POSC 1000
Introduction to Politics
Russell Alan Williams
Unit Nine: International Politics and Foreign Policy
(March 25 and 27)
Required Reading: MacLean and Wood, Chapters
11 and 12.
Outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction
How do we study IP – Units
How do we study IP – Theories
The Practice of IP – Diplomacy, War and Terror
Conclusion
1) Introduction:
“International Politics/Relations”: The study of
foreign policy and relations among states and other
actors at the international level; also called
international relations.
Specialized subfield of political science that focuses on “global
politics” or the relations between states, rather than
“domestic politics”
Key goal: Understand state’s “Foreign Policy”: Foreign
diplomatic relations and policies of a country beyond its
borders.
• Eg. Why is Canadian “Foreign Policy” committed to
international law and Multilateralism?
• Eg. Should Canadian “Foreign Policy” committed to
international law and Multilateralism?
“International Politics/Relations”
Makes two key assumptions:
“Sovereignty”: Recognition by other states
that a government is legitimate and rightful
for a political community.
• States are free to do what they like within
their borders . . . maybe . . .
• International politics is constituted by
independent autonomous units, without a
“leviathan”, or authoritative system of
international government
Levels of Analysis: International politics is just
different than other kinds of politics – the
absence of government at the international
level means domestic and international
politics are separate fields
• Though they are highly interrelated . . . .
2)How do we study IP - Units:
International Politics focuses on different “units of analysis” .
...
“Units of Analysis”: Entities studied in politics
Most political science focuses on individual behavior
International politics focuses on organizations
The “State”: Recognized political unit, considered to be
sovereign, with a defined territory and people and a central
government responsible for administration.
States operate in “Structural Anarchy”: No higher authority exists
in international politics.
= No rules (?) and “self help”
= Focus on “relative power”: Method of distinguishing the strength of
different actors in the international system
“Units of Analysis”: Entities studied in politics
“International Governmental Organizations (IGOs)”:
Institutions formed by three or more countries with a
common economic, social, cultural or political purpose.
E.g. “Multilateralism”: Coordination and integration of foreign
policy strategies.
• Usually assumes a high level of support for international institutions.
E.g. The United Nations (UN)
E.g. The North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO)
“Units of Analysis”: Entities studied in politics
“Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs)”: Nonprofit groups organized on a local, national, or international
basis.
Thought to be growing in importance
E.g. Amnesty International
“Multinational Corporations(MNCs)”: Corporations that
operate in more than one country.
Definitely becoming more powerful . . . .
E.g. Exxon-Mobil
• Worth over $400bn
• Revenue of $420bn
• Over 100,000 employees
3)How do we study IP - Theories:
There are many different “theories” about what
matters in international politics, and why states
choose the foreign policies they do . . . .
Traditional approach = Realism vs. Liberalism
Realism: Tradition in international thought that focuses on
the pursuit of power, the absence of rules and states’
struggle to survive in a dangerous world.
Key foreign policy goals should be based on “Realpolitik”: States
should be pragmatic, rather than principled and practice “balance of
power” politics.
• E.g. Prevent others from gaining power that allows them to dominate system
• E.g. Era of U.S. “Hegemony” will be short lived
Realism:
Contemporary Approach = “Neo-Realism”: Idea that international
structure makes it hard for states to cooperate.
• E.g. “Security Dilemma”: States are inherently threatened by
the existence of other states.
– Or, states’ security efforts are inherently threatening to
others.
• E.g. “Zero Sum Game”: Idea that international politics is an
environment where whatever one side of an issue gains, must be
lost by the other side.
– Both sides cannot gain.
The Liberal Approach:
Liberal theory in international politics tends to emphasize the idea
that international institutions and international cooperation can
make everyone “better off”.
Contemporary Approach = “Liberal Institutionalism”:
International politics theory that suggests that international
institutions make cooperation and rule following more likely amongst
states.
• Overcomes “structural anarchy” by encouraging states to obey
international law and not cheat.
• Is most clearly illustrated in “Positive Sum” situations: “Positive Sum”
games allow both sides to gain.
– E.g. Free Trade, and economic cooperation
IP has traditionally been seen as a debate between
realism’s “lack of principles” and liberalism’s “idealism” . . . .
E.g. Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations
Did not prevent World War II, but did start the process of
making interstate war less likely (?)
E.g. The United Nations and
Collective Security/State Sovereignty
Post 1945 UN Charter makes it illegal
for states invade other states without
UN approval
• Also very, very illegal to annex territory of
other states
But powerful states do not always follow
the rules . . . .
• US invasion of Iraq (2003)
• Russian invasion of Crimea (2014)
Again, realists and liberals see
different lessons in these events . . .
Debate over the effectiveness of international institutions
in improving cooperation continues . . . But there are
other views in international politics.
A range of “critical theories” argue that the focus on “states” and
“power” ignore real problems of international politics.
• Hunger, violence, poverty etc.
E.g. Recent increased focus on “Human Security”
4) The Practice of Intern. Politics
The study of international politics tends to focus on certain
types of activities . . . .
a) “Diplomacy”: International negotiation and
discussions that take place on an official – and
sometimes unofficial – level between and among
states.
Diplomacy may involve:
• “Negotiation”
• “Mediation”
• “Arbitration”
• Sanctions
• “Peacekeeping”
Diplomacy inherently involves the attempt to change the
behavior of others . . . which requires the application
of power . . . .
Diplomatic power can come from many sources:
Military strength
State size and wealth
Natural resources
Content of international law
Reputation
E.g. In the Crimean dispute, Russia is relying on its military power
and control over Europe’s energy supplies to get its way.
Canadian diplomats aspire to be a great power on the
global stage, but is Canada “powerful”?
Canada is economically dependent on access to the
large US market – this is the key concern in Canadian
foreign policy.
Military strength?
State size and wealth?
Natural resources?
Content of international law?
Reputation?
E.g. Canada’s commitment to “Multilateralism” and “liberal
institutionalism” are a product of its political weakness in
relation to the US.
The study of international politics tends to focus on certain
types of activities . . . .
b) “War”: The use of armed forces in conflict with an enemy.
Sometimes seen as the last resort of international political processes,
major international efforts have focused on making war illegal.
E.g. Just war tradition at centre of international law suggests war is
only legitimate if it meets certain criteria
• Self protection
• Enforcement of UN resolution – E.g. “Humanitarian intervention”:
Prevention of human and social crisis.
• Proper conduct – no targeting of innocent non combatants
All other resort to the use of war as political strategy are illegal!
It happens but even the perpetrators try to mask the illegality
c) State sponsored “Terrorism”: Strategy of violence
designed to bring about political change by instilling fear
in the public at large.
For conventional international thought, “terrorism” is illegal and
illegitimate – in involves the deliberate targeting on non combatants.
However, many argue that this rests on a particular global order
that protects the power and violence of some at the expense of
others.
• E.g. International law is “illegitimate”
5) Conclusions
The study of international politics is treated separately
from other kinds of political processes
International politics involves:
Different actors?
The absence of “government” in the formal sense?
Competing and contradictory theoretical claims?
However, understanding most modern political events
requires attention to both domestic and international
political processes.
7) For next time:
Unit Ten:
Globalization and Political Economy
(April 1 and 3)
Required Reading: MacLean and Wood, Chapters 13
and 14.