introduction to foreign policy analysis lecture2a
DESCRIPTION
Introduction to foreign policy analysisTRANSCRIPT
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY POLS 425
professor timothy c. lim / cal state los angeles [email protected]
week 2: introduction to foreign policy analysis
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introduction to foreign policy analysisthe study of foreign policy
review of key points from last week
foreign policy analysis is concerned with a variety of questions: why-questions, who- and what questions, and
how-possible questions
foreign policy analysis is interdisciplinary, drawing from a variety of theoretical approaches
there is a special relationship between foreign policy analysis and ir
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introduction to coursethe study of foreign policy
review: fields relevant to foreign policy
international relations
social psychology
rational choice
comparative politics
public policy
critical theory
others
special relationship between IR and foreign policy
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introduction to coursethe study of foreign policy
review: fields relevant to foreign policy
authors also believe that the newradical accounts of IR are
important; even more …
their own approach is based on critical
political analysis
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introduction to coursethe study of foreign policy
so what is critical political analysis?
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introduction to coursethe study of foreign policy
changing gears …
theories offoreign policy
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introduction to theorythe study of foreign policy
general notes about theory: definitions
simply put, theories are explanations of how something or some process works; theories are used to identify cause-and-effect relationships and to make predictions
another definition. a theory is a framework of analysis within which facts are not only selected, but also interpreted, organized, and fit together so that they create a coherent whole
a theory helps us explain or better understand the world in which we live
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introduction to theorythe study of foreign policy
general notes about theory
theories are necessarily simplifications of a more complex whole; theories are not reality, but they are designed to tell use something
meaningful and important about the real world
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introduction to theorythe study of foreign policy
general notes about theory: additional points
first, the various theories of foreign policy are not dependent on whether they are accepted or even understood by
policy makers themselves
second, theory and practice may be mutually constitutive
third, the theories we study are sometimes compatible, but sometimes contradictory
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introduction to theorythe study of foreign policy
one more point to consider
as we discuss the various theories of foreignpolicy, consider the question, “Whichperspective did candidate Obama mostclosely reflect?”
obama’s view as a candidate is explicitly articulated in the article, “renewing american leadership”
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an introduction to realism
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
a scene from a few good men: “you can’t
handle the truth!”
a classic statement of realist principles
question: what is the eternal, realist “truth”
about which jack nicholson’s character
speaks?
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
realism and foreign policy
opening questions
what is realism?
how is it applied to the analysis and practiceof foreign policy
what are the pitfalls in applying realist theoriesto foreign policy analysis?
what is a useful set of guidelines for avoidingthose pitfalls and using realist insights tosharpen the analysis of foreign policy?
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism? core principles
groupism. humans are divided into groups and humans depend on their own groups for safety and survival
egoism. self-interest ultimately drives political behavior
power-centrism. power is the fundamental feature of politics
to realists, these are all fundamental truths about the the world; they are the rules by which world politics operate. such rules have
consequences; they shape human behavior in particular ways
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
additional principles
central questions focus on the causes of war and conflict
the structure of the international system is a necessary, but not always sufficient for explaining relations among states
primary unit of analysis is the sovereign state
states are first and foremost guided by national interests defined in terms of power
states are rational, unitary actors
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
the key concept in realism in anarchy
dictionary definition: “absence of government; the state of society where there is no law or supreme power; a state of lawlessness; political confusion.”
in realism, anarchy is not the absence of government per se, but is instead the absence of a sovereign authority that exists
above the state. to (many) realists, moreover, the international system is not “confused,” but is governed by a structure of power dominated
by the strongest states
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
implications of anarchy
in an anarchic system, an unavoidable logic prevails, one based on the notion,”survival of the fittest.”
in an anarchic world, only the strong survive and prosper; you can only count on yourself for help: friends are friends
only when it serves their interests
one of the clearest enunciations of the principles and implications of anarchy can be found in
a few good men …
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
realism: assumptions, conditions and theories: some caveats
do not confuse assumptions (groupism, egoism, and power-centrism) with scope conditions (anarchy)
anarchy is a variable condition; where it is strongest, the potential for conflict is highest; where it is attenuated, orderis stronger
do not confuse assumptions with predictions
conflict is not an assumption, but a prediction: realists predict conflict under certain conditions of anarchy
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
theoretical schools within realism
realism is a diverse school of thought that includes several variants
classical realism
neorealism (or structural realism)
defensive realism (“inside-out” variant)
offensive realism (“hyper-realism”)
neoclassical realism (“foreign policy” realism)
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
specific theories within realism
the diversity of realism is also evident in specific theories of realism
balance of power
balance of threat
hegemonic stability theory
power transition theory
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
specific theories within realism
balance of power and balance of threat
balance of power (b.o.p.) and balance of threat (b.o.t.) are similar, but the key difference in the motive for “balancing”
in the former, balancing is based on a single, one-dimensional criterion: military potential
in the latter, balancing is based on a multi-dimensional assessment of military potential,
geography and perception of intentions
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introduction to realismchapter 2: realism and foreign policy
what is realism?
specific theories within realism
hegemonic stability theory and power transition theory
h.s.t. qualifies notion of anarchy by underscoring the “stabilizing” power of a single, dominant state—the hegemon; theory
considers how hegemonic power impacts international system
p.t.t. works from h.s.t. and examines how and whyhegemonic power declines
this lecture will continue in our next class meeting
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