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POLI-225Why Study World Politics?International Relations
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 The study of world politics is also known as International Relations. Somequestions:
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Why do countries get along with one another?
Wars are expensive. Money for caring for veterans post-war, inaddition to all the costs of the war itself.
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Why do countries go to war with one another?
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Why do countries enter in to treaties?
Alliances are good. When you have friends, they can help youwith issues of your economy.
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Ex: Nobody has come to help us in Iraq, outside of theBrits. Would have been nice to cultivate some friends andhave them help a bit.
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Why do countries treat each other fairly or unfairly?
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What is national security?
Is it the stuff of W. Bush? Kill people first/ask questions later?
Is it of Obama? Ask questions first then kill people?
Depends. Means different things to different people, based onhow they view the world.
It certainly is expensive.
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In America, September 11, 2001 has forced us once again to become moreaware of the world and how it works.
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 Threats exist both within and outside any country’s borders.
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International Relations is concerned primarily with external threats, althoughdomestic considerations do come in to play.
Summary
: Destitute people do not-so-nice things. So should we help poor anddispossessed or leave them? Profile of average suicide bomber: poor anddispossessed. Think of what you drive, what you wear, what you own, its all madeforeign
Ways that IR Affects You
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 Your personal security
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 Your family’s security
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 Your country’s security
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 Your pocketbook and your financial situation: your buying and selling power;your investment power; your money-making power
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 Your choices as a consumer, employer, employee
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Globalization of the world economy
 
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Monetary Exchange Rates:
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 The comparative value of national currencies. The increase in value of the USD means imports are cheaper, but it also means that US goodsexported to other countries are more expensive.
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National Debt:
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Who buys the US debt and why?
Major debt purchasers include China, Japan, and S. Korea.
 This money helps keep the US economy working but comes at aprice.
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Domestic Spending vs. Defense Spending
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US now spends about 350 billion dollars annually on defense
Well over 450 billion this coming year (2009)
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 This does not include the amount the US also spends on wars such asin Iraq and Afghanistan
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Money spent on defense and wars cannot be spent on other things.How much should the US spend on defense?
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 Your living space
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 The natural environment domestically and globally—can they beseparated?
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Population growth:
Births, immigration
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 Transnational diseases
HIV/AIDs, Bird flu, tuberculosis, SARS
Summary
: It all has a lot to do with you.
Realism Vs. Idealism
“Liberalism” is sometimes used as Idealism
Two Modes of World Thought
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Realism and Idealism (called Liberalism in the textbook) are the two dominantmodes of World Thought
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Each body of thought originates in our view of human nature and the way inwhich human beings have treated each other over the course of time
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Historical events play heavily into each mode of thought
Summary
: We are a blend of conservative and liberal. Keith Olberman is aconservative. Anne Coulter is a liberal. The single most important conservative unitis the family. You have obligations to others besides yourself. Because they helpedyou. The idea that there is a contract between those who took care of you, and nowyou, are to take care of them.
Realism
 
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Realism can be identified by words such as:
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 Traditional
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Realpolitik
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Balance of power
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Nation (or nationalist)
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State-centered (or state-centric, state based)
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“The strong do what they can while the weak suffer what they must” 
Realist believes this to be true, and it is, to a large extent.
Summary
: Modern realists, like Morgenthau, say, the powerful countries want tostay powerful, the less powerful countries want to gain power. As one declines,another capitalizes and becomes more powerful.
Central Tenets
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Power politics (also known as realpolitik)
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Increasing and keeping power
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Projecting power
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Using it.
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Balance of power
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Military power is the heart of national security
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 The world is self-help: survival of the fittest
Realist Policy
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Secure your country’s interests first
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Countries should practice balance of power politics
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Work with what we have, don’t try to change the world
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A country should not foolish expend its power where it cannot prevail
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Sometimes war is stupid, and should not be waged when it has nopro’s
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Avoid peripheral interests:
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Stick to those interests that are most important to national security
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Peace through strength:
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 The best way to maintain peace is to be powerful
Idealism
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Idealism can be identified by words such as:
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Idealist
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Globalist
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Liberalist (in your textbook the world Liberalism is used)
Human rights
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