IR Study Group Study Guide for Final QUESTION 1 TAKE1 On pp 18 30 of International Systems in World History Buzan and Little identify five fundamental flaws in IR theory five flaws which they contend have seriously distorted the world s understanding of the international realm These flaws and misunderstandings often produce negative real world consequences via the medium of misguided state policy Please review B L s pp 18 30 and then a Explain the five fundamental flaws they perceive 1 Presentism with current policies and issues most expertise have had a forward focused perspective Policy makers and decision makers focus on the present rather the past By only considering contemporary history rather than both the present and past evenly presentism reinforces the problem of analyzing the int l system in a one dimensional light 2 Ahistoricism social scientists should be looking for general laws that apply to the past and present We do not see clearly the differences between past and present and only look for similarities ex of assuming conflict b n Athens Sparta compares to that of US Soviet Union 3 State centrism greatly contributes to the underdeveloped conceptualization of int l system assumes politics is linked and synonymous to the state the dominant unit 4 Euro centrism many accounts of history have ignored the Afro Eurasian system that existed long before the Europeans and only focus on the Europeans believing they were the ones to create the first global int l sys Europe has been contrasted with the Orient with Europe having been believed to be outward and dynamic whereas the Orient seemed inward and stagnant 5 Anarchophilia consequence of ahistoric and Eurocentric perceptions belief anarchy dominates the political realm Neorealists believe strongest in this normative assumption of anarchy classical realists have mixed feelings No theory is absolute and all encompassing b Identify which one of the following theoretical approaches seems most vulnerable to the charges B L levy and which one seems least vulnerable to the charges Classical Realism Neorealism Classical Liberalism Neoliberalism Social Constructivism Critical Theory especially Robert Cox s and Feminist IR Theory especially Ann Tickner s Do keep in mind the need carefully to explain the reasoning behind your argument And please illustrate by giving some examples Classical Realism states actions are like human nature which is self interested power seeking material power guns weapons and soft power cultural ideas starts with Thucydides Melian dialogue strong do what they will and the weak do what they must All Realists believe these ideas assumptions 1 Statism collective will of the people there s a distinction between domestic and international politics 2 Survival supreme national interest 3 Self Help you cannot rely on other states for your survival on your own Classical Realism is vulnerable to State centrism b c survival and self help to Presentism Eurocentrism and Anarchophilia too Neo Realism aka Structural Realists Classical Realists hadn t thought the Cold War would end peacefully and so the Neo Realists resurged ideas of Realism with a twist Started in 1979 with Kenneth Waltz Neo Realism focuses less on human nature moving away from philosophy and having a more on scientific aspect Waltz Neo Realism says the ability to control others is power rather than the Realists saying power IR are zero sum game theory Relative gains self help over absolute The individual perceptions of the leaders themselves Neo Realism says Balance of Power forms naturally whereas Classical Realism says balance of power has be worked toward Diplomacy Prince Metternich promotes the idea of BoP as essential Neo Realism is vulnerable to Euro centrism b c seeing states are the only way to survive to Anarchophilia b c it believes the world is anarchic less vulnerable to Prensetism b c Waltz Neo Realism take into consideration the states interactions and power is more than just a military NR said the world has only had mutlipolar and bipolar ahistoric because there have been more systems in the world Classical Liberalism believe in the an anarchic world where the individuals policies and organizations affect the state individuals are the main actors but the states are still important govt authority based off the people There s a four dimensional definition of Liberalsim 1 All citizens of the world have basic human rights education free press and religious tolerance and are equal 2 The government authority is based on the people should not abuse the people s basic rights 3 A key part of the individual s liberty is the right to own property 4 The most effective economic system is market driven with minimal regulation and control Int l institutions and environmentalism Absolute gains over relative therefore there s an emphasis on cooperation Liberalism blames war on failure of Balance of Power and undemocratic regimes Democratic Peace theory Euro centrism b c not all governments are based on the ppl State centrism might be least vulnerable b c CL believe states are important but individuals etc affect the state Neoliberalism cooperation areas of mutual interest and claim that institutions and regimes facilitate cooperation Neoliberalism thinks that actors try to maximize absolute gains and want all parties to benefit Neoliberalism those factors can overcome the conditions symptoms of anarchy though it s something you cannot control Free markets deregulation examples are Margaret Thatcher Reagan Low pollution that contributes to environment human rights and the economy See a decline in the military force and military becoming less and less imp Richard Little s 3 Key Discoveries 1 State Fragmentation different bureaucratic interests 2 Transnationalism Remarkable increase in world trade 3 Interdependence Global Commons Interdependence among states and everyone is involved in the economy NL is vulnerable to Euro centrism b c free markets and actually hinders the development of third world countries NL is vulnerable to Presentism b c we think we will always become more and more interdependent or globalization hasn t reached its peak yet Social Constructivism interests are socially constructed and each state have different interests identities Actors are influenced by cultural environment Material Soft power debate Explains why actors behave the way they do Alexander Wendt says anarchy is created and perceived by the states and this leads to the