Revision sheet: Introduction aux Relations Internationales

📋 Plan du Cours

1. Major theories of International Relations
2. Liberalism and realism as foundational IR schools of thought
3. Challenges in reforming the United Nations Security Council
4. Impact and perception of drone strikes in international politics
5. Near nuclear launch incidents and their significance
6. Defining terrorism: characteristics and challenges
7. Technological innovations in shipping and their economic impact
8. Labor conditions and income disparities in multinational corporations
9. Geopolitics, poverty, and development in International Relations
10. Post-colonialism and its contributions to IR theory
11. Role of psychology and religion in International Relations
12. Populism and its implications for the future of International Relations

📖 1. Major theories of International Relations

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Human development theory : A framework that assesses human progress using indicators such as life expectancy, education level, and gross national income per capita, combined into the Human Development Index to measure overall wellbeing.
• Realism : A theory attributing state behavior to the structure of the international system rather than human nature, emphasizing the role of power configurations and polarity in maintaining peace or causing conflict, and suggesting that changing the system could reduce conflict.

📝 Points essentiels

• Classical realism roots conflict and competition in human nature, viewing humans as inherently bad.
• Neo-realists argue that the international system, not human nature, drives state behavior and that changing the system could reduce conflict.
• Liberals believe in the possibility of long-term progress and cooperation through international institutions like the UN.
• Constructivists hold that national interest is shaped by changing norms and cannot be fixed over time.
• The neo-realists bring some nuance. They argue that it is not to do with human nature, but the international system that we have constructed post WW2, that gives predominance to the western world, that continues through its political and economic relations with states less powerful than them. Their idea goes so far as to say that if we change the system, then we can envision more peace and less conflict and competition. That said, they stick to the idea that because the system doesn’t really change, the states are going to continue to act in their own self interest. Neo-realists have come up with the importance of polarity : the idea of different areas in the world that have a certain amount of measurable power, and that create a better or worse situation for world peace. + Neo-realists believe that there are certain configurations of this international system that are more conducive to peace than others :  The multipolar context that we are in today is the most unstable for IR.  The bipolar context from the Cold War where mutually assured destruction (MAD) existed, is the most stable, according to them, because there is no interest for one geographical region to attack the other because they are both equally strong and powerful.  The unipolar system is also unstable, maybe even more dangerous than the multipolar system, where one very powerful country can wreak havoc and

💡 À retenir

Understanding international relations requires grasping how different theories explain state behavior, from assumptions about human nature to systemic structures and evolving norms.

📖 2. Liberalism and realism as foundational IR schools of thought

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• National interest : Not be the same in a country, ten years apart.
• Soft power : The capacity of a state to shape the preferences and actions of other actors through attraction and persuasion, using cultural influence, political values, or diplomacy rather than coercion.
• Schools of thought : It may be a blend of schools of thought, or only one.

📝 Points essentiels

• Realists see states as primarily pursuing their own interests through power and competition.
• Liberals argue states can sacrifice some interests for cooperative efforts and that cooperation itself becomes a self-interest.
• Foreign policy is shaped by national interest, which can blend multiple schools of thought.
• Different leaders define national interest differently, leading to distinct foreign policy doctrines (e.g., Bush doctrine, Obama doctrine).
• The neo-realists bring some nuance. They argue that it is not to do with human nature, but the international system that we have constructed post WW2, that gives predominance to the western world, that continues through its political and economic relations with states less powerful than them. Their idea goes so far as to say that if we change the system, then we can envision more peace and less conflict and competition. That said, they stick to the idea that because the system doesn’t really change, the states are going to continue to act in their own self interest. Neo-realists have come up with the importance of polarity : the idea of different areas in the world that have a certain amount of measurable power, and that create a better or worse situation for world peace. + Neo-realists believe that there are certain configurations of this international system that are more conducive to peace than others :  The multipolar context that we are in today is the most unstable for IR.  The bipolar context from the Cold War where mutually assured destruction (MAD) existed, is the most stable, according to them, because there is no interest for one geographical region to attack the other because they are both equally strong and powerful.  The unipolar system is also unstable, maybe even more dangerous than the multipolar system, where one very powerful country can wreak havoc and
• How is national interest defined?

