1. Chapter 1 Thinking and Caring About World Politics

2. Who is a Part of International Relations? • Independent, sovereign states (same as the term “country” for purposes of this class) • Nearly 200 states in the international system today • Anarchical international system: a system where there is no higher authority over the sovereign states

3. Who? • International Governmental Organizations (IGOs): international organization made up of states (examples: United Nations and European Union); roughly 300+ • Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs): organizations that cross country boundaries (examples: churches and multinational corporations; innumberable

4. Who? • Leaders • Protestors • Politicians • Businesses • Special Interests • Political parties

5. Structure of Text • World Politics is at a cross-roads • Traditional route of competition and conflict vs. the alternative route of cooperation • How foreign policy is made (individual human, state, and system level)

6. Importance of International Relations • Money • Trade • Economic Balance • Financial Markets • Defense and Safety • Environment • Human Rights

7. World Politics & You • World population puts pressure on all previously mentioned issues • Transnational diseases • Violence

8. Ways to Influence International Relations • Direct Actions: Consumer boycotts, protests, etc. • Voting for Candidates: who gets elected definitely influences policy • Direct voting: more common in other countries (European Union) • Become a policymaker

9. Realism • Realism: political theory with those who prescribe to the idea that the world is and should be following the traditional road (other terms for this: realpolitick, balance of power, nationalism, state-centric)

10. Realism • Pessimistic by nature • Little political trust • Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan) • Neorealists focus on anarchic nature of world system based on competition.

11. Realism • Emphasis on Power • Results because of national interest struggles • See policy as Darwinian in nature

12. Liberalism • Liberalism: political theory where some believe the world is beginning to go on a new course (other terms: liberal institutionalism, idealist, globalism, cosmopolitan and internationalist)

13. Liberalism • More positive in nature • Reject idea of political predators though they recognize that difficulties do exist • Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract) • Neoliberals believe conflict occurs because of competition in an anarchical world system

14. Liberalism • Believe policies can be based on ethics and principles • Dismiss idea that pursuing ethical policy often works against nation’s interests