wilson, 1917The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.

US: GW Bush, 2005And we have declared our own intention: America will stand with the allies of freedom to support democratic movements in the Middle East and beyond, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.