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FT 2017
Introduction to
International Relations
INTRODUCTIONARY
SESSION
Seminar Presentation
Preparatory Course – Part II
#1
Introductionary Session
#2
Key Concepts (1): Actor and System
#3
Key Concepts (2): War and Peace
#4
Key Concepts (3): Power, Rules, Ideas
#5
Realism
#6
Structural Realism
#7
Liberalism
#8
Social Constructivism
#0
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FT 2017
Contact
#0
Philipp Klüfers, M. A.
Universität der Bundeswehr München
Department of Political Science
Professorship in International Politics
Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39
85577 Neubiberg
 + 49 (0) 89 60 04 – 20 39
http://www.unibw.de/Philipp.Kluefers
 [email protected]
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FT 2017
Agenda
#1
Introduction
#2
What is “International Relations”?
#3
The “Level of Analysis”-Problem
#4
Résumé
#5
References
#0
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FT 2017
Introduction
#1
“Velvet Revolution” in
Czechoslovakia 1989
 What factors led to the peaceful “Velvet Revolution” in Czechoslovakia in
1989? Which developments in international relations preceded the
revolution?
 How can these explanatory factors be categorized?
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FT 2017
Introduction
#1
“Facebook Friendship Map” (2010)
 What is understood by “globalization”?
 How does the phenomenon of globalization affects the study of
international relations?
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FT 2017
What is “International Relations”?
#2
“A lot of people think international
relations is like a game of chess.
But it’s not a game of chess, where
people sit quietly, thinking out their
strategy, taking their time between
moves. It’s more like a game of
billiards, with a bunch of balls
clustered together.”
Madeleine Albright
 What is the difference between a game of chess and a game of billiards?
 What makes the analysis of international politics so complex?
 Can states be understood as colliding billiard balls?
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FT 2017
What is “International Relations”?
#2
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 IR as a scientific discipline emerged in the aftermath of World War I
 aimed to explore ways to avoid war and establish a peaceful world order
 focus on international security, war and peace, international order and
institutions, and international law
 question of how to analyse international affairs in a scientific way
TOWARDS A “THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS”?
 definition of actors
 definition of order, rules, and institutions
 explanation of behaviour
 rationales for normative and ethical statements
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FT 2017
What is “International Relations”?
#2
DEFINITIONS
 “the study of relationships and interactions between countries, including
the activities and policies of national governments, international
organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and
multinational corporations (MNCs)” (Jackson et al. 2013: 4)
 “to reflect (…) on events, structures, processes, and actors, and to offer
explanations, interpretations, and normative analyses” (Devetak 2012: 3)
 focus on international security, war and peace, international order and
institutions, and international law
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AS ACADEMIC SUBJECT
 branch of political science
 influences of history, economics, legal studies, philosophy, and ethics
 International Relations (IR) as interdisciplinary inquiry
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FT 2017
The “Level of Analysis”-Problem
#3
What are main reasons for war or
organised violent behavior?
Copper plate etching
of the Roman God of
War Mars
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FT 2017
The “Level of Analysis”-Problem
SYSTEMIC LEVEL
“War is caused by the
specific relations
between states.”
 relative power distribution
 geopolitical position
 systemic institutions (NATO,
Warsaw Pact, UN, …)
 international norms and
rules
STATE LEVEL
“War is caused by the
character or
constitution of states.”






capitalist or communist societies
religious or ethnic groups
economic factors
state constitution
political ideologies
national interests
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
“War is caused by
decisions or drives of
individuals.”




belligerent statesmen
influential leaders
ability to govern
statecraft
#3
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FT 2017
Résumé
#4
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AS ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE
 study of interactions and relations between political units (states,
institutions, organizations, …)
 definition of “international actors” and their political behaviour
 explanations, interpretations, and normative statements
THE “LEVEL OF ANALYSIS” PROBLEM
 mode of observation in IR
 differentiation of distinct “explanation types”
 individual (1st), state (2nd), and systemic (3rd) level
 micro-, meso-, macro-level
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FT 2017
References
#5
 Jackson, Robert; Sørensen, Georg (2013): “Introduction to International
Relations: Theories and Approaches”, Oxford University Press, Oxford
 Carlsneas, Walter; Risse-Kappen, Thomas; Simmons, Beth (2002): “Handbook
of International Relations”, SAGE Publications, London
 Devetak, Richard (2012): “An Introduction to International Relations”, in:
Devetak, Richard; Burke, Anthony; George, Jim (eds): “An Introduction to
International Relations”, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
 Singer, David (1961): “The Level-of-Analysis Problem in International
Relations”, World Politics (14/1), 77–92
 Waltz, Kenneth (1954): “Man, State and War”, Columbia University Press, New
York
 Wilkinson, Paul (2007): “International Relations. A Brief Insight”, Sterling
Publishing, New York
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FT 2017
Next
Session’s
Topic
KEY CONCEPTS (1):
ACTOR AND SYSTEM
Required Reading:
 Lake, David (2008): “The State and International Relations”, in: Reus-Smit,
Christian; Snidal, Duncan: “The Oxford Handbook of International Relations”,
Oxford University Press, Oxford; 41–61.
 Singer, David (1961): “The Level-of-Analysis Problem in International
Relations”, World Politics (14/1), 77–92