International Relations Theory
International Relations Theory......................................................................................................... 1
Part 1 : Introduction and frameworks..............................................................................................5
1) International Relations Theories......................................................................................................5
Part 2 : What is IR theory?.................................................................................................................6
1. What is a theory?.................................................................................................................................. 6
1.1. Why do we need a theory?..................................................................................................... 6
1.2 What is a theory?........................................................................................................................ 6
1.3. Description vs theory................................................................................................................ 7
2. Ontology and epistemology.............................................................................................................. 7
3. Level of analysis.................................................................................................................................... 8
Part 3 : Realism..................................................................................................................................... 9
1. Realist theory : emergence.................................................................................................................9
1.1. Classical roots of realism......................................................................................................... 9
2. Key concepts of Realism...................................................................................................................10
2.1. Anarchy....................................................................................................................................... 10
2.2. Power...........................................................................................................................................11
2.3. National interest.......................................................................................................................11
2.4. The security dilemma............................................................................................................. 12
2.5. Polarity........................................................................................................................................ 12
2.6. Balance of power..................................................................................................................... 13
2.7. Relative gains............................................................................................................................13
3. Types of realism.................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1. Classical realism.......................................................................................................................14
3.2. Structural realism / neorealism........................................................................................... 14
3.3. Other types of realism............................................................................................................15
Defensive realism......................................................................................................................15
Offensive realism.......................................................................................................................15
Neoclassical realism.................................................................................................................15
Part 4 : Liberalism.............................................................................................................................. 17
1. Why liberalism?.................................................................................................................................. 17
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................17
2.1. Cooperation under anarchy.................................................................................................. 18
2.2. Absolute gains.......................................................................................................................... 18
, 2.3. Economic interdependence...................................................................................................19
2.4. International institutions........................................................................................................19
2.5. Democratic peace.....................................................................................................................20
2.6. Complex interdependence.................................................................................................... 21
Main critique............................................................................................................................... 22
3. Types of liberalism............................................................................................................................. 22
3.1. Classical liberalism..................................................................................................................22
3.2. Commercial liberalism............................................................................................................22
3.3. Republican liberalism............................................................................................................. 23
3.4. Neoliberal institutionalism....................................................................................................23
4. Realist critiques of liberalism..........................................................................................................24
Part 5 : International society (English School).......................................................................... 25
1. Beyond realism and liberalism....................................................................................................... 25
1.1. The international society....................................................................................................... 26
2. Context : evolution of The English School..................................................................................26
2.1. Foundations (1950-1960).....................................................................................................26
3 traditions in international thought - Martin Wight.................................................... 27
2.2. Renewal of the English School (1990-2000).................................................................27
2.3. Contemporary applications (today)....................................................................................28
3. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................28
3.1. Three levels of analysis......................................................................................................... 28
3.2. Order and justice...................................................................................................................... 29
3.3. Primary institutions................................................................................................................. 29
3.4. Debate : pluralism – solidarism...........................................................................................30
3.5. Responsibility to Protect........................................................................................................30
4. Critiques to the English School...................................................................................................... 31
Part 6 : International Political Economy...................................................................................... 32
1. Context................................................................................................................................................... 32
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................32
2.1. Power and wealth....................................................................................................................32
2.2. Globalisation............................................................................................................................. 33
2.3. Economic interdependence...................................................................................................33
2.4. Free trade VS protectionism.................................................................................................33
3. Three approaches............................................................................................................................... 33
3.1. Economic liberalism................................................................................................................ 34
3.2. Mercantilism / economic nationalism................................................................................ 34
3.3. Critical / marxist IPE................................................................................................................ 35
Part 7 : Constructivism.....................................................................................................................37
, 1. Definition............................................................................................................................................... 37
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................38
2.1. Ideas before material considerations.................................................................................38
2.2. Actors can change structures...............................................................................................38
2.3. Identity.........................................................................................................................................39
2.4. Interests...................................................................................................................................... 39
2.5. Anarchy....................................................................................................................................... 39
2.6. Degrees of cultural internalisation.....................................................................................40
2.7. Role of international organizations.................................................................................... 40
3. Types of constructivism.................................................................................................................... 40
3.1. Mainstream constructivism...................................................................................................40
3.2. Radical / post-positivist constructivism............................................................................ 41
4. Critiques.................................................................................................................................................41
