Week 3

Question 1

What is the enlightenment?

Answer 1

• Change in the European thought about knowledge.
• Philosophical response to the Copernican revolution (scientific revolution of thought and discoveries)
• Eschew previous religious based reasoning and move toward a logic. less religious based system of reasoning.

Question 2

Who were the main enlightenment philosophers?

Answer 2

• Immanuel Kant

- Jean Jacques Rousseau

Question 3

Ideas that emerged from the enlightenment?

Answer 3

• Rejection of tradition (religion, aristocracy, monarchy)
• Replace God with Man as centre of meaning
• Human nature can be divided between human instinct and higher functions. The purpose of social order is to align with natural law.
• Criticism of Europe and being inspired by new shit.
• Trying to account of human diversity and politics

Question 4

What did Immanuel Kant get up to?

Answer 4

• 1724 to 1804 AD
• Moved away from market based judgement of individual worth to better of humanity judgements
• Concern for inequality and had a defense of people that wanted to lead their lives as they see fit.
• Looked into aspects of culture
  
  • > Culture based on individuals exercising freedoms
  • > Ability of humans to set ends for themselves (goals)

Question 5

How is Kant a ‘cosmopolitan’?

Answer 5

• Saw the vocation of humanity is to work towards an ideal form where humans can interact peacefully, no exploitation
• Distinguishes between patriotism (love of a particular) and cosmopolitanism (ethical commitment to humanity)
• Criticises the oppressive powers of the state, their failure to protect freedoms
• Called to abolish hereditary nobility
• Supported right to rebellion under certain conditions
• Was enthusiastic about the French Revolution

Question 6

What was the political climate like in 18th Century Europe?

Answer 6

• Big wars due to disputes in claiming dynasties
  > War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748
  > Great Northern War Sweden and Russia 1700-1721
• Tendency to construct conservative diplomatic systems
• Settlement and colonialism threatened large zones of instability
• Pulls of power from all angles of Europe, no one distinct hegemon

Question 7

What was the political climate like in the 18th Century International System?

Answer 7

• Stability that does exist, is maintained by France as a general hegemon (France fucking around, limiting Russia’s power)
  > careful diplomacy of checks and balances
  > France supported Poland to blunt Russia
  > Allied with Ottomans to frustrate expansion of Austria and Russia
  >Bourbon alliance France + Spain, hold the status quo and limit British Power

Question 8

What were the basic outcomes and dates of the 7 Years War

Answer 8

• 1756-1763
• France loses its hegemon to Britain
• Britain loses its American colonies
• Russia makes gains as a new imperial power

Question 9

What were the outcomes of the French Revolution on the European International System?

Answer 9

• Austria, Russia, Prussia, France and Britain all unite
• Agreement to take over Europe and remain integrity of European states
• Produced no written or permanent institutions
• Britain becomes hegemon in 18th Century

Question 10

What was the political climate like in the 19th Century International System?

Answer 10

• Britain is the hegemon
• Alliances form to settle disputes
• Liberal reforms on politics and economics
• Industrial revolution, increasing trade, migration and colonisation
• Diversification of political ideas and radical politics

Question 11

Describe the history of invasion in Britain

Answer 11

• Colonised by Rome
• Invaded by lowland Germanic tribes
• Colonised by Normans (1066)
• Turmoil during 30 Years War
• 1536 Colonisation of Ireland
• 1601 Slave trade and Queen Liz 1st
• 17th century colonisation of North America, India, West Indies, South Africa (competing against the French)

Question 12

How was Britain involved in the Slave Trade?

Answer 12

• Britain takes over domination of Trade from Spain
• Made it have economic advantage to USA and England, success and growth in technology, invest in naval power, banking industry got large profits
• Slave trade abolished 1807

Question 13

What was the deal with Britain’s hegemony?

Answer 13

• British imperialism was both direct (colonialism) and indirect (chartered British East India Company)
• Conducted ‘two empires’, American colonies and Indian 1757 (White Settler Empire)

Question 14

How did Britain’s empire affect Free Trade?

Answer 14

• Empire antithetical to free trade, 19th century shift with no control of state on trade
• England party politics shift (Opium war Britain broke in Chinese market)
• A break with monopoly
  > Repeal of Corn Law
  > Navigation Acts 1834 and 1846 (no foreign ships in ports, must only be British ships)

Question 15

What was the Industrial Age?

Answer 15

• Started 1760
• Emergence of new global economy
• Rise of advertising and mass consumerist society
• European powers perpetuate territory and subdue populations
• Mechanised production
• Industry moved, benefitting Britain financially

Question 16

Describe Russia’s bid for hegemony

Answer 16

• 1848 anti aristocratic revolution starting up, only successful in Germany
• Revolutions a significant threat to British hegemony
• Russia supports aristocracy and monarchy in mid Europe to prevent revolution

Question 17

What was Britain’s response to Russia’s bid for hegemony?

Answer 17

• 1815 British foreign policy, desire to keep Europe in check
• Wanted to provide independence in central Europe, balance of power

Question 18

Who were the actors in the Crimean War?

Answer 18

• Orthodox Christians, Russia, Ottomans
• Battle over their treatment
• precursor to WW1

Question 19

What was Boer Wars and what was the deal with the ‘scramble for Africa’?

Answer 19

• 1877 - 1902
• Boer War, British displaced Dutch
• Important role of Jewish, Rothschild’s family financed the war
• Explorers acting on behalf of states, rapidly tryning to get chiefs to sign over territory

Question 20

Name some wars that unified nations

Answer 20

• Crimean War 1854 - 1856
• War of Italian reunification 1859-1860
• German Unification 1866
• Russia v. Ottomans 1877-1878
• American Civil War 1861-1865

Question 21

Why, according to Kant, must the state of perpetual peace be actively established?

Answer 21

• Active vs passive
• Humans natural instinct to not be at peace, constant competition
• If you’re not actively seeking peace, then you’re living upon the premise of war breaking out

Question 22

What are the 3 definitive articles of Kant’s Perpetual Peace?

Answer 22

1. Civil constitution of every states should be a republic - important as monarchy not always serious and powerful, no sense of responsibility, not run by the people
2. Law of nations should be founded on federation of free states
3. World citizens should be focus on hospitality

Question 23

Is there any continuing relevance for Kant in contemporary global politics?

Answer 23

• Principles and theory are necessary, but are the actions actually going to be followed through?
• Notions of equality and morals are important
• Notions of republicanism, armies infringing upon others constitutions, not as realistic

Question 24

Is Kant’s ‘cosmopolitan constitution’ desirable?

Answer 24

• Shared morality to belong to a shared community a nice concept
• Kant not advocating for unification of identities, instead to develop democratic states to have peace

Question 25

What are some causes of war? (use examples)

Answer 25

- Partial and exploitative treaties (WW2) - Annexation and colonisation (Vietnam) - Presence of Standing armies (Manchuria) - Foreign debts (WW2) - Non-interference in the domestic affairs of others (China and Africa) - Use of weapons of mass destruction (USA+Japan and USA+Vietnam)