Marxism and Critical Theory in IR

Question 1

Marxism holds that human history is defined by __________

Answer 1

the ongoing struggle between the exploiters and the exploited

Question 2

Who are the exploiters that Marx describes?

Answer 2

those who control the means of production (land or factory owners)

Question 3

Who are the exploited that Marx describes?

Answer 3

workers

Question 4

Marx emphasizes what kind of factors as the root of all historical, social and political phenomena?

Answer 4

economic factors

Question 5

What do humans need to produce to survive?

Answer 5

material requirements of life

Question 6

marxism focuses on what?

Answer 6

the material conditions of a society’s mode of production

Question 7

define mode of production

Answer 7

combines a country’s productive capacity and the social relations of production (some live off the labour of others)

Question 8

Describe what the phrase “workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains” signifies

Answer 8

workers across the world would have more in common with each other than the exploitative class within the same country

Question 9

Marx thought the emergence of industrial capitalism would lead to what?

Answer 9

a transnational force of workers uniting to overthrow the system

Question 10

Did what marx predict about the emergence of industrial captialism happen?

Answer 10

no
the international state system, nationalism, sovereignty were reinforced, trans-national class unity never emerged
--boundaries of nation not class

Question 11

What kind of politics did the USSR engage in?

Answer 11

common power politics

Question 12

What does the Marxist analysis of global politics focus on?

Answer 12

history and dynamics of economic interdependence rooted in global capitalism

Question 13

What kind of relationship is there between core and periphery?

Answer 13

exploitative relationship

Question 14

What, generally, is the concept of core and periphery?

Answer 14

class analysis at the inter-state level

Question 15

define core

Answer 15

historically wealthier, industrialized colonizing countries

Question 16

define periphery

Answer 16

historically poorer, agrarian, colonized countries

Question 17

Why does core need periphery?

Answer 17

for resources

Question 18

Why does periphery need core?

Answer 18

economies are configured for export

Question 19

T or F: core and periphery are independant ideas

Answer 19

false, they are mutually structurally dependent, they exist because the other exists

Question 20

Where do core and periphery dynamics occur?

Answer 20

domestically and internationally

Question 21

describe Marxism’s contribution to IR

Answer 21

states competition for power and security is shaped by:

1. dynamics of interdependence
   - -marx identifies core and periphery and market capitalism
2. global processes of captial accumulation and economic exploitations
   - -neo-marxism believes you have to look at core and periphery, and how economic exploitation can explain their behaviour

Study of IR is not only about identifying ‘recurrence and repetition’ but on the possibility of alternatives and change ‘unfolding’

Question 22

Who is the Marxist scholar we studied?

Answer 22

Linklater

Question 23

Describe the marxist critique of mainstream IR

Answer 23

• class tensions inherent in capitalism are a fertile ground for social and politcal change
• positivist assumptions of the mainstream theories conceal the poer realtions built in to historical processes
• power inequalities happen for a reason

Question 24

What does positivism believe?

Answer 24

that we can use our senses to precisely measure phenomena

• measurements yield empirical evidence
• valid knowledge is derived this way

Question 25

What is the critique of positivism?

Answer 25

• it’s an ideology, not objective science
• many historical, social, and political processes are unquantifiable
• it does not “theorize the values and meanings which social beings confer upon their actions”
• positivism reinforces existing inequalities

Question 26

How is the international state system defined in realism?

Answer 26

by coercion (force) and consent

Question 27

How does Marx suggest we analyze to better understand the processes of the international state system?

Answer 27

analyze the impact of social and economic change on the state system

Question 28

according to World Systems Analysis, at the IR systems level, what was seen as more important than the Cold war?

Answer 28

relations between developed countries and Third World

Question 29

What does Marx see as the ‘defining story’ of the cold war era?

Answer 29

focuse on core-periphery dynamics

Question 30

What did modernization theorists imagine about poorer countries? and what did neo-realists argue about this?

Answer 30

that they could catch up with richer ones

neo-realists said this was incorrect due to inherent dynamic exploitation

Question 31

What did World Systems Analysis postulate about poor countries?

Answer 31

because of exploitative capitalism, poor countries will stay poor

Question 32

What are some key moments of core and periphery dynamics?

Answer 32

1955: Bandung(Indonesia) and emergence of the Non-Aligned Movement
- -have own set of priorities, not client of superpower
1960: Year of Africa and the Congo Crisis

Question 33

Describe the non-aligned movement

Answer 33

• Nasser (Egypt), Nehru(India), Tito(Yugolsavia) were the leaders of it
• non-independent countries sent delegates but could not formally participate
• Yugoslavia defeated Nazis without Soviet help, was not part of Warsaw Pact
• not clients of superpowers

Question 34

describe the Congo Crisis (DRC)

Answer 34

• 1960-1961
• DRC colonized by belgium in the late 19th century due to rich resources
• exploited through slave labour
• Belgians killed around 2M congolese
• gained its independence in 1960; elected Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister
• Lumumba wanted to nationalize resources
• Belgians, French, US decided to kill Lumumba (Jan. 17, 1961) (likely other involvement as well)
• Lumumba had given an impromptu speech at Congo’s/ DRC’s independence, talking poorly on colonialism to Belgian King

Question 35

Who else was killed because of wanting less exploitation/more equality?

Answer 35

• UN secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold

- evidence that Western powers were behind the plane crash that killed him

Question 36

How did colonial powers achieve their aims?

Answer 36

have used different forms of violence

Question 37

Why do colonial powers use violence and what are its implications?

Answer 37

• want access to resources
• visionary Third World leaders were killed
• newly-independent countries were plunged into chaos
• this subverted visions of unity and prosperity throughout the developing world

Question 38

What theory can explain behaviour of colonial powers?

Answer 38

neo-marxism