1.2 Mainstream Theories of International Relations
Key concepts: Interdependence, Power
Theoretical Perspectives: Realism, Liberalism
New terms: national interest, security, anarchy, global governance, containment, deterrence, hegemony, hard power, soft power, discourse, foreign policy, ceasefire, peace, conflict, cooperation, international law, NGO, IGO, MNC
In this unit, we will explore the two mainstream theories of International Relations, Realism and Liberalism. We will look in detail at:
- the nature and purpose of political theories
- the core assumptions of realism and liberalism
- critiques of the realist and liberal world views
We are going to apply the realist and liberalist perspective in the analysis of two political issues:
- the South China Sea Dispute
- the Ukraine Crisis
Required Reading
Murphy, Robert & Gleek, Charles: Essentials – Global Politics, pp. 2-12
Mahbubani, Kishore: The Great Convergence (extracts)
Heywood, Andrew: Global Politics, pp. 13-15
Mearsheimer, John J.: Why the Ukraine Crisis is the West’s Fault (extracts)
Individual online research on the Ukraine Crisis
Required viewing
The Economist Videographic: What does China want?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SscQBrJbiN0
BBC Our World: Flashpoint South China Sea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrQu0-zXWrE
AJ+: Ukraine Crisis Explained, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdxG-fLv0vI
AlJazeera: Left Behind in Eastern Ukraine, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtfccDm-_1A
Recommended Reading and Viewing
Heywood, Andrew: Global Politics, ch. 1, pp. 2-15 and ch. 3, pp. 53-66
Snyder, Jack: One World, Rival Theories (available from Sylvi)
Drezner, Daniel W.: Why Ukraine cannot be a buffer state, https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/02/10/why-ukraine-cannot-be-a-buffer-state/?utm_term=.a079f63b26b9
Rosling, Hans: 200 countries, 200 years, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo
Brown, Gordon: Global Ethics vs. National Interest, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclzytQQMGI