POLI 244 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Liberal Democracy, Nationstates, Security Dilemma
5 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
: freedom, cooperation, peace, progress, absolute gains a positive view of human nature a conviction that international relations can be cooperative rather than conflictual a belief in progress. Theoretical point of departure is the individual. Not only conflict but also cooperation can shape international affairs. Basically optimistic : states are an instrument for liberty to assure happiness of people ; human have reason so can arrive at mutually beneficial cooperation. War and conflict avoidable with rational thought and favour cooperation. Rational principles can be applied to international affairs. Closely connected with the rise of the modern state. Fundamental actors in ir = individuals, states and private groups (corporations, organizations, associations) Try to make compromises in order to cooperate. Domestic states preference formation = the state isn"t an actor but a biased representative institution constantly subject to capture and recapture by coalitions of social actors. The configuration of interdependent state preferences determines state behaviour.
