Lecture 4 Marxism and Critical theory

Question 1

Marxism

Answer 1

Rejects the liberal world view of self-interested individuals and the realist view of sovereign states and anarchy - views it as limiting

Question 2

Marxist tradition

Answer 2

Varied tradition building upon the dialectical social philosophy of Marx and Engels

Question 3

Marxism focus

Answer 3

Emancipation of working class and the world equality

Question 4

Interpretation of history

Answer 4

Economic. Its central focus is on providing a critical interpretation of capitalism as a historically produced form of social life to be challenged

Question 5

Marx

Answer 5

Shows the basic struggle between classes and recommends action against the ‘specter’ of capitalism.
Critique of capitalism. Prophesized the rise of working class socialist societies.
Capitalism is exploitative.
Instability of producing by people’s own labor more than they needed to subsist on
Market created inequalities
History viewed as a sequence of evolutionary stages, each marked by a unique mode of production

Question 6

Engels

Answer 6

Less provocative. Evolution of humankind from primitive communism to slavery, feudalism, capitalism
History is a sequence of evolutionary stages, each marked by a unique mode of production

Question 7

Marx’s philosophy

Answer 7

Dialectical thinking
Criticizes one-sidedness of idealism and materialism.
His historical materialist approach attempted to overcome the one-sidedness of both idealism and materialism.
Historical dialectical materialism - human agency in human-made material conditions. Men change their own destiny but not just as they please.

Question 8

Assumption 1 Humans

Answer 8

Humans seen as productive agents that in their interactions continuously remake their world and themselves. Humans are producers and products of historical processes.

Question 9

Assumption 2 Politics

Answer 9

Politics is a more extensive way than usual. Politics is seen as struggle over the shaping of the kind of world we live in and the kind of people we are.

Question 10

Assumption 3 History

Answer 10

View on history is dialectical.
Classical Marxism - progressive evolution
Imperialism - inter-imperial struggle
Dependency theory - exploration of classical m
Crises of capitalism

Question 11

Assumption 4 Economic determination

Answer 11

Economic/materialistic determination provides tools to understand IR

Question 12

Assumption 5 World division

Answer 12

The world is divided based on economic status not pol motivations. World divided into economically determined classes not politically determined nations

Question 13

Assumption 6 Economic issues

Answer 13

Economic issues constitute the base in the Marxist pol philosophy. Other aspects like pol and culture remain at super structural level and dependent on eco factors.

Question 14

Assumption 7 Main actors

Answer 14

Main actors - classes. Society made out of classes with conflicting interests. State is an agent of class.

Question 15

Assumption 8 Inter state system

Answer 15

Inter state system constructed by capitalists so serves the interests of the bourgeoise and wealthy states who want to expand their wealth.

Question 16

Assumption 9 Classes

Answer 16

Classes are economic groups of people based on their relation to the production process in society.

Question 17

Assumption 10 Class conflict

Answer 17

Class conflict is inevitable especially in capitalist society.

Question 18

Assumption 11 Change

Answer 18

Class conflict leads to a soc/pol change

Question 19

Assumption 12 Class struggle

Answer 19

Class struggle is a core of Marxism. Ruling class makes ideologies to legitimize their exploitation. In time there would be class conscious which is recognition of common class condition and common unity against capitalism

Question 20

Assumption 13 Excessive production

Answer 20

Excessive production led to exploitation of proletariat in capitalist society. Class struggle where proletariat wins and makes a socialist society which is free of classes.

Question 21

Assumption 14 State

Answer 21

State created by the bourgeoise to protect their interests and oppress the proletariat. In socialist society state would have no role in the society

Question 22

Assumption 15 Weaker states

Answer 22

Capitalist state exploit the weaker states

Question 23

Assumption 16 Wars

Answer 23

Wars erupt due to clash between capitalist nations as they want to establish colonies. eg WWI

Question 24

Assumption 17 Proletariat

Answer 24

Proletariat over the world are exploited, there are no borders . Proletariat revolution is an inter character.

Question 25

Assumption 18 Lasting Peace

Answer 25

Lasting Peace can only be established after world rev as it would signify the end of imperialism

Question 26

Assumption 19 Equality

Answer 26

With the classless society new IR based on equality of all people can be built

Question 27

Assumption 20 achieving equality

Answer 27

To achieve equality the proletariat must rise above national identities and national interests as they have no state to serve their causes.