💡 À retenir

Liberalism and realism offer contrasting but complementary perspectives to analyze how states define and pursue their national interests in foreign policy.

📖 3. Challenges in reforming the United Nations Security Council

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• International Law : Norms, rules, and principles that govern the relations between states and other international actors, aiming to regulate their interactions and ensure cooperation.
• Obstacles : What are some obstacles to these proposed solutions?
• Regional organisations : Entities like the EU, NATO, or UN that serve as forms of global governance, imposing norms and binding commitments, and potentially acting as agents of change in international relations.
• Security council : The United Nations Security Council : The UNSC was assigned the responsibility of maintaining global peace and security.

📝 Points essentiels

• Reforming the UNSC involves addressing the veto power held by the five permanent members.
• Expanding the UNSC aims to make it more representative of the current multipolar world.
• Regional organisations are considered as part of rethinking international power distribution and governance.

💡 À retenir

Reforming the UNSC involves addressing the veto power held by the five permanent members.

📖 4. Impact and perception of drone strikes in international politics

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Nation : A community of people who share a common sense of identity, which can be derived from language, culture or ethnicity.
• Introduction : The initial section of a study or discussion that outlines the basic assumptions, scope, and importance of the subject matter.
• Drone strikes : Seen as a sign of American arrogance, and can cause anger and fear, since civilians die in the strikes.

📝 Points essentiels

• Drone strikes increased by 700% under the Obama administration.
• Drone strikes are perceived internationally as a sign of American arrogance.
• Civilian deaths caused by drone strikes generate anger and fear among affected populations.
• The use of drones increased by 700% under Obama.

💡 À retenir

Drone strikes exemplify the complex relationship between advanced military technology, how such actions are perceived globally, and the challenges they pose to international legitimacy.

📖 5. Near nuclear launch incidents and their significance

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Nation-state : A nation which corresponds to the geographical confines of a particular choice made by the populations.
• Objectives : The specific goals or intentions pursued by actors, particularly in security or foreign policy contexts, such as deterrence or preventing nuclear proliferation.
• Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) : A Cold War nuclear strategy based on the principle that any nuclear attack by one superpower would result in a guaranteed and devastating retaliatory strike by the other, thereby deterring a first strike.
• Non-proliferation treaties : International agreements designed to control existing nuclear arsenals and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to states that do not already possess them, often involving inspections and regulatory measures.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) : The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does regular inspections of the signatory countries, but these are not always communicated, so we are unsure whether or not they have begun to be eliminated.

📝 Points essentiels

• MAD defined Cold War nuclear strategy based on deterrence through assured retaliation.
• Non-proliferation treaties aim to control existing nuclear stockpiles and prevent spread to non-nuclear states.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducts inspections of signatory countries, but transparency and compliance remain uncertain.
• Human error and chain of command issues make nuclear launch decisions unreliable, with near-launch incidents highlighting the risks involved.
• The neo-realists bring some nuance. They argue that it is not to do with human nature, but the international system that we have constructed post WW2, that gives predominance to the western world, that continues through its political and economic relations with states less powerful than them. Their idea goes so far as to say that if we change the system, then we can envision more peace and less conflict and competition. That said, they stick to the idea that because the system doesn’t really change, the states are going to continue to act in their own self interest. Neo-realists have come up with the importance of polarity : the idea of different areas in the world that have a certain amount of measurable power, and that create a better or worse situation for world peace. + Neo-realists believe that there are certain configurations of this international system that are more conducive to peace than others :  The multipolar context that we are in today is the most unstable for IR.  The bipolar context from the Cold War where mutually assured destruction (MAD) existed, is the most stable, according to them, because there is no interest for one geographical region to attack the other because they are both equally strong and powerful.  The unipolar system is also unstable, maybe even more dangerous than the multipolar system, where one very powerful country can wreak havoc and

💡 À retenir

MAD defined Cold War nuclear strategy based on deterrence through assured retaliation.

