GE TCW

Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Marxism

REALISM - assumes that states are rational actors

- System is anarchic because there is no central authority

- Emphasizes the role of power and suspicious of long-term peace

- Focuses on states

- Argues that states always compete for power

LIBERALISM - assumes that states are rational actors

- System is anarchic but there are international organizations to govern states

- Pacifies the role of international organizations and economic interdependence

to establish long-term peace

- Focuses on states

- Argues that democracy, free trade, and international organizations matter to

state behaviour

CONSTRUCTIVISM – institutions and anarchy are socially constructed

- Anarchy is created by the state themselves and it changes the way they

interact

- emphasizes the role of ideas and highlights the importance of norms

that have effects on the behaviour of the agents

- Focuses on individuals

- Argues that norms and ideas can re-constitute state behaviour,

interests, identities, and preferences

MARXISM – assumes that history is a class struggle

- Believes that the world is primarily divided along economic lines

- Emphasizes the role of hegemony to govern interstate relations

- Focuses on the world system

- Argues that capitalist motives cause conflicts between core, semi-peripheral, and

peripheral states