INTL 203
Introduction to International Relations
I.
Structure of the Course
A.
Textbook: 1/3 of course grade
B.
Lectures: 2/3 of course grade
 Lectures do not repeat textbook
C.
Exams 95%:
 Two midterms (30% each)
 Final (35%), partly cumulative
I.
D.
Structure of the Course
Attitude 5%
 Using cell phones, ipads, or any other electronic
devices
 Walking in and out
 Regularly arriving late
 Leaving early without the prior permission of the
instructor
 Engaging in side conversations
 Sleeping
 Working on personal activities or the assignments
of other courses
 Reading
II. The Study of International
Relations
A.
International Relations:
1.
The study of relations among “states” in formal
anarchy
 UN has no enforcement capability
 States have monopoly on use of force (usually)
 Non-state actors: IGOs, INGOs, MNCs
II. The Study of International
Relations
B.
Three Main Levels of Analysis
1.
2.
3.
Individual (Culture / Norms)
States
The “System” (over time)
II. The Study of International
Relations
C.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma
1.
2.
3.
Sinan and Ekrem get caught with stolen property
Each can get 1 year in jail
But authorities want to convict them for dealing
(so each gets 25 years)
4. But that means police must get confessions
5. So cops separate them, and offer each:
 No jail for confessing on the other
 But: if both confess, each 10 years
II. The Study of International
Relations
C.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma
You, Other
Other
You
Coop
Defects
Coop
-1,-1
-25,0
Defects
0,-25
-10,-10
II. The Study of International
Relations
D.
The Peloponnesian War – the PD in IR
1.
2.
3.
Thucydides
Pending war Corinthians vs Corcyraeans
Athenians:
a) Not a friend or enemy of either side
b) Believed the Corinthians will win, and would
then be strong enough to defeat Athens
c) Therefore decided to fight the Corinthians
II. The Study of International
Relations
D.
The Peloponnesian War – the PD in IR
4.
Lesson: War happens
a) Not because nations are friends or enemies
b) Because of fear of the stronger
c) Core beliefs:
1)
2)
3)
If a nation can defeat you it might attack
Cannot take risk with security
Therefore must attack first if stronger
III. Theories of IR
A.
Realism
1.
For states only security matters
• It is leaders’ obligation
2. In anarchy cannot trust (no friends: “self-help”)
3. Therefore: Relative power (capability) matters
most (if one can attack, they might)
4. Therefore:
a) Only relative gains matter (like a fixed pie)
b) Can be no universal cooperation
c) World is nasty and poor (war is constant)
d) This cannot change: pessimistic
III. Theories of IR
A.
Realism
5.
Realism is not:
a) The fact that war happens
b) The pursuit of self-interest
c) Having an enemy
d) The enemy of my enemy . .
III. Theories of IR
B.
Liberalism
1.
Yes security, but economy matters too
a) Therefore: variable gains (pie can get bigger)
b) Therefore: can be universal cooperation
2. Yes be careful, but limited trust can be
learned, with:
a) International institutions “neo-liberalism”
b) Democracy “classical liberalism”
c) Trade “classical liberalism”
3. Therefore world can get better; optimistic
III. Theories of IR
B.
Liberalism
4.
Liberalism is not:
a) Belief that we can always all trust each other
b) Belief that all people are always good
c) Naivete about how things really are
III. Theories of IR
C.
Constructivism
1.
2.
3.
Structure (nature of anarchy; PD) is made up . .
Humans have agency (decide our own structures)
Structures are constructed by social interactions
EG: Aliens landing
III. Theories of IR
D.
World System Theory/neo-Marxism
1.
Classical Marxism
a) All exchange is exploitive
b) Class structure: bourgeoisie vs. labor
c) Evolution towards communist revolution
III. Theories of IR
D.
World System Theory/neo-Marxism
2.
WST / Neo-Marxism
a) Global economy (system level)
b) Class structure: bourgeoisie states vs. labor
states
c) Evolution towards global communist revolution
III. Theories of IR
E.
Epilogue: How to Decide?
1.
2.
Not with intuition
Best:
a) Ability to predict new things
EG: Albert Einstein
b) Explanatory Power
EG: Isaac Newton
3. Social science: so far no winning grand paradigm
IV. Before 1450: The Age of Empires
A.
Empires
1.
Before 1500: Most systems were “imperial”:
a) Supreme ruler
b) Unitary culture and belief system (minorities can
exist, but they have “special” status and are
loyal)
c) Economy: tribute (not trade)
d) Two concentric circles
•
•
In ruling structure
In geography
IV. Before 1450: The Age of Empires
A.
Empires
2.
No permanent ‘inter-empire’ relations
3. Little ‘inter-empire’ trade
4. Notable exceptions:
a)
b)
Ancient Greece
Italian city-states
IV. Before 1450: The Age of Empires
B.
Europe Not Important
1.
Unitary belief: Catholicism
2. Leader: Pope
3. Tribute system: feudalism
V. After 1450: The Changes Begin in
Europe
A.
Initial Conditions in Europe
1.
