Essentials of International Relations

by Mingst, Karen A.

• ISBN13: 9780393972870
• ISBN10: 0393972879
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-12-01
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc

Summary

Essentials of International Relations is a brief but highly readable introduction to the core concepts in international relations. The author presents the basic tools of analysis -- the individual, the state, and the international system -- and shows how the primary schools of thought -- liberalism, realism, and Marxism -- use these tools to evaluate interactions between nations, paying particular attention to security and economic issues. Theory is brought to life with numerous examples and case studies. In addition, the role of international law and the development of international organizations are explored as the author presents a clear and fully developed lens through which the emerging world order can be examined and understood.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	xi	(2)
Preface	xiii
1 Approaches to International Relations	1	(17)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN DAILY LIFE	1	(2)
APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS	3	(11)
Traditional Approaches: Diplomatic History and Philosophy	3	(5)
The Behavioral Revolution	8	(4)
Alternative "Critical" Approaches	12	(2)
IN SUM: MAKING SENSE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS	14	(1)
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?	15	(3)
2 The Historical Context of Contemporary International Relations	18	(42)
THE PRE-WESTPHALIAN WORLD	19	(8)
Greece and the City-State "System" of Interactions	19	(1)
Rome: Governing of an Empire	20	(2)
The Middle Ages: Centralization and Decentralization	22	(2)
The Late Middle Ages: Developing Transnational Networks	24	(3)
THE EMERGENCE OF THE WESTPHALIAN SYSTEM	27	(3)
EUROPE IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY	30	(9)
The Aftermath of Revolution: Core Principles	31	(1)
Peace at the Core of the European System	31	(3)
Balance of Power	34	(3)
The Breakdown: Solidification of Alliances	37	(2)
THE INTERWAR YEARS AND WORLD WAR II	39	(3)
THE COLD WAR	42	(14)
Origins of the Cold War	43	(4)
The Cold War as a Series of Confrontations	47	(7)
The Cold War as a Long Peace	54	(2)
THE POST-COLD WAR ERA	56	(2)
IN SUM: LEARNING FROM HISTORY	58	(2)
3 Contending Perspectives: How to Think about International Relations Theoretically	60	(29)
THINKING THEORETICALLY	60	(3)
THEORY AND THE LEVELS OF ANALYSIS	63	(3)
LIBERALISM AND NEOLIBERAL INSTITUTIONALISM	66	(4)
REALISM AND NEOREALISM	70	(9)
MARXISM: THE RADICAL PERSPECTIVE	79	(4)
THEORY IN ACTION: ANALYZING THE GULF WAR	83	(3)
IN SUM: SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH THEORETICAL LENSES	86	(3)
4 The International System	89	(20)
THE NOTION OF A SYSTEM	89	(1)
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM ACCORDING TO LIBERALS	90	(2)
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM ACCORDING TO REALISTS	92	(10)
Polarity	92	(5)
Stratification	97	(2)
Homogeneity and Heterogeneity	99	(1)
How the International System Changes	100	(2)
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM ACCORDING TO MARXISTS	102	(2)
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM AS A LEVEL OF ANALYSIS	104	(3)
IN SUM: FROM INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM TO STATE	107	(2)
5 The State	109	(34)
THE STATE AND THE NATION	110	(2)
CONTENDING CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF THE STATE	112	(3)
The Liberal View of the State	112	(1)
The Realist View of the State	112	(1)
The Marxist View of the State	113	(1)
Contrasting the Liberal, Realist, and Marxist Views	114	(1)
THE NATURE OF STATE POWER	115	(5)
Natural Sources of Power	115	(3)
Tangible Sources of Power	118	(1)
Intangible Sources of Power	119	(1)
USING STATE POWER	120	(11)
The Art of Diplomacy	120	(3)
Economic Statecraft	123	(3)
The Use of Force	126	(1)
Game Theory	127	(4)
MODELS OF FOREIGN-POLICY DECISIONMAKING	131	(7)
The Rational Model	131	(2)
The Bureaucratic/Organizational Model	133	(3)
The Societal Model	136	(2)
OUTCOMES OF FOREIGN POLICY: INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL DETERMINANTS?	138	(1)
CHALLENGES TO THE STATE	139	(1)
IN SUM: THE STATE AND CHALLENGES BEYOND	140	(3)
6 The Individual	143	(22)
FOREIGN-POLICY ELITES: INDIVIDUALS WHO MATTER	144	(11)
The Impact of Elites: External Conditions	145	(2)
The Impact of Elites: The Personality Factor	147	(3)
Individual Decisionmaking	150	(2)
Information-Processing Mechanisms	152	(3)
PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS	155	(3)
MASS PUBLICS	158	(4)
Elites and Masses: Common Traits	159	(1)
The Impact of Public Opinion on Elites	160	(1)
Mass Actions by a Leaderless Public	161	(1)
IN SUM: HOW MUCH DO INDIVIDUALS MATTER?	162	(3)
7 War and Strife	165	(30)
APPROACHES TO MANAGING INSECURITY	166	(14)
Liberal Approaches	167	(6)
Realist Approaches	173	(7)
THE CAUSES OF WAR	180	(9)
The Individual: Realist and Liberal Interpretations	181	(1)
State and Society: Liberal and Marxist Explanations	182	(2)
The International System: A Realist and Marxist Interpretation	184	(1)
The Case of Yugoslavia	185	(4)
TYPES OF WARFARE	189	(4)
General War	190	(1)
Limited War	190	(1)
Civil War	190	(1)
Terrorism	190	(3)
NEW THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY	193	(1)
IN SUM: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, OLD AND NEW	193	(2)
8 International Political Economy	195	(35)
CONTENDING THEORETICAL APPROACHES	197	(5)
Realism: Statism or Mercantilism	197	(1)
Economic Liberalism	198	(2)
Radicalism: Marxist and Dependency Alternatives	200	(2)
KEY CONCEPTS IN LIBERAL ECONOMICS	202	(3)
THE POLICY DEBATES IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY	205	(11)
The New International Economic Order: Liberalism vs. Radicalism	205	(3)
Trading Blocs: Liberalism vs. Statism	208	(8)
THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONS IN ECONOMIC-POLICY DEBATES	216	(12)
The Bretton Woods Institutions	216	(6)
Multinational Corporations	222	(3)
Nongovernmental Organizations	225	(3)
IN SUM: ECONOMIC CONVERGENCE AND POLICY DIVERGENCE	228	(2)
9 The Quest for Global Governance	230	(35)
TRADITIONAL LIBERAL APPROACHES	231	(21)
International Law	231	(6)
International Organizations	237	(15)
REALIST VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANIZATION	252	(2)
THE MARXIST VIEW OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANIZATION	254	(1)
TOWARD A BROADER VIEW OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE	255	(5)
Nongovernmental Organizations	255	(2)
Transgovernmental Coalitions	257	(1)
Transnational Communities of Experts	258	(1)
International Regimes	259	(1)
PUTTING THE PIECES OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE TOGETHER	260	(2)
IN SUM: TOWARD A NEW ERA OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS	262	(3)
Glossary	265	(12)
Index	277