Part 8 : Post-Positivism.................................................................................................................... 42
1. Definition............................................................................................................................................... 42
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................43
2.1. Discourses vs speech acts.....................................................................................................43
2.2. Power/knowledge....................................................................................................................43
2.3. Deconstruction..........................................................................................................................43
2.4. Emancipation............................................................................................................................. 43
3. Types of approaches..........................................................................................................................44
3.1. Post-structuralism................................................................................................................... 44
3.2. Postcolonialism.........................................................................................................................44
3.3. Feminism.....................................................................................................................................44
Summary......................................................................................................................................44
Part 9 : Foreign Policy Analysis...................................................................................................... 45
1. Definition............................................................................................................................................... 45
2. Different approaches......................................................................................................................... 46
3. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................47
3.1. Rational Actor Model (RAM)................................................................................................ 47
3.2. Perception and misperception............................................................................................. 47
3.3. Cognitive biases....................................................................................................................... 47
2.4. Groupthink..................................................................................................................................47
2.5. Domestic and bureaucratic politics.................................................................................... 48
4. Critiques.................................................................................................................................................48
Part 10 : Role theory (GL)................................................................................................................ 49
1. What is role theory?.......................................................................................................................... 49
1.1. Introduction................................................................................................................................49
, 1.2. Positionality............................................................................................................................... 50
1.3. Origins......................................................................................................................................... 50
First generation : structural role theory............................................................................. 50
Second generation : interactionist role theory (state of the art)............................... 51
1.4. Key concepts..............................................................................................................................51
2. Applying role theory..........................................................................................................................52
Addressing substantive puzzles...........................................................................................52
Pluralistic methods................................................................................................................... 52
2.1. Case : EU’s geopolitical role in the Indo-Pacific.............................................................53
3. Criticisms............................................................................................................................................... 53
Part 11 : Alliance politics (realism) (GL)...................................................................................... 54
1. Key features of realism..................................................................................................................... 54
2. Key concepts.........................................................................................................................................54
2.1. Wedging..................................................................................................................................... 54
2.2. Binding........................................................................................................................................ 55
2.3. Hedging.......................................................................................................................................55
International Relations Theory......................................................................................................... 1
Part 1 : Introduction and frameworks..............................................................................................5
1) International Relations Theories......................................................................................................5
Part 2 : What is IR theory?.................................................................................................................6
1. What is a theory?.................................................................................................................................. 6
1.1. Why do we need a theory?..................................................................................................... 6
1.2 What is a theory?........................................................................................................................ 6
1.3. Description vs theory................................................................................................................ 7
2. Ontology and epistemology.............................................................................................................. 7
3. Level of analysis.................................................................................................................................... 8
Part 3 : Realism..................................................................................................................................... 9
1. Realist theory : emergence.................................................................................................................9
1.1. Classical roots of realism......................................................................................................... 9
2. Key concepts of Realism...................................................................................................................10
2.1. Anarchy....................................................................................................................................... 10
2.2. Power...........................................................................................................................................11
2.3. National interest.......................................................................................................................11
2.4. The security dilemma............................................................................................................. 12
2.5. Polarity........................................................................................................................................ 12
2.6. Balance of power..................................................................................................................... 13
2.7. Relative gains............................................................................................................................13
3. Types of realism.................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1. Classical realism.......................................................................................................................14
3.2. Structural realism / neorealism........................................................................................... 14
3.3. Other types of realism............................................................................................................15
Defensive realism......................................................................................................................15
Offensive realism.......................................................................................................................15
Neoclassical realism.................................................................................................................15
Part 4 : Liberalism.............................................................................................................................. 17
1. Why liberalism?.................................................................................................................................. 17
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................17
2.1. Cooperation under anarchy.................................................................................................. 18
2.2. Absolute gains.......................................................................................................................... 18
, 2.3. Economic interdependence...................................................................................................19
2.4. International institutions........................................................................................................19
2.5. Democratic peace.....................................................................................................................20
2.6. Complex interdependence.................................................................................................... 21
Main critique............................................................................................................................... 22
3. Types of liberalism............................................................................................................................. 22
3.1. Classical liberalism..................................................................................................................22
3.2. Commercial liberalism............................................................................................................22
