Three Major Perspectives

Alea Ortiguerra

IDS 4315-0W59

Perspectives

Three major perspectives exist in the realm of International Relations. The first, which is Realism, emphasizes mostly on conflict between states and the power they hold. Realists believe that anarchy is what causes war due to the decentralized distribution of power within the international system. Liberalism, the second major perspective, contrasts with Realism by focusing more on cooperation and interactions between states and how they relate to one another based on repetitive processes. Liberal theory is based on the assumption that groups behave differently depending on the basis of how other groups behave towards them. The last major perspective is the Identity perspective. Rather than relative

For a realist, power is defined more as material wealth and gains rather than influence. In modern times, the state is the principle actor, which uses military and other forms of power in order to protect its own sovereignty and the balance of power between states in the world. Imperialism is a realist theory that has been used as national foreign policy in the last few centuries. Imperialism aims at acquiring more material and influential power for the state in order to surpass or reverse the existing power structure for their own benefit. Like Realist theory, Imperialism focuses the shifting of power between states, and how one state acts in its own interest in order to increase the security and therefore the sovereignty over its region. The next theory, Interventionism, examines the threat of coercion in order to change political or cultural institutions outside of their sovereignty. Like realism, interventionism concerns the balance of power between states. States could use intervention in order to gain more power through land, ideologies, or wealth; therefore the state would change the balance of power in the

Each state has their own identity that influences their choices. Instead of interests being caused due to relative power or reciprocation, they are guided by the beliefs of the actors that make up their identity. Pragmatic idealism follows many of the same patterns of the identity perspective by focusing on the shared beliefs and ideas of states. Some states share similar identities, in their morals and beliefs, and in turn align themselves together due to their parallels. Through this process their ideas and identities are what drive the cooperation between them. Another theory that brings countries together due to their shared identities is the golden arches theory of conflict prevention. Basically the theory states that no two countries with McDonald’s have engaged in warfare since they both acquired it. This is due to the countries economic development of a bigger middle class, and now that both countries develop similar identities there are less reasons for the two states to engage in conflict. The last theory to fall under the identity perspective is the ethnic conflict theory. The theory elaborates on how ethnic groups conflict due to their differing identities, hence they react more aggressively to people without similar identities. The group perceives itself as an insiders-outsiders type of dichotomy and acts upon the out-groups beliefs, ideas, and basically their identity.