• Chapter 4
Using Popular Culture as a Light:
Middle Earth, Levels of Analysis,
and War
Levels of Analysis
Provide a means to
organize
systematic thinking
about world politics
System
Level
Anarchy
“Security Dilemma”
Unipolar
Which
system
will be
most
stable?
Bipolar
Multipolar
Major shifts in power capabilities
are associated with war
Alliance Patterns
Balancing & Bandwagoning
Balance in
technology
between
offense and
defense
Interdependence through
international norms, organizations,
and institutions can provide
alternatives to use of force
Capitalism can produce imperialist
war due to intensifying competition
Critical and Feminist Scholarship
State Level
Democracies are unlikely to fight
against each other
A leader in trouble may use an external
conflict to divert the public’s attention
away from domestic problems
Social Influences
Does the public want war
or peace? How much are
people willing to suffer?
Does the economic
system encourage
expansion, imperialism,
or are its features benign?
Individual Level
Human nature
Biologicallyoriented drive to
control territory
Problems facing decision-makers
• Belief Systems
• Personalities
• Physical and Mental
Health
• Perceptions
Bureaucracies
can help or hinder war
Foreign Policy Role Playing
diplomacy
vs.
military
Levels of Analysis
War of the Ring
Capability distributions
evolve and impact
war’s likelihood
Many in Middle Earth are concerned
about the growing presence of
Sauron
Balancing of power is most evident
in the Fellowship
Bandwagoning
is seen in
Saruman’s
side-switching
Minas Tirith and
Helm’s Deep were
very well fortified and
difficult to attack
Interdependence at very low level in
Middle Earth –
alliances tend to be temporary
Middle Earth is populated
overwhelmingly by autocracies
Rohan
Mordor
Gondor
Dangers of unchecked personal power
and inadequacies of monarchical
systems
Women’s political
influence is
indirect and
through marriage
or family
connections
Levels of Analysis
and World War 1
Europe
plunged into
war due to its
multipolar
nature
Fighting in World War 1 was
dominated by defensive weaponry
Capitalist
economic
system was
principal
underlying
reason for war
Nationalism was pervasive and
reinforced rivalries
Disintegration of Ottoman, Russian,
and Austro-Hungarian Empires
opened door to war
Germany had
been gaining
power and
influence,
but had internal
tensions
Weak leadership was linked to the
dynastic systems that produced them
Emperor of
Austria-Hungary
Kaiser Wilhelm
of Germany
Tsar Nicholas
of Russia
Post-Cold War,
the US had full
discretion in
intervening
around the
globe
• DPRK
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDSbmQR9lc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZsVP2WoE9E
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/27/19703009-north-korea-marks-60-years-since-korean-war-withmassive-victory-day-parade?lite
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Critical theory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0tINoLEr0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbQE5DZuJqU
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Comfort women
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-UwU1-RVWs