Approaches to IR

Study of interactions among the various actors that participate in international politics.

• International Relations

• Foreign Policy

• State

• Human Nature

IR is a multidisciplinary field

• True

• False

Choose the three main theories of IR

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism

Analogies from history are absolute as are one's theoretical orientations.

• True

• False

Plato: people who govern should be the ones superior in ways of philosophy and war.

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism

Hobbes: in Leviathan, described life in a state of nature as selfish. Individuals and society can escape from the state of nature through a unitary state (hegemon).

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism

Rousseau: The solution to the state of nature is the social contract - small communities where the "general will" is realized.

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism

Kant: Accepts humans are selfish, but argues that international cooperation (collective gain) is what is best for their individual gain.

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism

Suggest hypotheses regarding patterned actions, test them, and try to explain and predict human behavior.

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism

Focus on the discourse analysis- how ideas shape identities, analyzing culture, norms, procedures, and social practices. Discourse changes over time.

• Realism

• Liberalism

• Constructivism

• Behavioralism