Chapter One

1. Chapter One Exploring Twenty-First-Century World Politics

2. Important Aspects of World Politics • global political system • anarchy in the international system • states in the international system • Cold War • Post-Cold War triumphalism • September 11, 2001--a transforming event? • cycles of world politics - trends and transformations

3. How Perceptions Influence Images of Reality • schematic reasoning: information interpreted according to genetic scripts, metaphors, and stereotypical characters • cognitive dissonance: tendency to deny discrepancies between preexisting beliefs and new information • constructivism: mental maps inevitably shape attitudes about, and images of, world politics

4. Factors Influencing Perceptions in World Politics • our psychological needs, drives, dispositions • our views of international affairs • images advanced by leaders and groups • our images of world history • opinions of close associates • attitudes of respected pundits/policymakers • our positions and roles

5. The Role of Images in World Politics • Soviet fear of foreign invasion • American isolationism pre-1941 • mutual misperceptions fuel discord in world politics - Islam and the “West” • mirror images: United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War • images can change: Vietnam War and utility of military force

6. Map 1.1: Mercator Projection M A P 1 . 1 Mercator Projection This Mercator projection, named for the Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator, was popular in sixteenth-century Europe and presents a classic Eurocentric view of the world. It mapped the Earth without distorting direction, making it useful for navigators. However, distances were deceptive, placing Europe at the center of the world and exaggerating the continent’s importance relative to other landmasses. Europe appears larger than South America, which is twice Europe’s size, and two-thirds of the map is used to represent the northern half of the world and only one-third the southern half. Because lines of longitude were represented as parallel rather than convergent, this projection also greatly exaggerates the size of Greenland and Antarctica.

7. Map 1.2: Peter’s Projection M A P 1 . 2 Peter’s Projection In the Peter’s projection, each landmass appears in correct proportion in relation to all others, but it distorts the shape and position of the earth’s landmasses. In contrast with most geographic representations, it draws attention to the less-developed countries of the Global South, where more than three-quarters of the world’s population lives today.

8. Map 1.3: Orthographic Projection M A P 1 . 3 Orthographic Projection The orthographic projection, centering on the mid-Atlantic, conveys some sense of the curvature of the Earth by using rounded edges. The sizes and shapes of continents toward the outer edges of the circle are distorted to give a sense of spherical perspective.

9. Levels of Analysis • individual: human characteristics--perceptions, images, knowledge, psychology • state: how states make decisions; economic power; military power; domestic factors • global: interactions of states and nonstate actors at the international level that affect conflict and cooperation

10. Discussion • In what ways can perception distort reality? Examples? • Apply the levels of analysis to a recent event.

11. Chapter 2 Theories of World Politics

12. Concepts • paradigm: dominant way of looking at a particular subject; structures patterns of inquiry and interpretation • theory: set of hypotheses postulating relationships between variables; used to describe, explain, and predict; must be falsifiable and stand the test of time

13. Realism • Anarchy characterizes the international system. • World politics is a struggle among self-interested states for power. • Each state pursues its national interest. • “Realpolitik”--states should be prepared for war in order to preserve peace

14. Realism’s Tenets • People are selfish and ethically flawed and compete for self-advantage. • People have an instinctive lust for power. • Eradicating this instinct is not possible. • International politics is a struggle for power. • The prime obligation of the state is promoting the national interest.

15. Realism’s Tenets, continued • Anarchical international system requires states to acquire military power. • Military power is more important than economics. • Do not trust allies. • Resist international efforts to control state protection and institute global governance. • Seek flexible alliances to maintain a balance of power

16. Criticism of Realism • could not explain increased cooperation after World War Two • many of its propositions not easily testable: criticized by behavioral scientists • disregards ethical principals • focuses on military might at economic and social expense of states

17. Liberalism • holds that reason and ethics can overcome international anarchy to create a more orderly and cooperative world • stresses the importance of international institutions • also associated with “idealism”

18. Aspects of Liberalism • unity of humankind more important than national loyalties • importance of the individual and promotion of human rights and civil liberties • using ideas and education to promote world peace • free international trade

19. Aspects of Liberalism, cont. • an end to secret diplomacy • terminate interlocking bilateral alliances • self-determination of nationalities • promotion of democracy • associated with President Woodrow Wilson and his Fourteen Points

20. Neorealism • accepts much of realism • states’ behavior determined by differences in relative power • all states have same objectives, but different capacities to realize them • distribution of capacities determines structure of the international system • global level of analysis

21. Neoliberalism • developed by critics of realism/neorealism • focuses on how IGOs and other nonstate actors promote cooperation and peace • examines how states cooperate with other and de-emphasize conflict • points to regional integration, especially the European Union

22. Feminist Critique • women mostly excluded from power in world politics • male policymakers downplay importance of global injustices to women • sexism as a pillar of war system • realism inattentive to human rights and rationalizes aggression • feminist theory focuses on increasing international cooperation

23. Transnational Interdependence • complex interdependence: growing ties among transnational actors increases both vulnerability and sensitivity • globalization: • integration and growing interdependence of states through increasing contact and trade • creates a global culture • decreases the ability of states to control people and events

24. International Regimes • “institutionalized or regularized patterns of cooperation with respect to a given issue or problem according to established rules” • Economic regimes - World Trade Organization - International Monetary Fund • Security regimes - nuclear nonproliferation (1968) • Environmental regimes - climate change (1992) • Human Rights regimes - Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

25. Constructivism • images of world politics are socially constructed • interests are not given but shaped by identities • norms constructed through new images • “anarchy is what states make of it”

26. Critical International Theory • Reflexive attitude to theory construction • Anti-positivist • Critique or “revealing” existing relations of social, economic and political power • Emancipatory purposes • Transformationalist

27. Discussion • Which theory has the best explanatory and predictive power regarding the 2003 confrontation between the United States and Iraq? • Which theory has the best explanatory and predictive for world politics in general? • Does the nature of the international system change over time?