intro lecture

Question 1

why are we here? the big Cs of our time

Answer 1

1. contestation: phenomenon when ideas and norms and values and institutions are debated/contested/questioned -> things that people took for granted for ages are now being challenged
   interregnum: period between two periods of rule (pax-Americana is weakening, not sure what’s coming next)
   - e.g. sovereignty means X vs Y
   - IR is not in a stable period
2. competition: US vs China vs Russia e.g., competition in diff terms (eco, military, e.g.)
3. conflict (various types and locations)
4. cooperation: there is competition, conflict and contestation, but still also cooperation (between friendly but also between competitive actors)

Question 2

learning to think beyond the headlines -> how do we do it?

Answer 2

main goal of the course

develop analytical skills to make sense of the headlines

how?

think critically by thinking theoretically

• be skeptical about official explanations and mass beliefs
• what’s behind what we observe?
• what’s really going on here?

multiple theoretical perspectives to make sense of these questions
-> train theories to help you figure it out

(IIR was big theories/-isms, now more mid-range, focus on concepts)

• are you a realist? = bad question, theories are tools, you use them, you don’t be/believe them
• theories are diff sets of glasses, you need to be able to put diff on
• you can’t combine multiple theories with diff ontological assumptions in ONE argument, you can try to explain one thing through diff perspectives

USE THEORIES, DON’T BELIEVE THEM

• why does … keep happening?
• under what conditions does …. happen?
• how does … influence….?
• what is likely to happen next?

you can draw on multiple theories to understand/analyze

Question 3

old theories good?

Answer 3

theories evolve over time, new theories emerge but old theories may still be useful

• cheese + phones after certain time is no good anymore after some time

-> we’ll talk about new concepts, but also decades old concepts that are still relevant

Question 4

explanation vs description vs prescription

Answer 4

explanation = Why? under what conditions?

• our focus

description = what, how, when, where?

• need to use this to talk about the world -> is necessary for explanation and prescription
• we describe to learn how to explain

prescription = what is right, what is fair or desirable

• not the focus of the course

!!won’t be tested on historical facts, they are to illustrate

Question 5

explaining what?

Answer 5

AIR focuses on explaining:

• nature of the international system and why it matters
• the dynamics of international cooperation and global governance
• the sources and implications of change in international order

based on students requests (so now also a lot more international organization as phenomenon (how international politics is organized))

• diff from IIO bc that focuses on specific international organizations

Question 6

(types of questions we’ll look at)

Answer 6

what motivates states to cooperate and why is international cooperation sometimes so difficult?
- pandemics, climate change, trade, war

why and under what conditions do states (not) follow international rules?

under what conditions can international organisations act independently of states?
- why hasn’t the UN stopped the war in Ukraine? -> bc UN is not fully independent, it has member states

why (and how) are emerging powers and non-state actors reshaping global governance?

Question 7

course mechanics

Answer 7

lectures complement readings, don’t replace them

you need to do the readings (before class) and come to the lectures

readings:

• identify the puzzle or question that motivates it
• find its core idea or argument or concept -> look for the take away message
  !won’t be tested on what did this author say on page …, you will be tested on the core arguments (look at the title or abstract for hints)
• think about its explanatory power and limitations
• compare it to other relevant ideas and concepts

understand the arguments in the readings!!!
*won’t need to know what does author James James say about ….
-> you will see the name of the author (also in lecture), but won’t be tested on them

!!diversity of voices: diff theoretical perspectives + nationalities + genders
problem with textbook = one voice + majority is for American market -> specific questions addressed

Question 8

next 4 sessions

Answer 8

4 diff understandings/faces of the international system

1. anarchy (realism + much more)
2. interdependence
   3.?
   4.?