POL 2103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Neoliberalism, Multilateralism, Neoclassical Economics

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 2103
• Professor: Kevin Mc Millan

Document Summary

Begins with the same assumptions that neo-realists have but comes to different conclusions about the nature of international relations. Begin with the same assumptions as waltz but come to different conclusions. He does not deny that realism is sometimes right, but in some situations states cooperation (liberal thought) is favourable and the best objective when dealing with international issues. Generally neo-realists do not believe that cooperation is a possibility in international relations. > zero sum game: the gains and the losses of both sides have to balance (zero sum) therefore there must be a winner and a loser: states = main actors. Keohanes argument: he says that yes we do have a group of main actors, but that international relations is a system of states: states = unitary, states = self-interested. Keohane"s argument: the reason that states interact and cooperate with each other because often times it will benefit themselves: states = rational .