Introduction Course International Relations
Minor International Relations
Deadlines:
Position Paper (30%), 1000 words, excluding footnotes: 12 MARCH 2020, 17h
(week 5)
Strategy Paper (10%), 500 words, excluding footnotes: 19 MARCH 2020, 17h
(week 6)
Opening Speech and Joint Strategy: 26 MARCH 2020, 17h (week 7)
Exam (60%): Wednesday 31 MARCH 2020 13.30-16.30 (room to be announced)
Model EU meeting: Friday 2 APRIL 2020 Model EU council (in cooperation with Jan
Wieger Posthumus and the Model-UN team)
This course offers an introduction to the history of the modern state system with a
particular focus on themes such as diplomacy, war, conflict management, international
cooperation and regional integration (with a focus on the 19th, 20th and 21th century).
This course furthermore offers an introduction to the main theories of International
Relations in sociology and political science. We will focus on the development of the
modern state system and the diplomatic history of the early modern period, from the
Westphalian Peace of 1648 until today. Originally state sovereignty provided the basis for
international relations. However, since the 20th century the centrality of the state has
been undercut by the development of international law, the establishment of
international organizations and the rise of non-state actors such as nongovernmental
organizations. That shift will be analyzed in this course. Furthermore, this course will
introduce the discipline of International Relations Theory and highlight researchers who
have presented important interpretations of the global system. The relation between
historical research and social science forms a red threat throughout this discussion. The
tension between these perspectives is at the core of the entire international relations
minor and therefore also part of this course.
This course will provide the basis for the other courses of the Minor International
Relations. Therefore it will offer a structured overview of the classical canon of the
methods, ideas and essential elements of IR theory and international history. At the same
time it will also introduce ‘new directions’ that are undercutting the conventional
narratives of IR and international history, such as the IR theory from the Global South.
,Part I – IR Theory and International History
Class 1: International History
Minor IR Not only focused on the traditional theories (states), but also on new theories
(NGO’s)
Crossing point of history and politics
IIR: Social science and international history as a discipline.
- What is IR? What are the main concepts and theories?
- What is International History?
MUNs are used to train people on how to negotiate and to prepare for real life councils
Position paper outlines position of your country (look at the subject from all
perspectives: immigration, history with other countries you need protection from, etc.)
“Facts are your friends!”
Long history: IR-experts & historians often clash, but in Utrecht we combine these two
disciplines!
IR theory:
- Realism (Morgenthau): National interest, for most nations this is security
- Philosophers or scientists? mostly philosophers! They have an understanding of
what is important in an international system
- Realism in post-war context of enthusiasm was the basics for social sciences and
positivism
IR theory: a social science
Diplomatic and International history: part of this broader take on history & philosophy
Diplomatic history:
- Discovering roots of the present
- Kennan’s plea for diplomatic history
Introduction to the EU council meeting simulation:
Model United Nations: Model EU Council (on the EU army) via starleaf
Drafting a resolution is the end goal, and by doing so you will have to work with other
nations
Take the stand of the country you get assigned! You are the country’s diplomat.
Moderated debate and an unmoderated debate where you’ll lobby with other
nations
Lobbying: accomplish your goal by talking with people (who have different point of view)
You get a good grade if:
- Large influence on the debate
- Good position regarding your nation
- …
, Lecture 1:
Security
Old security concerns war
Ex: INF treaty Trump & Putin (put an end to it), Biden considers re-entry
New security concerns global problems
Climate change & pandemics
The security Dilemma: by creating a bigger army, other states can get nervous
“Other might attack them before they have prepared themselves”
A question of ‘human nature’
Human security (broad concept): people need to be more secure in terms of financial
safety, health, human rights, democracy, etc.
Ex: civil wars
Globalization
Globalization: The integration of states and people through increasing contact,
communication, and trade that binds the world together
Ex: You can hop on a plane and be on the other side of the world in 12 hours
(resources available to most people, such as money to travel, availability of
airports and time)
“The world has become much smaller: we’ve become more interconnected”
Globalization has become a more right-wing issue, whereas in the past it used to be a
left-wing issue: people would protest WTO (world trade organisation), because
multinational organisations were breaking down local societies and they were giving
normal people an unfair deal.
Today, this critique has become more right-wing and there’s downward drift. National
coherence and identity has been broken up because of globalization.
States & identities
States have a very important role in international history, because they have sovereignty.
Sovereignty: 2 conditions
- Non-interference in internal affairs (do not interfere in matters of other countries!
You can’t force other countries)
- Formal equality between states (Ex: United Nations each country has one seat
in the GA)
State, Nation, People These three concepts do not necessarily coincide
Ex: Belgium is a state, but there are three groups within this state (Dutch, French
and German) who see themselves as nations. Within these nations, people might
not feel part of their nation
Right to self-determination: different people can declare themselves a nation
Ex: decolonization, but also the Scottish referendum (Scots have the right to
determine for themselves if they want to be a state, a nation or part of a group
(UK)
Limits of sovereignty: R2P (Responsibility to Protect: right to intervene)
Ex: Rwandan Genocide (1994) & Srebrenica (1995)
Paradox: demise of the state (disappearance because of globalization) or are states too
strong?
Problems with these 3 key concepts (security, globalization and states & identities)
Eurocentric & link between domestic and international politics
Conclusion: New world pattern US hegemon and the challenge of China
