The Globalization of

International Relations
Dr. Elton Skendaj
International Relations 10/e
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse

CHAPTER ONE
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Core Principles
IR revolves around one key problem:
- How can a group such as two or more nations serve
its collective interests when doing so requires its members
to forego their individual interests?
- Example: Problem of global warming. Solving it can only
be achieved by many countries acting together.
Collective goods problem
- The problem of how to provide something that benefits
all members of a group regardless of what each member
contributes to it
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Core Principles
In general, collective goods are easier to provide in
small groups than large ones.
- Small group: defection (free riding) is harder to conceal
and has a greater impact on the overall collective good,
and it is easier to punish.
Collective-goods problem occurs in all groups and
societies.
- Particularly acute in international affairs
- No central authority such as a world government to
enforce on individual nations the necessary measures to
provide for the common good

2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Core Principles
Three basic principles offer possible solutions for this
core problem of getting individuals to cooperate for
the common good without a central authority to
make them do so:
- Dominance
- Reciprocity
- Identity
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Dominance
Solves the collective-goods problem by establishing a
power hierarchy in which those at the top control
those below
- Symbolic acts of submission/dominance reinforce
hierarchy.
- Hegemon/superpower
The advantage of the dominance solution
- Forces members to contribute to the common good
- Minimizes open conflict within the group
Disadvantage of the dominance solution
- Stability comes from constant oppression of (and
resentment by) lower-ranking members of status hierarchy.
- Conflicts over position can sometimes harm the groups
stability and well-being.
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Reciprocity
Solves the collective-goods problem by rewarding
behavior that contributes to the group and punishing
behavior that pursues self-interest at the cost of the
group
- Easy to understand and can be enforced without any
central authority
- Positive and negative reciprocity
- Disadvantage: It can lead to a downward spiral as each
side punishes what it believes to be the negative acts of
the other.
- Generally people overestimate their own good intentions
and underestimate those of opponents or rivals.


2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Identity
Identity principle does not rely on self-interest.
Members of an identity community care about the
interests of others in the community enough to
sacrifice their own interests to benefit others.
- Family, extended family, kinship group roots
In IR, identity communities play important roles in
overcoming difficult collective-goods problems.
- Nonstate actors also rely on identity politics.
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Actors and Influences
Principal actors in IR are the worlds governments.
IR scholars traditionally study the decisions and
actions of those governments, in relation to other
governments.
Individual actors: Leaders and citizens, bureaucratic
agencies in foreign ministries, multinational
corporations, and terrorist groups
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
State Actors
Most important actors in IR are states.
State: A territorial entity controlled by a government
and inhabited by a population.
- State government exercises sovereignty over its territory.
- Recognized as sovereign by other states
- Population forms a civil society; group identity
- Seat of government with a leader head of government
or head of state

2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Levels of Analysis
Many actors involved in IR
- Leads to complexity of competing explanations and
theories
Response: IR scholars sort out the influences, actors,
and processes, and categorize them into different
levels of analysis.
- Perspective on IR based on a set of similar actors or
processes that suggests possible explanations to why
questions
- Individual, domestic (state or societal), interstate, global
levels of analysis


2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse