Chapter 4 - International Relations Theory (Gold - McGlinchey)

 

1. Explain Kuhn’s concept of “scientific revolution”. 

2. What are the two traditional theories in IR?

3. Explain “liberalism” in the field of IR. (p. 47)

4. Explain the role of Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points 

in the context of post-WWI. How does it relate to the 

liberal conception of the world? (p. 47)

5. Explain the notion of “realism” in the context of the 

collapse of the League of Nations in 1939. (p. 47) 

6. Explain Thomas Hobbes’ concept of “social contract”. 

Draw a parallel between Hobbes and the “realist” position

in IR. (p. 48)

7. According to the view of realists, there is no international 

contract. What is the main consequence of this fact?

8. Explain human nature under the perspective of realism, 

and under the perspective of liberalism. (p. 48)

9. Liberals tend to have a more optimistic view of IR, while 

realists tend to be more pessimistic. Why? (p. 49)

10. How do liberals read the role of International Organizations? 

Or: Why do states take part in International organizations, 

according to liberals? 

11. Same question, but for realists: How do realists read the role

of International Organizations? Or: Why do states take part 

in International organizations, according to realists? (p. 49)

12. Explain the main concepts of the “English School” (between

liberalism and realism).  (p. 50)

13. Explain the main concepts of “constructivism” (between 

mainstream theories and critical theories). (p. 50)

14. Explain Alexander Wendt’s concepts: agents and structures. 

15. Explain the main concepts of Critical Theories in the field 

of IR. (p. 51)

16. Explain the main concepts of Marxist theory in the field of 

IR. (p. 51)

17. Explain the main concepts of Post-colonial theory in the 

field of IR.

18. Explain the main concepts of Feminist theory in the field 

of IR. (p. 52)

19. Explain the main concepts of Post-structuralism in the field 

of IR.

20. Different perspectives on the UN:

21. Explain the liberal perspective on the UN. Justify.

22. Explain the constructivist perspective on the UN. 

Justify.

23. Explain the realist(ic) perspective on the UN. 

Justify.

24. Explain the critical theories’ perspective on the 

UN. Justify.

25. Explain the post-structuralist perspective on the 

UN. Justify.

26. Explain the feminist perspective on the UN. Justify.

27. Explain the post-colonialist perspective on the UN. 

Justify.

Hobbes: LEVIATHAN

 

Thomas Kuhn: THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS

 

Chapter 3 - One World, Many Actors. (Carmen Gebhard)

 

1. Describe IR as a discipline, and its evolutions throughout

the years. 

2. Explain the distinction between empirical theory and 

normative theory (p. 32).

3. Explain the 3 levels of analysis generally used in IR: the system,

the state, and the individual (p. 33). The “group”, as a fourth 

level. 

4. Give more examples of analysis at the individual level.

5. Give more examples of analysis at the state level.

6. Give more examples of analysis at the system level. 

7. Explain why “the level  of analysis determines our findings” 

(p. 35). Again, provide examples at:

8. The systemic level,

9. The state level,

10. The group level,

11. The individual level (p. 35-36).

12. Explain Werner Heisenberg’s sentence: “What we observe 

is not nature in itself, but nature exposed to our method of

questioning.” How does it relate to the discipline of IR?

13. Explain the author’s example in page 38: How to think

about foreign policy. 

14. According to the author, the traditional discipline of IR was 

not concerned with the distinction between levels of analysis. 

What are the negative consequences carried by this “general 

sluggishness”? (p. 39). 

15. Define “state-centrism” (p. 40). 

16. Explain Leftwich’s distinction between the “arena approach” 

and the “processual approach” (p. 41).

17. What is a “beyond the state” analysis? 

18. According to the author, the state as the main framework of 

political interaction has lost a lot of its meaning. Why?

Chapter 2 - DIPLOMACY. (Stephen McGlinghey)

 

1. Explain Clausewitz sentence: “War is merely the

 continuation of politics with other means.”

2. Define the expression: “actions short of war”. 

3. Explain the quick definition of “diplomacy” given 

by the author (p. 21).

