Theories of international relations
In the study of international relations there exists a number of different theories, which each try to explain the role of the state in world politics. This essay will attempt to critically examine these theories, and give a broad insight into the similarities and differences between them. First the traditional theories of international relations are examined, notably Realism and Liberalism, followed by the more recent theories of IR, such as Marxism, Constructivism and Postmodernism.Since the end of World War II, Realism has dominated the field of international relations. As a distinct school of thought Realism places its emphasis on the state as the primary actor in world politics. Realists generally have a pesimistic view of human nature, and a conviction that international relations are necessarily conflictual and that international conflicts are ultimatly resolved by war.Realists operate with the core assumption that world politics unfolds in a system of international anarchy, that is a system with no overiding authority, no world government. As a result international relations can be defined as a struggle between power maximising states in an anarchical environment (Morgenthau, 1960: p2). For this reason r
More important however is that capitalism paves the way for a socialist revolution where the means of production will be placed under "social control for the benefit of the workers, who are the vast majority" (Hollis and Smith, 1990, p184). According to Marx, this explotative relationship between the dominant class and the worker class is known as the mode of production and changes over time. II) Politics is " an autonomous sphere of action" and cannot therefore be reduced to economics(as marxists do) or reduced to morals. Liberals counteract this by stating that there can be positive anarchy that involves secure peace among consilidated liberal democracies. Liberals see the states main responsibility to provide security for its own citizens. As long as anarchy prevails there is no escape from self help and the security dilema. H Carr's " The twentieth year's Crisis" (1939) and Hans Morgenthau's " Politics among Nations" (19 ) are the most influential works of classical Realism. Modernisation increases the level of interdependance between states. Marx identified! four modes of production in history. Unlike realism with its pesimistic view, liberalism presents a far more optimistic view of international relations. Thus to follow a prescribed set of ethics would be irrisponsible and thus constitute a moral failure because political leaders bare a very heavy responsibility for the security and welfare of their country and its people.
Common topics in this essay:
Liberalism Unlike,
Evans Newnham1992,
II Realism,
Karl Marx,
Politics Nations,
IV Ethics,
Waltz's Neo-Realism,
Barry Hughes,
Hollis Smith,
According Waltz,
international relations,
world politics,
hobson 2000,
classical realism,
theory international,
international system,
assumption wherby,
human nature,
international politics,
worker class,
field international relations,
system international anarchy,
structure international system,
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Acceptance Essays
