liberal theories & other approaches Flashcards
what is liberal theory?
states are part of a domestic & transnational society which creates incentives for economic, social, and cultural interactions.
ALL ABOUT PREFERENCES & INTERDEAPEANDENCE
what are the 3 assumptions of liberal theory?
- state preferences reflect social groups
- state preferences reflect political institutions
- interdependence influences state behavior
divergent preferences + interdependence = cooperation possible
what is ideational liberal theory?
domestic social identities and values determine state preferences
what is republican liberal theory?
domestic political institutions aggregate state preferences in specific ways
what is commercial liberal theory?
state preferences are based on economic interests
what is democratic peace theory?
democracies rarely
(if ever) go to war with other democracies
critique- correlation NOT causation
what is constructivism?
how people learn - they construct their understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things & reflecting on their experiences
highlights IDENTITIES, NORMS, VALUES
identities and norms that govern international politics are SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED
what are the 5 insights of constructivism?
- meanings are socially constructed: neither objects nor concepts have any fixed or objective meaning
- states can have convergent or divergent identities
- beliefs influence interests and behaviors
- power is socially constructed
- change via socialization
what is soft power?
the ability of a country to convince others to do what they want without force or coercion
what is marxism?
a theory that focuses on class conflict and struggle
bourgeoisie: owns the means of production
proletariat: exploited labor
what is false consciousness?
a way of thinking that prevents a person from understanding the true nature of their social or economic situation
what is dependency theory?
the international system has dominant & dependent states that have dynamic relationships
what is feminist theory?
the belief that mainstream ir theory and practice neglects the role of women in decision-making
→ highlights prevalence of gendered violence
→ noting absence of women from institutional structures
→ deconstructing socially constructed gender norms