Question 28

Assumption 21 stages

Answer 28

History of economic class struggle between groups within society. Proletariat grows in size and starts the struggle with bourgeoise, set the stage for revolution, the result of this struggle is victory of the opposing groups and change in economic systems

Question 29

Assumption 22 Economic forces

Answer 29

Economic forces central to Marxism are more important than concepts like state and sov - seen as tools of capitalism.

Question 30

Influence of Marxism on IR

Answer 30

Little impact as it’s not a mere domestic or economic theory.
Marxism - only mainstream theory that emphasises equality.
Influence on inter pol economy and development theories - Marxism and neo-Marxism approaches to IR focus on the problem of development, the issue of inequality, economic dependency.

Question 31

Critiques

Answer 31

Utopian, ignores conventional struggle for power and security arising in anarchical system, economic determinism, over-estimation of class struggle, underestimated nationalism

Question 32

1970s

Answer 32

1970s new interpretation - political economy approach/ neo marxism

Question 33

1990s

Answer 33

Neo-Marxism increased with passing of bipolarity
Connected with dependency and world system theories. Exploitation is an external core not internal like in Marxism

Question 34

Neo Marxism key thinkers

Answer 34

Wallerstein, Baran, Frank, Amin

Question 35

Wallerstein

Answer 35

Looked at how capitalist systems penetrated non-capitalist systems using binary distinction between core and periphery area.
World eco linked by exchange relations were impossible before 1500.
Northwestern Europe were able to impose regional division of labor.
Through bureaucracies consolidated the surplus flow to core states

Question 36

World system theory

Answer 36

Hierarchical structure of world politics - wealthy exploit the poor. Countries can change between core and periphery.
Capitalist world system - inter pol is shaped by economic factors.
Staes reflect interests of the ruling class
Surplus materials distributed from periphery countries to core countries.
Capitalism is unjust.

Question 37

Critical theory origins

Answer 37

Frankfurt school and developed by a group of German scholars
In IR theory critical thoery is closely ;inked to Marxist Inter Pol Eco.

Question 38

Critical theory thinkers

Answer 38

Cox, Hoffmann, Linklater

Question 39

Critical theory rejects 3 basic postulates of positivism

Answer 39

objective external reality, subject/object distinction, value free social science.
All is subjective

Question 40

Assumption 1 Social world

Answer 40

Construction of time and place - inter system is a specific construction of the most powerful states. Everything that is social is changeable and thus historical.

Question 41

Assumption 2 Knowledge

Answer 41

Knowledge is not neutral morally/ideologically/politically. All knowledge reflects the interests of the observer - Cox theory is made for someone and for something

Question 42

Problem solving/positivist knowledge

Answer 42

Theory accepts the prevailing definitions, tries to solve the problems these definitions generate.
Conservative
Biased to inter status quo which is based on inequality of power.

Question 43

Critical theory knowledge

Answer 43

Looks at the way the problem serves particular interests, shuts down different debates and solutions.

Question 44

Assumption 3 Examination of states

Answer 44

Not confined to an examination of states and the state system.
Focuses on power and domination of the world.
Looks at historical development - how power structures changed.

Question 45

Assumption 4 Knowledge and value

Answer 45

Knowledge is not value-free
Openly political - promote their progressive ideology of emancipation

Question 46

Assumption 5 Structures

Answer 46

Structures are socially constructed (Cox)
Become part of the objective world by virtue of their existence in inter-subjectivity of relevant groups of people. Structures as inter-subjective products don’t have a physical existence

Question 47

Assumption 6

Answer 47

Modern state is viewed as a distinctive form of political community, bringing with its particular functions that are socially and historically determined
Critical theory seeks to provide social theory of a state while realism takes state for granted
Analyses how boundaries of community are formed

Question 48

Dependency theory

Answer 48

Explains why poor states remain poor in the global economy based on its structure

Question 49

Neo Marxism weakness and strength

Answer 49

World system and dependency theories are useful to analyse for those who perceive the world as principally a sphere of economic conflict between the rich and poor.
Wallerstein’s theory seen as excessively concerned with the role of economics, theory seen as pessimistic without giving an answer on how to escape capitalism.
After cold war Communist theories seen as obsolete
Agena on inequality