📖 6. Defining terrorism: characteristics and challenges

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Terrorism : A form of violence carried out by non-state groups aiming to achieve political objectives, characterized by shock, disruption, and unconventional methods, with definitions remaining contested due to varied motivations and means.
• Global governance : Difference between global government and global governance : A global government doesn’t exist.
• New Wars : Contemporary conflicts involving non-state actors, influenced by globalisation, and marked by increased complexity in participants and stakes.
• Terrorist groups : Provide a social safety net for its followers (schools healthcare, access to food and water…).

📝 Points essentiels

• Globalisation has contributed to the development and spread of terrorism.
• Defining terrorism involves understanding motivations and means, which remain contested and complex.

💡 À retenir

Le terrorisme remet en question les cadres traditionnels de la relation entre États en introduisant des acteurs non étatiques complexes, façonnés par la mondialisation.

📖 7. Technological innovations in shipping and their economic impact

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Marxism : A theoretical framework that views inequality and competition for resources such as water, land, and minerals as central to understanding politics, society, economics, history, and culture, emphasizing their interrelation and mutual influence.
• The dependency theory : A critique of development models that argues the global economic system structurally limits development in the Global South by maintaining systemic inequalities within a geopolitical framework.
• The Washington Consensus : But this model was developed in 1962.
• Privatisation : The transfer of state owned industries to private hands.

📝 Points essentiels

• Privatization transfers state-owned industries to private ownership to improve efficiency.
• Deregulation reduces state oversight to facilitate market entry and competition.
• Tax reform broadens tax bases to increase state revenue without overburdening wealthy classes or companies.
• • Tax reform: broadening taxes so as to enhance revenue for the state => not making wealthy classes or companies pay more, but making sure that everyone pays their taxes.

💡 À retenir

Technological and economic reforms in shipping exemplify broader neoliberal strategies that influence global trade and development, as reflected in policies like privatization, deregulation, and tax reform.

📖 8. Labor conditions and income disparities in multinational corporations

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Multinational corporations : Large business entities that operate in multiple countries, managing complex labor practices and economic activities across national borders.
• Argue that : They argue that interdependence naturally creates a context of peace.

📝 Points essentiels

• Multinational corporations operate across borders with complex labor practices.
• Income disparities within and between countries are exacerbated by corporate practices.
• There are 3 levels of international organisations and how they try to impose their norms: - Constitutionally rooted institutions within the governance that constitute the parameters of legitimate relationships between countries: ex, sovereignty is rooted in the UN because that is what it set out to do.

💡 À retenir

Multinational corporations operate across borders with complex labor practices.

📖 9. Geopolitics, poverty, and development in International Relations

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Post- colonialism : An analytical framework that examines the enduring economic, social, and racial impacts of colonialism on former colonies and critiques the historical events and ongoing effects of colonial domination.
• Rostow Model : The first: It is unrealistic to assume that countries develop in isolation from one another.

📝 Points essentiels

• The Rostow Model assumes countries develop through isolated, linear stages, which is unrealistic given the interconnectedness and economic exchanges among developing countries.
• Dependency theory argues that global economic structures rooted in colonial legacies systematically impede the development of poor countries.
• Neo-colonialism perpetuates poverty by maintaining unequal geopolitical and economic relationships between wealthy and poor states.
• Strong institutions are essential for development; weak or corrupt institutions hinder progress regardless of a country's resource endowment.
• As it criticises the Rostow model, the dependency theory argues that not only is a developing country part of a geopolitical entity, as we saw, but also that the world economy has a set of structural or systemic conditions that impede the development of poor countries: - The first: wealth is concentrated in certain areas of the world, which leads back to the global geopolitical scene.
• The Rostow Model : What is it?

💡 À retenir

Development outcomes are critically shaped by complex geopolitical and economic structures, revealing the limitations of simplistic, linear growth models.

📖 10. Post-colonialism and its contributions to IR theory

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Frantz Fanon : Edward Said are two key scholars.

📝 Points essentiels

• Post-colonialism critiques traditional IR by highlighting power imbalances rooted in colonial histories.
• Feminists argue national interest reflects patriarchal elite interests maintaining male dominance.

💡 À retenir

Post-colonialism enriches International Relations theory by exposing hidden power dynamics and marginalized perspectives rooted in colonial histories.

