Relations Theory
Good morning. Today, we will explore the theoretical foundations of International Relations (IR),
focusing on how scholars attempt to explain and predict global phenomena. We will cover the
major schools of thought—Realism, Liberalism, Radicalism, and Constructivism—and examine
the frameworks used to analyze international events.
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Learning Objectives: By the end of this lecture, we should be able to:
1. Explain the value of studying international relations from a theoretical perspective.
2. Explain the central tenets of realism, liberalism, constructivism, and radicalism, as well as
feminist critiques.
3. Analyze contemporary international events using these different theoretical perspectives.
I. Thinking Theoretically: The Value and Nature of Theory
What is Theory? A theory is a set of propositions and concepts that seeks to explain
phenomena by specifying the relationships among those concepts. The ultimate purpose of
theory is to predict phenomena.
• Hypotheses: Good theory generates groups of testable hypotheses, which are specific
statements positing a particular relationship between two or more variables.
• Ambiguity: As data is collected, analysts must be tolerant of ambiguity, concerned about
probabilities, and distrustful of absolutes.
II. Theory and the Levels of Analysis
To understand international events, theories often utilize different frameworks, categorized by
Kenneth Waltz into three levels of analysis:
Level of Analysis Focus of Explanation Details
The personality, perceptions, choices, and activities of individual
Individual Level
decision makers and participants.
State-Level Characteristics of the state itself, such as the type of government, the
(Domestic) type of economic system, or the influence of interest groups.
International Explanations resting on the anarchic characteristics of the system, or
System Level the strengths and weaknesses of international and regional
, organizations.
The purpose of theory is to guide us toward an understanding of which of these various
explanations are necessary and sufficient. Good theory should explain phenomena at a
particular level, but better theory should offer explanations across different levels of analysis.
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III. Realism and Neorealism
Realism is a foundational theory based on a fundamentally pessimistic view of human nature
and the international system.
A. Core Tenets of Realism
• The Individual: Primarily selfish and power seeking.
• The State: States are organized individuals, acting in a unitary way in pursuit of their own
national interest, defined in terms of power.
◦ Power is primarily thought of in terms of material resources necessary to physically harm or
coerce other states.
• The System: States exist in an anarchic international system, meaning there is no
authoritative hierarchy.
• Core Concern: States’ most important concern is to manage their insecurity, primarily relying
on balancing the power of other states and deterrence to keep the international system intact.
B. Historical Foundations
The essential assumptions of realism are found in ancient thinkers like Thucydides:
1. The state is the principal actor in war and politics.
2. The state is a unitary actor that speaks and acts with one voice.
3. Decision makers are assumed to be rational actors; rational decision making leads to the
advance of the national interest.
4. The state must protect itself from foreign and domestic enemies, augmenting its security by
building economic prowess and forming alliances.
Other key contributors include:
• St. Augustine (354-430): Argued that humanity is flawed, egoistic, and selfish (though not
predetermined to be so), blaming war on this basic characteristic.
Good morning. Today, we will explore the theoretical foundations of International Relations (IR),
focusing on how scholars attempt to explain and predict global phenomena. We will cover the
major schools of thought—Realism, Liberalism, Radicalism, and Constructivism—and examine
the frameworks used to analyze international events.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learning Objectives: By the end of this lecture, we should be able to:
1. Explain the value of studying international relations from a theoretical perspective.
2. Explain the central tenets of realism, liberalism, constructivism, and radicalism, as well as
feminist critiques.
3. Analyze contemporary international events using these different theoretical perspectives.
I. Thinking Theoretically: The Value and Nature of Theory
What is Theory? A theory is a set of propositions and concepts that seeks to explain
phenomena by specifying the relationships among those concepts. The ultimate purpose of
theory is to predict phenomena.
• Hypotheses: Good theory generates groups of testable hypotheses, which are specific
statements positing a particular relationship between two or more variables.
• Ambiguity: As data is collected, analysts must be tolerant of ambiguity, concerned about
probabilities, and distrustful of absolutes.
II. Theory and the Levels of Analysis
To understand international events, theories often utilize different frameworks, categorized by
Kenneth Waltz into three levels of analysis:
Level of Analysis Focus of Explanation Details
The personality, perceptions, choices, and activities of individual
Individual Level
decision makers and participants.
State-Level Characteristics of the state itself, such as the type of government, the
(Domestic) type of economic system, or the influence of interest groups.
International Explanations resting on the anarchic characteristics of the system, or
System Level the strengths and weaknesses of international and regional
, organizations.
The purpose of theory is to guide us toward an understanding of which of these various
explanations are necessary and sufficient. Good theory should explain phenomena at a
particular level, but better theory should offer explanations across different levels of analysis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Realism and Neorealism
Realism is a foundational theory based on a fundamentally pessimistic view of human nature
and the international system.
A. Core Tenets of Realism
• The Individual: Primarily selfish and power seeking.
• The State: States are organized individuals, acting in a unitary way in pursuit of their own
national interest, defined in terms of power.
◦ Power is primarily thought of in terms of material resources necessary to physically harm or
coerce other states.
• The System: States exist in an anarchic international system, meaning there is no
authoritative hierarchy.
• Core Concern: States’ most important concern is to manage their insecurity, primarily relying
on balancing the power of other states and deterrence to keep the international system intact.
B. Historical Foundations
The essential assumptions of realism are found in ancient thinkers like Thucydides:
1. The state is the principal actor in war and politics.
2. The state is a unitary actor that speaks and acts with one voice.
3. Decision makers are assumed to be rational actors; rational decision making leads to the
advance of the national interest.
4. The state must protect itself from foreign and domestic enemies, augmenting its security by
building economic prowess and forming alliances.
Other key contributors include:
• St. Augustine (354-430): Argued that humanity is flawed, egoistic, and selfish (though not
predetermined to be so), blaming war on this basic characteristic.