Europeans want Eastern goods
a) Elites demand imports from East (spices;
perfumes)
2. Italy/Arabs control trade from East
a) Middle Eastern ‘modernity’
b) Banking & Finance
V. After 1450: The Changes Begin in
Europe
B.
Little Ice Age
1.
2.
3.
4.
Crop failures impact feudal tributes
Dutch turn to animal husbandry . . .
. . . and trade: selling surpluses in markets
Trade/manufacturing increases in NW Europe
V. After 1450: The Changes Begin in
Europe
C.
Portuguese 15th c.
1.
Figure out new path to East (probably from
Moors)
2. Learn Arab secrets:
a) Navigation
b) Lateen sail
c) Africa may be circumnavigated
3. Adopt Dutch ocean-capable hull with Chinese
compass
V. After 1450: The Changes Begin in
Europe
C.
Portuguese 15th c.
4.
5.
6.
Fortunes were made overnight!
Also gun powder: value of boat & cannon
Portuguese become first “hegemon”:
a) Defeat the Arabs in the Indian Ocean
b) Obtain monopoly NW European-Indian/Chinese
trade
V. After 1450: The Changes Begin in
Europe
D.
Discovery of New World - 1492
1.
2.
3.
Spanish jealous: try going East by going West
Discover South American gold & silver
Spanish can fight
a) Take the gold
b) Start chattel slavery
c) Extend their ‘empire’
4. Spanish money goes to English/Dutch
manufacturers
5. English/Dutch economies begin rising
V. After 1450: The Changes Begin in
Europe
E.
English and Dutch Cultural Shift
1.
Three new norms linked with trade:
a) Tolerance (contract with whoever makes best
offer, regardless of religion, culture or politics)
b) Legal equality (peasants and lords can’t
contract)
c) Freedom (want others to trade with you)
2. New ideas similar to Ancient Greece /
Renaissance Italians
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
A.
The Protestant Reformation
1.
NW Europeans begin to ‘protest’ Catholic dogma;
demanding:
a) Tolerance (limited)
b) Legal equality (limited)
c) Freedom (limited)
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
A.
The Protestant Reformation
2.
Thirty Years War (1608 – 1648)
a) Some kingdoms go Protestant (mostly
Northwestern Europe, England and Scandinavia)
b) Catholic Hapsburg Empire fights back
c) Ideological warfare; Very deadly
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
A.
The Protestant Reformation
3.
Cardinal Richelieu allies Catholic France with the
Protestants – key shift
 Richelieu’s motive:
•
“raison d’etat”  “justification of any policy
on behalf of the state”
 State more important than religion
 Main aim to defeat France’s Protestants (called
“Huguenots”)
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
B.
Protestant Alliance: 4 Unusual
Characteristics
1.
Alliance members respected each others’
“sovereignty”
a) France wanted outside Protestants to stop
supporting its Huguenots . . .
b) So they insisted upon no outside interference in
a state’s internal politics
c) Created the notion of the modern “state” 
“an organization that has the monopoly on the
use of force over a geographic region”
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
B.
Protestant Alliance: 4 Unusual
Characteristics
2.
State members were legally equal (no hierarchy;
supreme center)
 Because:
a)
b)
Everyone had to be persuaded to join
New Protestant norm
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
B.
Protestant Alliance: 4 Unusual
Characteristics
3.
Alliance members tolerated each others’ religions
a) Required for the alliance to work
b) Opposite of traditional empire norm
4. To maintain Alliance, member states established:
a) Permanent embassies with each other:
Diplomacy
b) Norms guiding their interactions: International
Law
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
C.
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
1.
Four Points on the New Westphalian System:
1) System is potentially universal
a) It allows units of different LOYALTIES to coexist
b) “Secularization” of politics
2) System can facilitate peace among memberstates
a) Member-states are not allowed to seek to end
each others’ existence
b) Member-states are not allowed to impose on
each other their own beliefs
c) NOTE: States are protected only so long as they
follow the rules
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
C.
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
1.
Four Points on the New Westphalian System:
3) Among member-states, wars now have limited
aims
a)
b)
c)
Not over ideas
Therefore less likely to involve atrocities
But still big wars against states that seek to reimpose empire (EG: Louis 14th; Hitler; Stalin)
4) To be a member requires “recognition” as a
state by other members
a) Non-recognized entities are not protected
VI. The Emergence of Modern IR
C.
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
2.
How the System Survives
a) Most member-states want it, therefore:


b)
Major powers often fight to defend it
Minor powers often do not support
challengers
EG: WWII; Cold War
“Hegemon” - Leading major power that defends
Westphalia (in contrast to “empire”)
EG: World politics today
VII. Europe Goes Global
A. Colonial Imperialism
1. After 1500: Dutch/ French / English go global for
profits
2. Largely initiated by private actors (corporations)
a)
Very different from Portuguese/Spanish stateled imperialism
b) But often “corporations” backed by their states
 With warships
 + corrupt ties (officials own most shares)
VII. Europe Goes Global
A. Colonial Imperialism
3. Prevailing “mercantilist” belief: states should seek
trade surplus
a) Including unfair advantages
b) With war/slavery if necessary
4. Colonial Norms:
a)
b)
c)
d)
No sovereignty for colony (metropole rules)
Taking of land from natives to settlers
Imposition of unfair trading rules
Imposition of taxes
VII. Europe Goes Global
B.