📖 11. Role of psychology and religion in International Relations

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Two level game theory : It was devised by Robert Putnam as a way of thinking of the relations between domestic factors and IR.
• Psychology in IR : L'application de la psychologie aux relations internationales analyse comment les biais cognitifs, les émotions et les croyances influencent les décisions des dirigeants, remettant en cause l'idée d'un acteur strictement rationnel.
• International relations : Le domaine des relations internationales étudie les interactions entre États en tenant compte de facteurs historiques, normatifs et institutionnels qui façonnent les intérêts et comportements des acteurs sur la scène mondiale.

📝 Points essentiels

• Psychological factors influence leaders' decisions and foreign policy.
• Religion shapes identities and norms affecting international interactions.
• Constructivists emphasize that norms, including religious and psychological, shape national interests dynamically.

💡 À retenir

La psychologie et la religion constituent des perspectives essentielles pour comprendre les moteurs immatériels qui influencent les relations internationales.

📖 12. Populism and its implications for the future of International Relations

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Result : Liberal democracy was adopted (accepting that society is full of many divisions that generate conflict;
• Urgencies : Solutions and obstacles: Urgencies: That said, we also are now in an IR context which requires an unprecedented need for expertise.
• Populism : A political approach that challenges established democratic norms and institutions, often accompanied by authoritarian governance, which threatens democratic processes and the stability of the international order.

📝 Points essentiels

• Authoritarian governance often accompanies populist movements, threatening democratic processes.
• Global issues like extremism and authoritarianism require adherence to democratic voting and governance principles.
• Organisations such as the UN, NATO, or the EU do serve as global governance, but they also try to enter into binding situations to impose their norms. Ex: if you sign NATO, you have to come to the military aid of an attacked member state. There are 3 levels of international organisations and how they try to impose their norms: - Constitutionally rooted institutions within the governance that constitute the parameters of legitimate relationships between countries: ex, sovereignty is rooted in the UN because that is what it set out to do. - Fundamental development of laws and treaties that help states engage in cooperation. Ex: when a country is being invaded, the UN security council (UNSC) can legally demand that the Blue Helmets be sent to protect the sovereignty. - Issue-specific regimes: organisations can be limited to a specific issue, such as a treaty on the protection of human life, the human embryo. International Law : On an international level, some scholars or actors are proponents of multilateral diplomacy, which are several negotiations and interventions among 3 or more states, with binding rules. Ex: there are many negotiations regarding international rules for property rights. Ex: G7. The work is carried out by diplomats previously. One diplomacy has led to a treaty, only those who signed are obliged to follow it. This is the issue of enforcing international law.

💡 À retenir

Populism poses significant challenges to democratic governance and the stability of the international order.

📊 Tableaux de Synthèse

Theories of International Relations

Theory	Main Focus	Implication
Realism	Power configurations and polarity	States act in self-interest, system change could reduce conflict
Liberalism	International institutions and progress	Cooperation and long-term peace possible
Constructivism	Norms and identity	National interest shaped by changing norms

UN Security Council Reform Challenges

Aspect	Current Issue	Proposed Solution
Veto Power	Held by five permanent members	Address veto reform or expansion
Representation	Need for multipolarity	Expand membership to reflect current global power
Regional Organisations	Role in governance	Incorporate regional bodies into decision-making

⚠️ Pièges & Confusions Fréquentes

1. Confusing realism with liberalism in explaining state behavior.
2. Misunderstanding the role of regional organisations in UN reform.
3. Overgeneralizing the impact of drone strikes without considering international law.
4. Confusing nuclear deterrence strategies like MAD with proliferation issues.
5. Misinterpreting the characteristics that define terrorism.
6. Overlooking the influence of globalization on shipping and trade.
7. Ignoring the disparities within multinational corporations' labor practices.

✅ Checklist Examen

1. Understand the main theories of IR and their differences.
2. Identify the obstacles to UNSC reform.
3. Explain the perception of drone strikes internationally.
4. Describe the concept of MAD and nuclear deterrence.
5. Define terrorism and its challenges.
6. Assess technological impacts on shipping and economy.
7. Analyze labor conditions in multinational corporations.
8. Discuss post-colonialism and development theories.
9. Evaluate the role of populism in IR.
10. Understand the significance of 1962 in nuclear history.