introduction to IR's

8/12/2019 introduction to IR's

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Introduction to

International Relations

Class 1: Actors in the

International System


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What is International Relations?

International Relations is the study of conflict andcooperation by international actors, as furthered

by the development and testing of hypotheses

about international outcomes.


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Overview

Types of actors States

Non-state actors

Types of systems

Hierarchy

Networks

Anarchy

Types of interactions between actors Harmony, Coordination, Cooperation, Conflict


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The central actor: the state

The state is a human community that successfullyclaims the monopoly of the legitimate use of

physical force within a given territory. Max Weber, 1919

States are identified by mutual recognition.

193 members in the United Nations


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What is legitimacy?

Legitimacy is the belief that those in power havethe right to rule.

Sources of legitimacy

Traditional Charismatic

Rational/Legal

Authority is power with legitimacy.


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What States Do

Provide public goods Goods that benefit everyone, whether or not they

contribute (non-excludable)

Creates incentives to free ride

Often requires collecting taxes

Enforce contracts


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Examples of States

Sweden Argentina

Canada

Bangladesh South Africa

New Zealand

Cuba


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Sovereignty

Sovereignty is the defining characteristic of thestate.

An entity is sovereign when it is the highest

political authority in the system. By definition, no other unit has coercive authority

within a state's territory, so therefore states are

sovereign.

All sovereign states have nominally equalauthority.


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Development of Sovereignty

1648Principle of sovereignty is first articulatedin the Peace of Westphalia

Ended Thirty Years War by giving rulers authority to

determine religion within their own territory

1713Principle of sovereignty is solidified in the

Treaty of Utrecht

1945Sovereign equality of members enshrined

in United Nations charter


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Alternatives to sovereign states

Sovereign state system is not only possiblesystem.

Example: Feudalism, which preceded the

sovereign state system

Non-territorial

Overlapping authorities


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Hierarchy

Hierarchy is a chain of command. Example - military

Power in hierarchy comes from legitimacy and the

ability to coerce or bribe.


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Anarchy

Anarchy means that all the actors have equalauthority, and are in equal relationship to each

other.

- However, they may vary in their capabilities.

Examplepure free market

Power in anarchy comes from the ability to coerce

or bribe.


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Networks

In a network, each actor is a node, linked to somebut not all of the other nodes. The connections

between actors may be strong or weak.

Examplegroup of friends

Power in networks comes from the number of other

nodes to which an actor is connected.


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Sovereignty creates anarchy.

In the international system, there is no higherauthority to provide public goods or enforce

contracts among states.

All agreements among states must be self-enforcing.


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Violations of Sovereignty

System is anarchic, but hierarchy exists betweensome states.

Empire - Example: United States and Guam

Protectorates - Example: France and Monaco

InterventionExample: United Nations and Liberia


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The International System

Includes all actors who have regular interactions Scope depends on transportation and

communications technology

Examples:Ancient Greece

Global today


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Power in the System

Power is the ability of A to get B to do what Awants B to do.

Inherently relational

Sources of power Land

Natural Resources

Population


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Types of Power

Military power Market power

Cultural power


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Defining the System by Power

Great Powerstate that can project power acrossthe system

System defined by number of great powers:

many, two, or one

M lti l it


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Multipolarity

Three or more Great Powers ExampleEurope at the beginning of the 20th

century

Attempts to balance power make system war-prone

Bi l it


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Bipolarity

Two great powers Examples

Athens and Sparta in Ancient Greece

USA and USSR during Cold War

Relatively stable

U i l it


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Unipolarity

One great power Examplethe US right now

May encourage other states to align against thesuperpower

Militarity Expendit uresUnited States

Russia*

China*

United Kingdom

Japan

France

GermanySaudi Arabia

India

Italy

South Korea

Austr alia

Turkey*

Israel*

Canada

Spain*

Brazil

Netherlands

Taiwan

Defining the System by


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Defining the System byGlobalization

Can also characterize the system by level ofinternational flows of goods, labor, and capital

Actors defined by level of openness

Highly globalized at beginning of 20thcentury

Retrenchment of globalization in 1930s

Significant growth in globalization during current

era

N t t A t


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Non-state Actors

Debate about significance Importance varies by issue area

Nations

International Organizations

Multinational Corporations

Non-governmental Organizations

The Nation


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The Nation

Common identity Ethno-linguistic, religious, ideological

Common history or origin

Real or mythical

Claim on homeland

Desire for self-rule

Identity can be created through common symbols

and education.

Nationalism


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Nationalism

Political ideology advocating national self-determination

First developed in 19thCentury in Europe, but

spread world-wide

Nationalism is one way to legitimate states and/or

separatist movements.

Particularly dangerous to empires

The Nation State


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The Nation-State

In a nation-state, the boundaries of the stateterritory and the membership of the nation are co-

terminus.

Ideal-type for the post-WW II era

In practice, rare

Diaspora

Separatist movements

Irredentism

Examples of Nations


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Examples of Nations

Nation-states Japan

Denmark

Multi-national states

China (Tibet)

Stateless nations

Kurds (in Iraq, Turkey, Iran)

Basques (in Spain, France)

Divided nations

Korea (North and South)



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Institutions with formal membership andprocedures

Only states are members

Membership can be limited or universal

Purpose may be broad or narrow

Examples of IOs


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Examples of IOs

Limited Membership, Narrow

Purpose: Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries

Limited Membership, Broad Purpose:

African Union

Universal Membership, Narrow

Purpose: Universal Postal Union

Universal Membership, Broad

Purpose: United Nations



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MNCs are organizations that seek to make a profit byengaging in foreign production, marketing, finance,

and staffing through directly controlled affiliates

located in several states.

Examples of MNCs


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Examples of MNCs

Coca-Cola

Sony

LVMH

Non-Governmental Organizations


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Non-Governmental Organizations

Broad category - Not states and non-profit Includes religions, charities, political activists,

academic research communities, and even terrorist

groups.

Examples of NGOs


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Examples of NGOs

Roman Catholic Church

International Red Cross

Greenpeace

Doctors Without Borders

Types of Interaction among


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Actors

All types of actors interact.Harmony

Coordination

CooperationConflict

Types of Interaction: Harmony


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Types of Interaction: Harmony

Harmony is when actors' interests coincide.Independent pursuit of own interests returns

maximum output.

More common than often considered.

ExampleTaliban wipes out heroin production in

Afghanistan; availability of heroin decreases in US.

Types of Interaction:C di ti


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Coordination

Actors more interested in choosing the same strategythan in choosing any given strategy.

ExampleUniversal Postal Union

Two possibilities

Pure coordinationeasier

Coordination after investment - harder

Types of Interaction: Cooperation


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Types of Interaction: Cooperation

Cooperation is mutual adjustment of policy. Benefits both actors, but not always equally.

ExampleWHO eradication of smallpox

Types of Interaction: Conflict


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yp

Results from mutually incompatible preferences. Not always violent.

Example2004 US steel tariffs, EU retaliates on

Florida oranges.

Documents

introduction to IR's