3.3. Republican liberalism............................................................................................................. 23
3.4. Neoliberal institutionalism....................................................................................................23
4. Realist critiques of liberalism..........................................................................................................24
Part 5 : International society (English School).......................................................................... 25
1. Beyond realism and liberalism....................................................................................................... 25
1.1. The international society....................................................................................................... 26
2. Context : evolution of The English School..................................................................................26
2.1. Foundations (1950-1960).....................................................................................................26
3 traditions in international thought - Martin Wight.................................................... 27
2.2. Renewal of the English School (1990-2000).................................................................27
2.3. Contemporary applications (today)....................................................................................28
3. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................28
3.1. Three levels of analysis......................................................................................................... 28
3.2. Order and justice...................................................................................................................... 29
3.3. Primary institutions................................................................................................................. 29
3.4. Debate : pluralism – solidarism...........................................................................................30
3.5. Responsibility to Protect........................................................................................................30
4. Critiques to the English School...................................................................................................... 31
Part 6 : International Political Economy...................................................................................... 32
1. Context................................................................................................................................................... 32
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................32
2.1. Power and wealth....................................................................................................................32
2.2. Globalisation............................................................................................................................. 33
2.3. Economic interdependence...................................................................................................33
2.4. Free trade VS protectionism.................................................................................................33
3. Three approaches............................................................................................................................... 33
3.1. Economic liberalism................................................................................................................ 34
3.2. Mercantilism / economic nationalism................................................................................ 34
3.3. Critical / marxist IPE................................................................................................................ 35
Part 7 : Constructivism.....................................................................................................................37
, 1. Definition............................................................................................................................................... 37
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................38
2.1. Ideas before material considerations.................................................................................38
2.2. Actors can change structures...............................................................................................38
2.3. Identity.........................................................................................................................................39
2.4. Interests...................................................................................................................................... 39
2.5. Anarchy....................................................................................................................................... 39
2.6. Degrees of cultural internalisation.....................................................................................40
2.7. Role of international organizations.................................................................................... 40
3. Types of constructivism.................................................................................................................... 40
3.1. Mainstream constructivism...................................................................................................40
3.2. Radical / post-positivist constructivism............................................................................ 41
4. Critiques.................................................................................................................................................41
Part 8 : Post-Positivism.................................................................................................................... 42
1. Definition............................................................................................................................................... 42
2. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................43
2.1. Discourses vs speech acts.....................................................................................................43
2.2. Power/knowledge....................................................................................................................43
2.3. Deconstruction..........................................................................................................................43
2.4. Emancipation............................................................................................................................. 43
3. Types of approaches..........................................................................................................................44
3.1. Post-structuralism................................................................................................................... 44
3.2. Postcolonialism.........................................................................................................................44
3.3. Feminism.....................................................................................................................................44
Summary......................................................................................................................................44
Part 9 : Foreign Policy Analysis...................................................................................................... 45
1. Definition............................................................................................................................................... 45
2. Different approaches......................................................................................................................... 46
3. Core concepts.......................................................................................................................................47
3.1. Rational Actor Model (RAM)................................................................................................ 47
3.2. Perception and misperception............................................................................................. 47
3.3. Cognitive biases....................................................................................................................... 47
2.4. Groupthink..................................................................................................................................47
2.5. Domestic and bureaucratic politics.................................................................................... 48
4. Critiques.................................................................................................................................................48
Part 10 : Role theory (GL)................................................................................................................ 49
1. What is role theory?.......................................................................................................................... 49
1.1. Introduction................................................................................................................................49
, 1.2. Positionality............................................................................................................................... 50
1.3. Origins......................................................................................................................................... 50
First generation : structural role theory............................................................................. 50
Second generation : interactionist role theory (state of the art)............................... 51
1.4. Key concepts..............................................................................................................................51
2. Applying role theory..........................................................................................................................52
Addressing substantive puzzles...........................................................................................52
Pluralistic methods................................................................................................................... 52
2.1. Case : EU’s geopolitical role in the Indo-Pacific.............................................................53
3. Criticisms............................................................................................................................................... 53
Part 11 : Alliance politics (realism) (GL)...................................................................................... 54
1. Key features of realism..................................................................................................................... 54
2. Key concepts.........................................................................................................................................54
2.1. Wedging..................................................................................................................................... 54
2.2. Binding........................................................................................................................................ 55
2.3. Hedging.......................................................................................................................................55
