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POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture
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POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Dec 21, 2015

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Page 1: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics

Introductory Lecture

Page 2: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Hobbes’ LeviathanHobbes’ LeviathanHobbes’ LeviathanHobbes’ Leviathan

Page 3: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Questions?Questions?

What’s the point of the authors’ discussion What’s the point of the authors’ discussion about Hobbes? about Hobbes?

Why are the authors bothering us with a Why are the authors bothering us with a centuries old story? What does it have to do centuries old story? What does it have to do with understanding global politics with understanding global politics todaytoday??

What’s the point of the authors’ discussion What’s the point of the authors’ discussion about Hobbes? about Hobbes?

Why are the authors bothering us with a Why are the authors bothering us with a centuries old story? What does it have to do centuries old story? What does it have to do with understanding global politics with understanding global politics todaytoday??

Page 4: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

The Importance of Agency:

A Definition

The Importance of Agency:

A DefinitionPurposeful action. This term Purposeful action. This term

implies that actors have the implies that actors have the freedom to create, change and freedom to create, change and influence events. [Tony Bilton influence events. [Tony Bilton et al.,et al., Introductory Sociology. Introductory Sociology. 3rd 3rd edition. London: Macmillan, edition. London: Macmillan, 1996:654]1996:654]

Purposeful action. This term Purposeful action. This term implies that actors have the implies that actors have the freedom to create, change and freedom to create, change and influence events. [Tony Bilton influence events. [Tony Bilton et al.,et al., Introductory Sociology. Introductory Sociology. 3rd 3rd edition. London: Macmillan, edition. London: Macmillan, 1996:654]1996:654]

Page 5: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Who are the key Agents in Global Politics?

Who are the key Agents in Global Politics?

“Individuals” (But not the liberal individual)

States or National Governments (traditionally, the only important agent in IR)

“Individuals” (But not the liberal individual)

States or National Governments (traditionally, the only important agent in IR)

Page 6: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Key Actors in Global Politics

Key Actors in Global Politics

Authors challenge the traditional Authors challenge the traditional “realist” image of states, which is based “realist” image of states, which is based on the idea that states are all basically on the idea that states are all basically alike in how they act towards other statesalike in how they act towards other states

Authors challenge the traditional Authors challenge the traditional “realist” image of states, which is based “realist” image of states, which is based on the idea that states are all basically on the idea that states are all basically alike in how they act towards other statesalike in how they act towards other states

Page 7: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Are States Agents?Are States Agents?

Some scholars believe that states--and their leaders--have little room to make choices. Instead, they see states as operating, in essence, on AUTO-PILOT.

Some scholars believe that states--and their leaders--have little room to make choices. Instead, they see states as operating, in essence, on AUTO-PILOT.

Page 8: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

States and Agency:The Authors’ View

States and Agency:The Authors’ View

Key point:Key point:

Authors see states as “agents Authors see states as “agents inin structures” structures”Key point:Key point:

Authors see states as “agents Authors see states as “agents inin structures” structures”

Page 9: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

The Argument So Far …The Argument So Far …

To sum up the story so far, the authors’ To sum up the story so far, the authors’ primary objective is to get us to understand primary objective is to get us to understand that the world we live in is, in part, that the world we live in is, in part, ofof our our making (i.e., reflects agency) and is, in part, making (i.e., reflects agency) and is, in part, made for us (i.e., reflects structure)made for us (i.e., reflects structure)

To sum up the story so far, the authors’ To sum up the story so far, the authors’ primary objective is to get us to understand primary objective is to get us to understand that the world we live in is, in part, that the world we live in is, in part, ofof our our making (i.e., reflects agency) and is, in part, making (i.e., reflects agency) and is, in part, made for us (i.e., reflects structure)made for us (i.e., reflects structure)

Page 10: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Key PointsKey Points

Another major point in the authors argument is Another major point in the authors argument is that, as individuals, we are that, as individuals, we are social beingssocial beings. This . This means, in part, that how we think, how we act, means, in part, that how we think, how we act, how we perceive the world is a product of many how we perceive the world is a product of many factors and forces that exist outside of ourselves factors and forces that exist outside of ourselves and … and …

… … some of the most important of these factors are some of the most important of these factors are institutionsinstitutions