The American Revolution
1. North America, unusual:
a) No gold
b) Comparatively empty (only 3 million natives; no
civilization)
c) Fertile (for crops)
d) Climate like Europe’s
2. So settled: became escape valve for Europe’s
poor
a)
b)
Enclosure movements
**So Europe’s poor become “rich” landowners!
VII. Europe Goes Global
B.
The American Revolution
3. In North: emergence of democratic-capitalism
a) Widespread landownership
b) Widespread concerned with
a) Property rights
b) Equality in trade
c) In South: chattel slavery
VII. Europe Goes Global
B.
The American Revolution
4. American Revolution
a) Aim equality in trade; democratic rights
b) US compromise North v South
5. USFP “Normal Trade Relations”
a)
Contrast with “classical trade relations”
a) Negotiations per item
b) **Political** (diplomats fix prices)
b) NTR is not free trade!
VIII. The Nineteenth Century
A.
British Hegemony
1.
2.
3.
4.
B.
Opium Wars and Global *Empire*
Rising trade & industrialization
Gold standard: British FDI
Gunboat diplomacy
Old Empires
1. Capitulations
2. Eventually join as members of Westphalia
VIII. The Nineteenth Century
C.
US anti-colonialism
1.
2.
3.
4.
NTR relations
Monroe Doctrine
But US small power; not involved in Europe
US interventions anti-colonial:
 Philippines; Caribbean
 Nation-building
VIII. The Nineteenth Century
D.
Rise of Nationalism & Militarism (in
Europe)
1. French Revolution introduced:
2. “Nationalism”  The idea that common
language/geography/religion creates common
interests
3. Total war: “citizens in arms”
4. Decisive battle (large formations)
5. Quest for victory
VIII. The Nineteenth Century
E.
Rise of Germany
1.
2.
3.
4.
Unification
Seven Weeks War (1866)
France (1871)
Naval Arms race with UK (UK insisted on 2:1
advantage)
5. Tensions with Russia (over influence in East Europe)
F.
Decline of Ottomans
IX. World War I
A.
Trigger: the Assassination of Archduke
Ferdinand
1. Serbian state-supported terror (assassination)
 Analogy: Pakistan today
2. Austria attacked Serbia
3. Russia attacked Austria
4. Germany attacked France
IX. World War I
B.
Re-alignments to Bi-polarity
1. France & Russia
a) France fears 1871
b) Russian “orthodox’ identity (Balkans)
2. Improved French-UK relations
3. Germany & Austria
a) Austrian Empire in Balkans
IX. World War I
C.
Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs)
1.
2.
3.
4.
SOPs are maintained by bureaucracies
SOPs are the cornerstone of all military organizations
To be “highly trained” means knowing a lot of SOPs
Strategy in war: break up the enemy’s command
structure & communications (SOPs)
5. Sometimes the winning army simply has more SOPs
than the other!! (meaning better training)
IX. World War I
D.
The Cult of the Offensive X SOPs
1. Napoleonic wars / Seven Weeks war
2. Each side believed the winner would be the side that
strikes first
E.
The (Secret) German von Schlieffen Plan
1. Two front war: 1st France; then Russia
2. Railroad timetables: 1000’s of pages
3. So Germany had to invade Luxemburg, Belgium &
France!
IX. World War I
F.
Timeline
1. June 28: The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
2. German Kaiser gives “blank check”; goes sailing
3. Austria waits several weeks (to get crops in)
 Then mobilizes and gives ultimatum to Serbia
4. Russia partially mobilizes
5. Kaiser returns from Yacht – telegrams Nicky
6. Czar orders de-mobilization
7. Austria attacks Serbia
8. Czar orders full mobilization (aids disconnect lines!)
IX. World War I
F.
Timeline
9. Kaiser orders mobilization; triggering von Schlieffen
Plan
 War begins in Belgium
 King Albert: “Belgium is not a road”
 Germany atrocities
10. Now British make clear: we’ll fight for Belgium
11. Kaiser orders withdrawal, but cannot:
 Army chief of staff, von Moltke, “cannot call back
the troops!” (due to SOPs)!
 Kaiser: “your father could have . . .”
 After war German director of railways: there was a
plan for calling back the troops! Moltke lied!!
IX. World War I
G.
Bureaucratic Politics
1. Bureaucrats special knowledge/position gives them
power; they can:
a) Lie
b) Ignore orders
c) Leak to media; “spin”
d) Conspire with lobbyists/legislatures
**WWI started with bureaucratic politics!
X. IR Theory Reprise
A.
Realism
1. Cannot explain rise of states
2. WWI: bi-polarity
B.
Liberalism
1. Cannot explain rise of states
2. WWI: autocracy; lack of global institutions
 Problem: high trade
X. IR Theory Reprise
C.
Constructivism
1. Cannot explain rise of states
2. WWI: everyone too paranoid
D.
WST/ Marxism
1. Cannot explain rise of states
2. WWI over colonies