Week 2 - Doing IR: Theory and Practice Flashcards
(9 cards)
Explanatory (or positivist approach)
The nature sciences in assuming reality separates us from observers that can be studied to formulate laws and causes
Interpretivist (or post-positivist approach)
Reject the assumption that the observer and social world are separate, aim to study meaning in our perception of reality
Tickner on Core, Periphery, and (neo)imperialis International Relations
Core - central economic region (good communications and high population density), Periphery - outlying regions with poor comms and sparse populations
First World/Global North - producers of finished goods and theories, knowledge is produced here and circulated, Third World/Global South - sources of data or local expertise
Theory revolves around US institutions
IR Theory
Theory is based on finding relationships between data and then making generalizations about those relations to find an explanation
Marxist Dependency Theory
Explains how poor countries rely on rich countries which contributes to economic underdevelopment
Post-Kuhnians
Critique dominant IR theories and advocate for diverse, context-sensitive approaches, emphasize social, political, and economic actors
RLE - neoconservatism in Iraq
Bush administration used Liberalism as a policy framework (defending rights and freedoms) and realism as a justification
Fukuyama - Bush’s faith in idealism and the use of force/democracy blinded him about the lack of legitimacy of the war
RLE - China’s current FP
Current FP in China can only be understood through a realist lens
Why they only involve themselves in international institutions like the WTO, developing military as economic power grows, and avoiding confrontation with the US (stronger power)
Snyder on the Three Theories of IR
Liberalism, Realism, and Idealism - cannot fully account for the complexities of Global Affairs
→ need to integrate three theories to navigate contemporary politics (a multifaceted approach)
