B2513 - International Relations System and Theories

Description

This Continuous-Assessment Task (CAT) consists of three exercises. In exercise 1, students must provide brief definitions of some basic concepts of the IR discipline. Exercise 2 consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. In exercise 3, students are required to write a short essay (1000 words max.) addressing a question related to the mandatory readings assigned to Unit 1.

Students are advised to complete the mandatory readings before answering these exercises.

Exercise 1: Definitions and concepts

Research and provide a short definition of each of the following common concepts in the study of IR. For each definition, include a reference to the source from which it was obtained. In addition to the assigned readings, you might find it useful to watch the short videos linked under Unit 1. Each correct answer is worth 2 points (30/100).

• International system

• International society

• Regional Security

• Rule of law

• State

• Global governance

• Hegemonic power

• Great power 

• Responsibility to Protect (RtoP)

• Interdependence

• Anarchy & Anarchic system 

• Ius in bello

• War

• Structure

• Rules

Exercise 2: Multiple-choice questions

Choose the correct answer to the following questions, and briefly state the reasons for your choice (in approx. 50 words). Each correct answer is worth 1 point (20/100).

1. Realism has been a minor theory of world politics since the beginning of the discipline. True or false?

2. Realism is an International Relations theory based on three fundamental assumptions. Which of the following is not part of them? a) statism, b) security, c) survival, d) self-help

3. Hedley Bull, while developing Hobbes’ ideas, described the state of anarchy in International Relations as a) The condition/structure of the international system, having no overarching central authority above the individual collection of sovereign states, b) the total absence of any political administration in the state, c) an utopic state of collective human organization beyond the existence of the state, d) Bull never talked about that.

4. Which term is not generally associated with constructivist thought? a) Structuration, b) individualism, c) reflectivism, d) social theory.

5. The principle of sovereignty implies that states have no international obligations. True or false?

6. Hugo Grotius was a XVII century scholar that became a source of thought mainly for a) Realists, b) Liberals, c) Constructivists, d) Neo-realists.

7. Philosopher Immanuel Kant was an early claimant that liberal states are pacifistic in their international relations with other liberal states. True or false?

8. What are the crucial elements that define the existence of an ‘international society of states?’ a) The existence of a hegemonic, imperial or hierarchical order, b) The existence of a well-developed system of diplomatic relations among sovereign states, c) The existence of norms, rules and institutions that regulate, formally and informally, relations among political communities, d) The absence of war and conflict among sovereign states

9. The writings of Bentham and Kant contain the seeds of core liberal ideas, particularly that a) nations can get along with each other, b) wealth is the best means to bring about justice, c) justice breeds freedom, d) reason can deliver freedom and justice in international relations.

10. According to Realist tenets, the code of conduct that state leaders should follow in their foreign affairs is known as: a) survival, b) support, c) raison d’être, d) raison d’état

11. When did the modern territorial state come to existence? A) after the collapse of the Eastern Roman Empire in 1453, b) After the end of the Thirty Years War and the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, c) After the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, d) after the French Revolution in 1789.

12. The concept of ‘complex interdependence’ was launched and defended by a) Hans Morgenthau, b) Grotius, c) Keohane & Nye, d) Kenneth Waltz.

13. The first Gulf War (1990-91) is considered, following liberal tenets, an example of collective security. True or false?

14. The principle of respect towards the agreements in International Law is known by the brocard a) Dura lex, sed lex, b) Cogito ergo sum, c) Pacta sunt servanda, d) Ignorantia legis non excusat.

15.  According to liberalism, states will not go to war with each other because oftheir balance of power. True or false?

16. One of the most important theories of Neo-Liberalism states that there exists ‘complex interdependence’ among states. What does it mean? a) That modern states have reached an almost permanent equilibrium by striking a balance of power among them, b) That modern states are more interested in absolute, rather than relative gains when cooperating, c) That states have become more intertwined because of the complexity of the issues they have to face and the plurality of actors required to solve them. This situation impedes unilateral solutions and requires the cooperation among states and between them and transnational non-state actors, d) That although states have delegated the management of cooperation to a set of International Organizations, the complexity of the issues and their relevance for state’s survival limit the role of transnational non-state actors in such organizations, which are therefore subject to the overarching authority of the states.

