THEORIES OF IR – NOV. 13
● International relations experts try to explain the international sphere as a
‘system’ (non-linear)
SYSTEM
- System: an assemblage of units, objects, parts, united by some form of regular
interaction
- There are systems of different sizes in the world, separated by boundaries
o But they can interact with and among each other
- Systems with their interacting parts, tend to respond in regularized ways
o We can find patterns, trends
- Since units interact, change in one unit will cause change in all others
- Systems can break down if changes become too significant
THE REALIST TRADITION: THE HOBBESIAN VIEW
- Describes international relations as a state of war
- International level an arena of pure conflicts between states
- Interests of each state exclude interests of any other
- Zero-sum game
o WAR is the most common activity
o Fighting all the time;
▪ temporarily ceased by peace (as a result of balance of power or
hegemonic stability)
● Hegemonic stability:
o Presence of hegemon in the international sphere where
they decide everything
o Kondratiev cycles (expansion, boom, recession,
depression)
▪ Economic cycles that the world undergoes
whenever a hegemonic power declines and a
usurping power rises
- No authority can restrain states at international level
o Actions of smaller and medium level powers restricted by the hegemon
o World is not governed by international laws but an internal hierarchy of power
- Morality and law are valid only in the context of society, the international level is
beyond the bounds of any society (defined by the non-linear roles of anarchy)
- Only rules, principles that may limit the behavior of states are the rules of prudence
and expediency (and, basically, power)
o The calculation that ‘what states will do if I do this’
● International relations experts try to explain the international sphere as a
‘system’ (non-linear)
SYSTEM
- System: an assemblage of units, objects, parts, united by some form of regular
interaction
- There are systems of different sizes in the world, separated by boundaries
o But they can interact with and among each other
- Systems with their interacting parts, tend to respond in regularized ways
o We can find patterns, trends
- Since units interact, change in one unit will cause change in all others
- Systems can break down if changes become too significant
THE REALIST TRADITION: THE HOBBESIAN VIEW
- Describes international relations as a state of war
- International level an arena of pure conflicts between states
- Interests of each state exclude interests of any other
- Zero-sum game
o WAR is the most common activity
o Fighting all the time;
▪ temporarily ceased by peace (as a result of balance of power or
hegemonic stability)
● Hegemonic stability:
o Presence of hegemon in the international sphere where
they decide everything
o Kondratiev cycles (expansion, boom, recession,
depression)
▪ Economic cycles that the world undergoes
whenever a hegemonic power declines and a
usurping power rises
- No authority can restrain states at international level
o Actions of smaller and medium level powers restricted by the hegemon
o World is not governed by international laws but an internal hierarchy of power
- Morality and law are valid only in the context of society, the international level is
beyond the bounds of any society (defined by the non-linear roles of anarchy)
- Only rules, principles that may limit the behavior of states are the rules of prudence
and expediency (and, basically, power)
o The calculation that ‘what states will do if I do this’
