POL208Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sykes–Picot Agreement, Thomas Hobbes, Bourgeoisie
Document Summary
The search by european states for regions rich enough to be exploited and weak enough to be conquered / dominated. Places able to be exploited but not weak enough to be dominated. Spain and portugal and the americas: christopher columbus hit the jackpot. The scramble for africa and the berlin conference of 1884. Sykes picot agreement (may 16, 1916) (colonialism and their focus on economic exploitation) Liberalist action of state reflect logic of democracy. Iraq war propelled with the benefit of domestic elections. Trump attacked iraq because he was facing impeachments domestically. Realist"s interpretation the interpretation that the action of state reflect its own logic rather than the logic of democracy or the logic of capitalism. The focus of security is inherent in the self-help system under hobbesian state of nature. The concern for their own security can trump anything else. Within that international system, if realists are correct, realists are focused on maintaining their position within the international system.