4. Explain the difference between “diplomacy” and 

“foreign policy”. Explain the difference between 

“actions” and “strategies”(p. 21).

5. Define INGOs and IGOs. Why are they considered 

actors in the international landscape?

6. Why does the author say that “diplomacy is carried out

behind closed doors”? (p. 21). 

7. Case study. When and why did the nations embark on a

regulation of nuclear weapons? (p. 22-23). 

8. Define the expression “cold war” (p. 23). 

9. Why can we consider nuclear weapons as a defensive

power? (p. 23). 

10. Explain the causes and the consequences of the 

confrontation between Kennedy and Khrushchev in 1962 

(the Cuban Missile Crisis). (p. 24). 

11. Explain the nature of the Non Proliferation Treaty (p. 24-25). 

12. Why is the number of nations with nuclear power 

so important? 

13. Why does the author say that the system is “biased”

14. Second case study. Explain the geopolitical importance 

of Iran (check a map). Why did the US and UK support 

the Sha? (p. 26). 

15. Explain the political orientation of the Islamic Revolution 

of Iran (1979). 

16. Explain the “Iran Hostage Crisis”, and its 

consequences (p. 27-28). 

17. Why is the idea of Iran possessing nuclear weapons so 

controversial for the international community? (p. 28). 

18. Explain the nature of the conflict of UK, England and 

France, with the US about Iran and Iraq (2003). (p. 29). 

19. Explain the agreement with Iran (2015).

The Iran Hostage Crisis.

Explore the chain of events that set off the Iran hostage crisis - an diplomatic standoff that would keep Americans on edge and shape the course of Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

The Cuban Revolution

This video looks at the Cuban Revolution. There are 2 Essential Questions: 1. What was Cuba like prior to the Cuban Revolution of 1959? 2. Who was Fidel Castro and what did he do?

Chapter 1. “The making of the Modern World” (Erik Ringmar)

 

Chapter 1. “The making of the Modern World” (Erik Ringmar)

 

1. IR. Describe the approximative notion of “state”.

 Describe the notion of “sovereignty”. (p. 8) 

2. Why did Europe take particular relevance over 

the rest of the world starting in the year 1500?

3. Describe the landscape of international politics 

in Medieval Europe. Why does the author talk about a 

“complicated pattern of loyalties and jurisdictions?

4. Two institutions wanted to power over the European 

continent as a whole: The Church and the Empire. Why?

5. Map of the Holy Roman Empire. 

6. The rise of the State in around the 14 century: 

Between the local and the universal (p. 10).

7. Explain the political meaning of the Reformation (p. 10).

8. Explain the role of the printing press in all this process. 

9. Why does the author talk about “self-asserting

 states”? (p. 11). 

10. How does the author define the early modern State? 

(p. 11).

11. The new European political landscape can be described 

as states against states. Why?  (p. 12). 

12. Fighting for European hegemony: the Thirty Years War. 

Explain (p. 12).

13. Explain the consequences of the Treaty of 

Westphalia (p. 12). 

14. Why was the new international system characterised 

by constant tensions and threats of war? (p. 12-13). 

15. Explain the origins of diplomacy (p. 13). 

16. The transition from State to Nation-State. 

Define the terms “state” and “nation”(body and soul). 

P. 13.

17. Why did the American and French Revolutions 

create the notion of Patriotism? What were the 

political consequences of this new notion?

18. Explain the main consequences of the 

Congress of Vienna (1815). 

19. Explain the origins and consequences of the 

nationalist revolutions of 1848 (p. 15). 

20. As long as the people were in charge, 

a State was legitimate. Why? (p. 15).

21. Explain the main characteristics of the 

“peaceful century” in Europe (1815-1914). (P. 16).

22. Explain the role of colonialism and genocide in

 the economical development of Europe (p. 17). 

23. Explain the consequences of the Industrial 

Revolution (Britain takes the lead) (p. 18).

24.  The colonized (in America) claim for independence. 

In this process, they copy the European model. 

Explain (p. 18).