POLI 381 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Neoliberalism, Decision-Making, Neofunctionalism
30 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
The state is not disputed as the primary actor in the international system. Interstate systems matter, but they are subordinate to the state. Although anarchy matters, it doesn"t preclude cooperation, cooperation is still possible. Regimes and institutions mitigate the consequences of anarchy. As well, there is greater interdependence and integration between actors. The costs of breaking those links (the cost of conflict) are ever increasing, so states are incentivised to continue cooperation. Absolute gains are what really maters in the liberal perspective. In a realist point of view, relative gains are the most important. Absolute gain: i had , now i have , i"m better off. Realist view: if i had and now have , but you had and now have , then you gained more than i did from our cooperation, and increased your power by using me. Non-state actors matter, its not all about the state.
