UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES

Theories of International Relations – Bernard Zeneli

THIR05

Objectives
zintroduction to several theoretical approaches to the study of IR
zexamination of contemporary relevance of different theoretical schools of IR
zunderstanding of the nature of “theory” in world politics
zdiscussion over the realist, neorealist, pluralist schools of thought
zcurrent developments in IR theories and traditions
Prerequisites
zReading as soon as possible an International Relations introductory book – Goldstein’s
“International Relations” recommended
zFamiliarization with the theoretical language and terms like: theory, approach,
paradigm
zEagerness to read, willingness to critique, strength to analyze
zEnglish language acquisition
zPublic presentation skills
zActive listening skills
THIRO5 Requirements
zEffective participation in all classes
zPre-class reading of all the assigned readings (about 30 pages per day in a six day
week)
zSerious preparation for the written assignments
zIndividual contribution to each topic discussed
zRelevant participation in group activities

THIR05 Assessment
zAttendance and effective participation – 25% of the final grade
zWritten final examination (in class) – 45% of the final grade
zFinal essay – 30% of the final grade
THIR 05
Group Presentation Sectioning
zYour name & email address
zSpecific Interest related to IR and European Studies
zSpecific day and time during the week (Monday to Friday) when you
zCan meet with the group (G)
zCan meet with the instructor (I)
zCan participate in outdoor activities (A)
zWe will spend the last part of the meeting today dividing you into sections
THIR 05 Readings
zThis is a reading-intensive course. It is essential to do all the reading.
zEach reading is assigned to a discussion section.
zEach discussion section prepares and delivers a group presentation.
zPlease see the distributed materials for the format and ways of presenting
zThe purpose of the presentation will be to facilitate the process of lecture delivery and to
help each other in understanding the readings
zThe better the presentations the easier to successfully complete the final requirements
THIR O5 Readings
This is the list of the readings for this course:
zClassic Readings of International Relations – Williams, Goldstein, Shafritz – Harcourt
Brace College Publishers, 1999 (2nd edition)

zContending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey – Dougherty,

Pfaltzgraff,Jr. – Longman, 2005 (5th edition)

zInternational Relations Theory: Realism, Pluralism, Globalism and Beyond – Viotty,

Kauppi – Allyn and Bacon – Boston 1999 (third edition)

zMarrëdhëniet Ndërkombëtare – Goldstein – Dituria 2003

zEXTRA / EXTRA a reading packet available in the library designed by Prof. Cathy
Crause of the Graduate Institute of International Studies of the Université de Genevè

THIR 05 Internet Resources

zAlthough research will not be required to complete the finals, the following web-page
has course related materials:
www.irtheory.com
zReading newspapers on line like The New York Times is also recommended:
www.nytimes.com
zPlease also note that the instructor does not encourage use of internet based research for
study purposes in this course
Discussion Session Situations

zMastery reading dependent there will be two discussion – simulation sessions

zSimulation will take place during class and each student will be assigned a specific role
zThe simulation will be based on the group sections and ideas on simulations are
welcome in the following e-mail address: bzeneli@gmail.com
THIR 05
Theories of International Relations
Instructor:
Bernard Zeneli, MA/ABD
Universiteti i Prishtinës – Prishtina, Kosova
Northeastern University – Boston USA
What is Theory?
„systematic reflection on phenomena, designed to explain them and to show how they are

related to each other in a meaningful, intelligent pattern, instead of merely random items
in an incoherent universe – ask students about what they think the phenomena to
study in IR is?
„a theory is a general explanation of certain selected phenomena, set forth in a manner
satisfactory to someone acquainted with the characteristics of the reality being studied –
that is why we will be limited to realist approaches in IR.
„Philosophy of Science – a symbolic construction, a series of interrelated hypotheses,

together with definitions, laws, theorems, and axioms. A theory sets forth a systematic
view of phenomena by presenting a series of propositions or hypotheses that specify
relations among variables in order to present explanations and make predictions about the
phenomena.
„IN the field of IR theory is more diffuse and less precise and may assume several

different forms. Theory has been equated with a philosophy, an ideology, a set of
interrelated concepts, a set of interrelated hypotheses with a requisite amount of
supporting evidence, and a set of axioms and concepts from which hypotheses may
be derived.
International Relations Defined
„Nicholas J. Spykman among the first with a rigorous definition, used the term
interstate relations. International relations were relations between individuals
belonging to different states, international behavior is the social behavior of
individuals and groups aimed at and influenced by the existence or behavior of
individuals or groups belonging to a different state.
IR Theory Defined
„Daugherty and Pflatzgraff Jr. define IR as the effort of one state, or other

international actor, to influence in some way another state, or other international

actor. An influence relationship may encompass the actual or threatened use of
military force, or it may be based entirely or partly on other inducements, such as
political or economic ones. It represents the reconciliation of varying perspectives,
goals and interests. Thus, international politics include many but not necessarily all
transactions or interactions that take place across national frontiers.
Approaches to IR
ƒState and international system

•How does state fit into the Int’l system; interdependence vs. independence of state
ƒWar and Peace – what conditions enhance peace/ lead to war

ƒPower and Weakness – elements of state power in IR

•Military, population, leadership, location, economy?

