AS.190.209 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: American Exceptionalism, Post-Structuralism

• School: JHU
• Department: AS Political Science
• Course: AS.190.209
• Professor: David, Steven R

Document Summary

Assess whether assumptions that the theory makes are useful for understanding world politics iraq war. Classical realism states that political behavior can be explained by human nature, whereas neo-realism or structural realism, all state behavior is explained by the anarchical interstate system. What challenges realism are the pattern of cooperation and the role of ideas and identities in politics. Post-structuralism focuses on how the way we think about the world impacts or changes the way we behave towards it. Structural realism has 5 main assumptions: anarchy, states can harm one another, no certainty of intentions, basic motive is survival, states are rational. From which they deduce 3 main patterns: states fear each other, no trust, self-help you can"t cooperate with anyone else for your own security, power maximization. With the 5 assumptions, realists explain these patterns. Constructivism identities and interests drive behavior & social structure.