Advanced IR Theories

1 Introduction

No readings.

PART I: HISTORY, WAR, AND IDENTITY IN IR

2 The ‘Myth of Westphalia’ and the international system

Osiander, Andreas. 2001. ‘Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth’ International Organization 55(2), pp. 251-287.

3 Rational explanations for war?

Fearon, James D. (1995). ‘Rationalist explanations for war.’ International Organization, 49(3), 379-414.

4 Identity, fear, and ontological security

Mitzen, Jennifer. (2006). ‘Ontological security in world politics: State identity and the security dilemma.’ European Journal of International Relations, 12(3), 341-370.

PART II: DEBATES

5 Deterrence or gamble? Nuclear weapons in realist and liberal perspectives

Waltz, Kenneth N. (1990). ‘Nuclear myths and political realities.’ American Political Science Review 84(3): 730-745.

Sagan, Scott D. (1997). ‘Why do states build nuclear weapons? Three models in search of a bomb.’ International Security21(3): 54-86.

6 The (in)stability of the liberal international order

Mearsheimer, John J. (2019). ‘Bound to fail: The rise and fall of the liberal international order.’ International Security43(4): 7-50.

Ikenberry, G. John. (2018). ‘Why the liberal world order will survive.’ Ethics & International Affairs 32(1): 17-29.

7 Are states really persons? A constructivist controversy

Wendt, Alexander. 2004. ‘The state as person in international theory.’ Review of International Studies 30(2): 289-316.

Schiff, Jacob. 2008. ‘”Real”? As if! Critical reflections on state personhood.’ Review of International Studies 34(2): 363-377.

8 Recognition as a form of justice? Ethics and critical IR

Heins, Volker. 2008. ‘Realizing Honneth: Redistribution, recognition, and global justice.’ Journal of Global Ethics 4(2): 141-153.

Birnbaum, Maria. 2023. ‘The costs of recognition: global politics, religion, and the colonial history of South Asia.’ International Theory 15(2): 323-350.

PART III: CONCLUSION

9 The future of IR

Lake, David A. (2013). ‘Theory is dead, long live theory: The end of the Great Debates and the rise of eclecticism in International Relations.’ European Journal of International Relations 19(3): 567-587.