17. Constructivism and ‘rational choice’ are generally viewed as very similar approaches. True or false?

18. What is the core assumption/tenet of constructivism? a) The constraints of anarchy in the society of states, b) the social construction of reality, c) the constitutive nature of the world order, d) the shaping of ideational forces.

19. Social Constructivism is fundamentally based on the concept of the ‘social construction of reality’. This means that: a) Reality is the result of the capacity of powerful actors to impose their will and ambitions on the less powerful and force them to comply, b) That reality is the result of ideas and norms that, whatever their origin, become internalized and ‘taken for granted’ by actors that will therefore consider reality as ‘socially legitimate’, c) That that reality of international state relations has become more cooperative and therefore ‘social’ because of the establishment of international organizations that have defused tension among member states, d) That epistemic communities, through the advancement of knowledge based on shared social and scientific beliefs, can influence the preference of states and introduce new ways of thinking about the boundaries and possibilities of international cooperation, e) b &d, f) a & c.

20. Which of these is not a component of jus ad bellum? a) Right intention, b) Restoration of peace, c) Multilateral authority, d) last resort. 
    
    

 Exercise 3: Short essay

Choose one of the following questions and write a brief essay (1000 words maximum). Besides referring to the theory, please illustrate your answers with actual cases or events of contemporary world politics. This exercise is worth 50 points (50/100).

1. The Conference of San Francisco and the creation of United Nationsare considered often as the climax of modern international order, based in international organizations. To which point is that still valid? Can we consider that experience as successful? Why? Has it been eventually improved or there are still issues to fix? How?

2. During the period of Cold War the permanent tension in the international scenario justified the existence and preeminence of the ‘classic’ theories in IR (Realism, Liberalism and Structuralism). After the 90s, though, there has been a ‘boom’ of new schools, as well as the reshaping of the old ones. Could you explain the social and political new scenarios that justified the new reflections on IR? And, how these new approaches fit to the new global reality?

3. Constructivism is the ‘youngest’ paradigm in the IR discipline. Do you consider that it offers a truly new and convincing approach to world politics? If so, why? How does it relate to more traditional approaches to IR? Are there issues or theoretical concerns that are still best addressed by these more traditional approaches? Why?

Formal Issues

The estimated time that the student must devote to this CAT is 25 hours. This estimate includes reading the required materials, solving the test questions and writing the short essay. The actual hours of dedication may vary depending on the previous knowledge, skills and circumstances of each student.

Please use this document as a template to complete your CAT assignment. You must only submit your answers. You may delete the rest of the sections (Presentation, Objectives, Marking criteria, etc.)

Please indicate your name and surname in the upper part of the document to facilitate the identification of the exercise in case it is printed.

This CAT must be submitted through the electronic submission and registration system accessible through the virtual classroom. Please submit your exercise in Word, Open Office or PDF format, no later than March 28th, 2020.

Attention:

• Do not forget to provide correct citations for all sources of information used for the elaboration of your exercise. As you know, in compliance with international standards of academic ethics, we must provide a citation every time we borrow an idea or some information from another author or source. Failing to do so is considered plagiarism!

It is very important to respect the given word limits. Please adjust your work to the indicated extension!

Marking criteria

Following Appendix A of the ‘Student Handbook’, the following points will be evaluated.

• Task fulfilment: fulfilment of the requirements of the task. 

• Knowledge and understanding: student demonstration of understanding of topics

• Analysis and development of an argument: Student capacity for analysis, coherence of ideas, and critical judgement. 

• Structure and presentation: order and structure in the argumentation. Correct writing. Clarity and style.

• Use of sources and data collection: range of sources. referencing consistent and appropriate (see Appendix B of the ‘Student Handbook’)

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