Short Answers

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• SubjectPolitical Science
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Answer short answers 1. The most important actors in international relations are considered to be states, which are defined in part by their sovereignty. Why is sovereignty sometimes less clear or more fluid than one might think? 2. Critics of realism have sometimes referred to the theory as a “self-fulfilling” prophecy. What do you suppose they mean by this? 3. What does the power to influence look like in contemporary international relations? What nations do you perceive to be growing in this ability to exert influence on the global stage? 4. How does reciprocity in international relations aid international cooperation despite the lack of central authority? How does the WTO exemplify this scenario? 5. What are the postmodernist concerns with realist interpretations of reality? Select one concept specific to realism and offer a postmodern critique.

Answer

1. The most important actors in international relations are considered to be states, which are defined in part by their sovereignty. Why is sovereignty sometimes less clear or more fluid than one might think?

Regarding sovereignty as a subject leads a person, with little cause to examine such questions that find the person being involved in a jumble of theories, which, in their use at least are puzzling on account of the different grounds and thoughts at which they rest. The sovereignty sometimes is less clear because it has never been vibrant as various contemporary observers claim. Very few states have the ability to control all the four attributes – international recognition from states, Westphalian non-interference, a domestic monopoly on violence, and country’s control of borders, and they are often examples of strong states. Besides, the Westphalian sovereignty has been violated on many occasions on the basis that some states are unequal sovereigns.

2. Critics of realism have sometimes referred to the theory as a “self-fulfilling” prophecy. What do you suppose they mean by this?

With regards to the discipline of International Relations (IR), the realism school of thought tends to focus on the competitive and conflictual aspects of the relations. However, critics of realism school of thought refer to it as the theory of a “self-fulfilling” prophecy. The theory of realism had the ability to explain repetition and a timeless pattern of behavior. However, it was unable to foresee the major recent transformation of the international system. The transformation stimulated the emergence of world politics who disregarded the theory as ‘old thinking’. The critics accused the theory of being a self-fulfilling prophesy as it tends to emphasize much on the state as a solid unit, that eventually oversees other actors and forces within the state, and disregards international concerns not directly associated with the survival of the state.

 

3. What does the power to influence look like in contemporary international relations? What nations do you perceive to be growing in this ability to exert influence on the global stage?

Various political scientists explore “power” in terms of an actor’s ability to implement influence over other actors within the international system. The power to influence may be coercive, attractive, cooperative, or competitive terms. The mechanisms of the influence may be based upon the use or threat of force, economic interaction, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Under certain conditions, states may establish a sphere of influence or an alliance within which they apply main influence. Various historic examples involve the spheres of influence, acknowledged under the Concert of Europe, or the acknowledgment of spheres during the era of Cold War succeeding the Yalta Conference. The nations amid the growth in the ability to exert influence include – Russia, Germany, Britain, France, and the United States.

4. How does reciprocity in international relations aid international cooperation despite the lack of central authority? How does the WTO exemplify this scenario?

Reciprocity refers to the core concept in much of international relations, especially the international law. Reciprocity tends to support full cooperation between parties by discouraging violations with reciprocal approvals. Nevertheless, this set of reciprocity also needs that the involved parties understand the appropriate actions each other has taken. In case the parties involved have complications in monitoring the compliance of each other to their agreement, the nature of reciprocity changes. The logical extension of reciprocity is the advancement of an entire customs union – example, the European Union, which removes by progressive joint concessions, all tariffs and other restrictions between participating countries. World Trade Organization (WTO) demonstrates this scenario through the prevention of the establishment of reciprocity treaties because WTO member countries undertake the duty to gift to all other members most-favored-nation treatment.

5. What are the postmodernist concerns with realist interpretations of reality? Select one concept specific to realism and offer a postmodern critique.

Postmodernism concern is usually considered as the “Critical Theory” and tends to challenge other theories. According to post-modern thinking, the Realists are wrong to emphasize only on the major powers and a limited idea of power, and other concerns that fall outside the theory of Realism. At the root of post-modern concern is the assertion that there exists no single objective reality. This is also true to assert that that is no conception of the world that could be true since it would be open to interpretation and likely exclude some actors or dimensions. For instance, post-modernists think that various actors such as women, poor countries and classes are missing. Besides, the states are rather abstractions, and not unitary and rational as Realism theory purports.