Political Science 2231E Lecture Notes - Irredentism, De Jure, Kyoto Protocol
1 Feb 2013
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Document Summary
In order to better understand conflict and tensions in international relations, we have to understand motives and constraints of different actors in (international) politics. Interested in not only states, but many actors (e. g. non-governmental organizations, multi- national corporations, militaries, etc. ). They identify patterns and trends, and understand the consequences and meanings of developments (e. g. ban on nuclear chemicals). Only a subset of international scholars attempt to predict. They attempt to predict future trends (e. g. clash of civilizations, the end of history and intellectual endpoint, etc. We judge policies and decisions on both moral and credential grounds. We function as advocates for change (policies, revolution, specific measures, and most importantly change). The lenses through which we see the world determine our perspectives, what we advocate for, and what we ignore. How can we change this: traditional: some authors draw heavily from history and examine individual wars in detail to develop theories and patterns.