Another major point in the authors argument is Another major point in the authors argument is that, as individuals, we are that, as individuals, we are social beingssocial beings. This . This means, in part, that how we think, how we act, means, in part, that how we think, how we act, how we perceive the world is a product of many how we perceive the world is a product of many factors and forces that exist outside of ourselves factors and forces that exist outside of ourselves and … and …

… … some of the most important of these factors are some of the most important of these factors are institutionsinstitutions

Page 11: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

InstitutionsInstitutions

Institutions are everywhere in modern Institutions are everywhere in modern society, with the “state” being the most society, with the “state” being the most prominent, but … prominent, but …

… … there are many things we don’t normally there are many things we don’t normally think of as institutions, such as the think of as institutions, such as the householdhousehold

Institutions are everywhere in modern Institutions are everywhere in modern society, with the “state” being the most society, with the “state” being the most prominent, but … prominent, but …

… … there are many things we don’t normally there are many things we don’t normally think of as institutions, such as the think of as institutions, such as the householdhousehold

Page 12: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Institutions: A DefinitionInstitutions: A Definition

A set of roles graded in authorityA set of roles graded in authority that have that have been embodied in consistent patterns of been embodied in consistent patterns of actions that have been legitimated and actions that have been legitimated and sanctioned by society or segments of that sanctioned by society or segments of that society; whose purpose is to carry out certain society; whose purpose is to carry out certain activities or prescribed needs of that society activities or prescribed needs of that society or segments of that society. - C. Wright Mills, or segments of that society. - C. Wright Mills, The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination (New York: (New York: Oxford University Press, 1959), p. 30.Oxford University Press, 1959), p. 30.

A set of roles graded in authorityA set of roles graded in authority that have that have been embodied in consistent patterns of been embodied in consistent patterns of actions that have been legitimated and actions that have been legitimated and sanctioned by society or segments of that sanctioned by society or segments of that society; whose purpose is to carry out certain society; whose purpose is to carry out certain activities or prescribed needs of that society activities or prescribed needs of that society or segments of that society. - C. Wright Mills, or segments of that society. - C. Wright Mills, The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination (New York: (New York: Oxford University Press, 1959), p. 30.Oxford University Press, 1959), p. 30.

Page 13: POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Introductory Lecture.

Connecting the DotsWhat has any of this got to do with global

politics?

Connecting the DotsWhat has any of this got to do with global

politics? The main reasons is this: the major problems faced in the world today The main reasons is this: the major problems faced in the world today

have exactly to do with questions of identity (shaped through institutions), have exactly to do with questions of identity (shaped through institutions), and while this problem has been around for a very long time, they have and while this problem has been around for a very long time, they have become more intense, more complicated, and perhaps more deadly in an become more intense, more complicated, and perhaps more deadly in an

era of “globalization.”era of “globalization.”

Second, the authors suggest that fundamental change to world politics Second, the authors suggest that fundamental change to world politics needs to begin in the process of socialization, that is, in the creation of needs to begin in the process of socialization, that is, in the creation of social individualssocial individuals

Third, the existence of multiple identities means that we, as human Third, the existence of multiple identities means that we, as human beings, have not only built our own institutions, but have built them to beings, have not only built our own institutions, but have built them to suit a wide variety of needs and desires. This implies that we have the suit a wide variety of needs and desires. This implies that we have the potential to build “better” institutionspotential to build “better” institutions

The main reasons is this: the major problems faced in the world today The main reasons is this: the major problems faced in the world today have exactly to do with questions of identity (shaped through institutions), have exactly to do with questions of identity (shaped through institutions), and while this problem has been around for a very long time, they have and while this problem has been around for a very long time, they have become more intense, more complicated, and perhaps more deadly in an become more intense, more complicated, and perhaps more deadly in an

era of “globalization.”era of “globalization.”

Second, the authors suggest that fundamental change to world politics Second, the authors suggest that fundamental change to world politics needs to begin in the process of socialization, that is, in the creation of needs to begin in the process of socialization, that is, in the creation of social individualssocial individuals

Third, the existence of multiple identities means that we, as human Third, the existence of multiple identities means that we, as human beings, have not only built our own institutions, but have built them to beings, have not only built our own institutions, but have built them to suit a wide variety of needs and desires. This implies that we have the suit a wide variety of needs and desires. This implies that we have the potential to build “better” institutionspotential to build “better” institutions