POLS 2940 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Siege Of Melos

• School: York University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2940
• Professor: Elizabeth Dauphinee

Document Summary

Reading - jackson and sorensen, chapter 1, why study ir?" 1-29. Athens invades small, neutral, sovereign island of melos. Athens offers ultimatum, surrender and pay tribute or be destroyed. The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must . Melians argue they are not an enemy, there is no need to conquer them. Athens argues if they accept melos" neutrality, they will look weak. Strong states will always have their way in international politics because no one can stop them. Machiavelli: if you want peace, prepare for war. In principle, all sovereign states are equal under international law. Right to be free from all direct interference from other states. All nations are morally entitled to elect any government. Every state is internationally legally entitled to exist. As seen in melos, politics is unequal, powerful states crush smaller states. Ability to make someone do what they otherwise wouldn"t. Can lead to institutions" such as sovereignty or slavery.