POLS 2940 Chapter Notes -World Politics, Hugo Grotius
28 Nov 2013
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Three competing schools of thought: hobbes: realist. Peace = recovery from one war, preparation for next war. Constant conflict between states that cannot be resolved. Zero-sum: interests of one state exclude interests of another. Pursue state"s self-interests, no regard to moral, legal or other restrictions. Machiavelli: state conducts ir in a moral/legal vacuum. Hegel: the moral/legal right is the state"s self-assertion: kant: universalist. Potential community of mankind at work in ir. Conflicts of interest exist, but only superficially. Cosmopolitan international society will overthrow system of states. Interests of all mankind are the same (community approach: grotius: internationalist (english school of thought) Society of states (realist: states, and universalist: society) Are against each other, but limited by common laws/rules/institutions. States are members of the international society and they function as a society. Are against each other but know their boundaries. Absolute gains through behaviour modification/improvement since everyone"s objectives can be achieved. Types of international societies: christian (15th-17th centuries)
