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USC IR 210 - IR Lecture 1

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The 5 Corrosive Shortcomings of (American) IR TheoryPresentism = Insisting or assuming, that way prevails today also prevailed in every other time and place.Ahistoricism = studying the past, but only to discover general LAWS that apply to all times and places.Thucydides – He speaks about Realism.Famous Line: “The Strong Do What they Will and the weak what they most.”Eurocentrism = Assuming that what happened in Europe and the broader West is a microcosm of what happened everywhere.Anarchophilia = Assuming that anarchy is natural and, at root, eternal.State-Centrism = Assuming that states are always and forever dominant actors in the international relations.Levels of Analysis IssuesThe 5 Sectors: Lenses for analysisMilitary = Relationships of forceful coercion, and the ability of actors to fight wars with each other.Political = Relationships of authority, governing status, and recognition.Economic = Relationships of trade, productions, and finance.Socio- Cultural = Collective identity; the transmission of ideas.Environmental = The relationship between human activity and the planetary biosphere which sustains it (or not).Sectoral AnalysisType Of Unit = (States? Corporations NGOs?)Type Of Interaction = (Warfare? Trade? Persuasion?)Structure = (Balance of power? Economic Dependence?)2 Dangers In Sectoral Analysis1) The Observer begins to confuse the partial of the sector with the total reality of the whole international system.2) The Observer starts thinking that the social world is completely analogous to the natural word.3 Sources Of Explanation1) Process = Patterns of action and reaction that can be observed among the interacting units that make up the system.Security Dilema (Diagram)2) Interaction Capacity = The amount of transportation, communication, and organizational capability within the unit or the system.3) Structure = The principles by which units are arranged into a system, how units are differentiated from each other, and how they stand in relation to each other in terms of relative capabilities.A Key Hypothesis Concerning Structure“When interaction among the units is high, structural effects should be strong. When it is low, structural effects should be weak.3 Criteria For Identifying an International System*) Interaction = There must be some substantial level of regular and sustained inter-unit interaction in 3 sectors (military-political, economic, and socio-cultural)1)Full International systems = They contain significant and sustained military-political, economic, and socio-cultural interactions, or at least their potential.2)Economic International Systems = These lack military-political interaction, but would normally include both economic and socio–cultural interactions.3)Pre-International Systems: These feature mainly socio-cultural interactions, though they might also contain elements of non-commercials trade.IR 210 Lecture 1The 5 Corrosive Shortcomings of (American) IR Theory-Presentism = Insisting or assuming, that way prevails today also prevailed in every other time and place. -Ahistoricism = studying the past, but only to discover general LAWSthat apply to all times and places. oThucydides – He speaks about Realism. Famous Line: “The Strong Do What they Will and the weak what they most.”-Eurocentrism = Assuming that what happened in Europe and the broader West is a microcosm of what happened everywhere.-Anarchophilia = Assuming that anarchy is natural and, at root, eternal.-State-Centrism = Assuming that states are always and forever dominant actors in the international relations. Levels of Analysis Issues-IndividualPersonalityPerceptionsActivitiesChoices STATEGovernment EconomyInterest Groups National InterestAlliances Int. Norms/RulesIntergovernmental Organizations Multinational CorporationsInternational SystemIR 210 Lecture 1The 5 Sectors: Lenses for analysis-Military = Relationships of forceful coercion, and the ability of actorsto fight wars with each other.-Political = Relationships of authority, governing status, and recognition.-Economic = Relationships of trade, productions, and finance.-Socio- Cultural = Collective identity; the transmission of ideas.-Environmental = The relationship between human activity and the planetary biosphere which sustains it (or not).Sectoral Analysis-Type Of Unit = (States? Corporations NGOs?)-Type Of Interaction = (Warfare? Trade? Persuasion?)-Structure = (Balance of power? Economic Dependence?)2 Dangers In Sectoral Analysis-1) The Observer begins to confuse the partial of the sector with the total reality of the whole international system.-2) The Observer starts thinking that the social world is completely analogous to the natural word.3 Sources Of Explanation-1) Process = Patterns of action and reaction that can be observed among the interacting units that make up the system.oSecurity Dilema (Diagram)-2) Interaction Capacity = The amount of transportation, communication, and organizational capability within the unit or the system.-3) Structure = The principles by which units are arranged into a system, how units are differentiated from each other, and how they stand in relation to each other in terms of relative capabilities.A Key Hypothesis Concerning Structure- “When interaction among the units is high, structural effects shouldbe strong. When it is low, structural effects should be weak.3 Criteria For Identifying an International System-*) Interaction = There must be some substantial level of regular andsustained inter-unit interaction in 3 sectors (military-political, economic, and socio-cultural)-1)Full International systems = They contain significant and sustained military-political, economic, and socio-cultural interactions, or at least their potential. -2)Economic International Systems = These lack military-political interaction, but would normally include both economic and socio–cultural interactions.-3)Pre-International Systems: These feature mainly socio-cultural interactions, though they might also contain elements of non-commercials


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