Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis How do we explain the rise of the modern system of sovereign states, the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the successful international movement against Apartheid in South Africa, the provision of foreign aid to poor countries, the widespread use of Keynesian economic policies after the Second World War, and the international ban on the use of chemical weapons? In attempting to answer these questions, reflectivist scholars have emphasised the role of culture, social norms and ideas in shaping the identity, interests and behaviour of states. This use of `fuzzy variables' has been vigorously contested by neorealists and neoliberals who insist that the accumulation of power and the rational pursuit of objective national interests remain the principal determinants of international relations. This subject introduces students to this sometimes heated debate between reflectivists and rationalists about the nature of world politics and the future of international relations theory. It asks whether culture, norms and ideas really matter, and whether understanding these factors will lead to better theories about conflict and cooperation in international politics.
Assessment Written (4500 words): 60% + Examination (3 hours): 40%