What are the fundamental dynamics of international relations according to Thomas Hobbes (1651), Immanuel Kant (1795), and Vladimir Lenin
(1917)? How persuasive do you find them? Which situations do they seem to explain well, and which not?
State of human nature Absence of superior power War & Justice Cooperation
War is allowed for just causes, such as
Human nature is social, self-defence, compensation (crimes Use legal arguments to make
Hugo Grotius
not egotistical. Laws Due to the absence of a superior against humanity). Only legitimate wars less common and less
(1625) are based on human power, war cannot be eliminated. sovereigns may fight wars. Wars must bloody. War cannot be
nature. be fought without cruelty. All states eliminated.
have a right to trade with each other.
Anarchy: “the war of all War cannot be eliminated, and
Thomas Absence of a superior power is the States are always prepared for, and in
against all” and strife cooperation
state of nature. We need an absolute fear of war.
Hobbes for power is the state of There should be cooperation
sovereign to avoid this whose task is Justice can only exist when men make
human nature. People based on contract, absolute
“Leviathan” to provide security to its citizens and the law. Fear of death can drive
are egotistic and equal sovereignty, and representation.
prevent war of all against all. States agreements.
(1651) in physical and mental
are always living under anarchy and “Where there is no common power,
abilities: able to kill An external enemy who unites
p. 21-23 are thus always insecure. there is no law: where no law, no
each other but are able society is a precondition for a
injustice”.
be killed. lasting and stable community.
Immanuel States are naturally in A treaty of peace only ends a war, not All states should be republican
state of war in their Nations do not stand under any the state of war. War and victory as they give rights to more
Kant external relations with common external constraints. cannot determine the right. Just pacifist citizens. The solution is
“Perpetual each other. Peace must Absence of a superior power means legislation is based on a republican a league of peace based on
be established and built that nations can only guarantee their civil constitution. It must accord contract, focused only on
Peace” (1795) based on law. Humans rights by waging war instead of in a citizens with freedom, and dependence maintenance of the security and
p. 24-26 are social and rational. tribunal. on a single, common source of freedom of each nation and
legislation. those leagued with it.
Dynamics of capitalism is that from
Sources of international conflict are
Fundamental source free competition, the concentration
Vladimir Lenin the necessity of exporting capital (new
of politics is the of production and capital have led to
markets) and the constant need for raw The elimination of war can
“Imperialism” organization of monopolies requiring imperialism.
materials. The competition for new only be achieved through the
economic activity. It has led to concentrations of wealth
(1917) territories with their markets and abolition of capitalism and the
Imperialism is the and impoverished workers.
resources is what drives war (to allow imperialism it relies on.
p. 146-153 monopoly stage of Imperialism is needed, as capitalist
monopolists to further concentrate
capital. states are looking for new markets
production).
and new resources.
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