ƒProsperity and Poverty

•What causes the inequality in the distribution of wealth among states?

ƒFreedom and Oppression – is this an international or domestic issue

ƒPerception and Misperception – how do leaders/elite (and peoples) perceive themselves

(i.e. their own state)? Other states? How realistic are these perceptions?
ƒMorality and Power – Is morality just a cloak for goals of achieving or maintaining

power?
ƒSystemic Change – what causes fundamental restructuring of the international system

(changes in technology, change in balance of nuclear power)

ƒRevolution and Stability – what factors lead to/help sustain a stable international

environment
IR Actors
„Individuals
„Subnational groups
„Nation-States
„Transnational Groups and Organizations Not Made Up of States
„International Groups and Organizations with States or Their Representative Members
„The International System
„Politics, Economics, and Interdependence

David Hume’s Impact on Theory Building

•Deductive reasoning – the logical and necessary truths of mathematics and
metaphysics
•Empirical knowledge – causal relationships that are not really rationally necessary
•Value judgments – derive from accumulation of historical facts as they have
affected human emotion and intuition
Type of research in IR
„ the pure theorist is concerned with the deductive thought process to reach generalized
formulations (concentrates primarily on elements common to many situations –
constructed reality);
„the policymaker has a principal interest in the empirical and inductive knowledge
derived from personal experience rather from systematic research effort (subtle details of
the political values, forces, and preferences operating in a particular situation in all its
existential reality).
Type of Research
„Deductive approach – PLATO – formal process of deriving hypotheses from
axioms, assumptions and concepts logically integrated. The hypothesis should be
tested with data that are not impressionistic but rather systematic and carefully
selected.
„Inductive approach – ARISTOTLE – generalizing from experience – produces no
certainties, only probabilities and in the social sciences these probabilities are not of
a very high order.
„Deductive and inductive approaches are not competitive they are complementary
to each other
Research Type in IR Theory – acc. to Kjell Goldman
„Type I

•Peace research = medical science

•No particular methodology
•Need to be concerned with the future
•Failed to anticipate the end of the Cold War
„Type II

•How to improve theory in the light of new experience

•Emphasis on domestic-political structures and political beliefs and values
•Play and performance of actors rather than the structure of the theatre
„Type III

•to demonstrate that the necessary may be avoided and that the impossible may be
actualized – negative research
•Based on traditional epistemology – emphasis on ambiguity, uncertainty and the
ceaseless questioning of identity” with the objective of interrogating limits to explore
how they are imposed and demonstrate their arbitrariness and to think other-wise
The Case for Theories of IR
„Every decision maker relies on theoretical notions
„Bad theories lead to bad decisions
„Modern social science offers tools to help distinguish bad theories from good ones
Development of IR THEORY
„According to Quincy Wright “a general theory of international relations means a

comprehensive, coherent and self-correcting body of knowledge contributing to the

understanding, the prediction, the evaluation and the control of the relations among
states and the conditions of the world.”
„grand theory oriented

„covers all aspects of the field

„expressed in generalized propositions that are as clear, as accurate and as few as possible

„not cluttered with a lot of exceptions

„thus the theory should be parsimonious – it should state an important truth as

accurately, elegantly and briefly as possible.

„Scientific truth = aesthetic beauty = intellectual simplicity

„Every part of the theory should be logically consistent with every other part – and

formulated in a way that is conducive to continual updating and improvement in the

light of new evidence. It should be capable of verification and refinement.
Theoretical Approaches to IR
„Historical approach

•Oldest, documentary evidence, deterministic

„Geopolitical approach

•Deterministic, emphasizes climate, location, size, soil, food

„Environmental possibilists

•Environment does not determine or cause anything

„Power approach

•Assumes rationality, force, capabilities to use force and power – balance of power
„Psycho-cultural approach

•Culture affects perception / national character important as much as food, language,

culture, tradition
„Decision making

•Analyze the formulation and execution of foreign policy – the Laundry List of factors
„System approach

•Interaction between state actors in an international system – sequence of action among

states
„Functional approach – Int’l system is seen as growing together

•States integrated through a variety of functional organizations

„Content analysis – newspaper article threats; number of ships, etc – Stanford Group

„Simulation and Game Theory – predicts bargaining outcomes (0-sum/ non 0 sum games

„Dependency Theory – related to International Political Economy (IPE)

„World Systems Theory –

„Complex Interdependence Theory

Standards for Scientific Theories
•Define the variables
y = f (x1, x2, x3) + ε
•State assumptions (may be heuristic)
•State the causal argument (mechanism)
•Define the conditions (domain)
•State the micro foundations
•Derive falsifiable hypotheses
•Parsimony

IR Theory: A Contested Field

„Normative vs. positive theory
„Role of political science
•Positivist vs. interpretivist
„Scope of Inquiry
•Micro vs. macro
„Behavioral assumptions
•Rationalist vs. psychological
Controversial claim
„If IR theory must be vague, unscientific
It can safely be ignored
„If IR theory can be scientific and precise
It will have policy implications
It will be essential to understanding history