Realism, liberalism, marxism (crit)
Constructivism, feminism, rationalism, post-modernism, post-colonialism
Theory as generalization accounts of how world works that go beyond the specific details of one unique case
E.g., if you want peace, prepare for war
E.g., if you want peace, democratize – as democracies do not wage war vs. each other
There has been a fatal car crash. Why did the victim die?
Prioritize your answers into a single list, beginning with the most important reasons.
What factors are most important?
The causes that are most common
Causes that have the biggest impact, affecting the most people
The causes that we can do something about and change
Long-term, underlying causes vs. immediate
With limited resources, if we want to prevent war, famine, injustice and repression, where should we put our efforts? Answers = theories of IR
Theories are generalizable accounts of how world works that go beyond the specific details of one unique case
E.g., globalization increases disparities / increases global wealth
E.g., democracies do not wage war vs. each other
Limits of IR theories: No single theory can always explain everything
Competing vs. complementary alternatives
Theory as tool: Don’t just (be a) hammer!
Why do we choose & use theories?
Unavoidable: Our understandings of the world are all informed by theoretical assumptions
how explicit, self-conscious we are
Different degrees of abstraction
We often have to make choices & decide: Theories tell us how to act - Prescription
Realism Central Assumptions and Propositions
View of history
Repetitive / cyclical: no progress
Conflictual: focus on military power
World politics as history of great power war
Key actors - States
State Behavior: Self-interest
States seek to maximize power
Relative Gains / World Politics as Zero-Sum Game
Game Theory / Prisoner’s Dilemma
Constructivism, feminism, rationalism, post-modernism, post-colonialism
Theory as generalization accounts of how world works that go beyond the specific details of one unique case
E.g., if you want peace, prepare for war
E.g., if you want peace, democratize – as democracies do not wage war vs. each other
There has been a fatal car crash. Why did the victim die?
Prioritize your answers into a single list, beginning with the most important reasons.
What factors are most important?
The causes that are most common
Causes that have the biggest impact, affecting the most people
The causes that we can do something about and change
Long-term, underlying causes vs. immediate
With limited resources, if we want to prevent war, famine, injustice and repression, where should we put our efforts? Answers = theories of IR
Theories are generalizable accounts of how world works that go beyond the specific details of one unique case
E.g., globalization increases disparities / increases global wealth
E.g., democracies do not wage war vs. each other
Limits of IR theories: No single theory can always explain everything
Competing vs. complementary alternatives
Theory as tool: Don’t just (be a) hammer!
Why do we choose & use theories?
Unavoidable: Our understandings of the world are all informed by theoretical assumptions
how explicit, self-conscious we are
Different degrees of abstraction
We often have to make choices & decide: Theories tell us how to act - Prescription
Realism Central Assumptions and Propositions
View of history
Repetitive / cyclical: no progress
Conflictual: focus on military power
World politics as history of great power war
Key actors - States
State Behavior: Self-interest
States seek to maximize power
Relative Gains / World Politics as Zero-Sum Game
Game Theory / Prisoner’s Dilemma
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