Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Journal Article 1: Douglass, R. (2016). Hobbes and political realism. European Journal of Political Theory, Online first. doi:10.1177/1474885116677481

Summary: This article is from the sub-field of political theory and examines the underpinnings of Hobbes’ world view. While he is a political realist, he is more interested in peaceful coexistence than other readings of Hobbes may acknowledge.

Questions to Consider

1. This article is part of a large body of literature that seeks to trace the lineage of various forms of political thought to philosophers from earlier eras. What do you believe motivates this effort?

2. Is it useful to consider the intellectual predecessors to modern theoretical perspectives?

3. Consider one of the central points of the article: Hobbes’ view of the priority of legitimacy over justice. Explain the meaning of this debate. Which is more important to you?

 

Journal Article 2: Grieco, J. M. (2009). Liberal international theory and imagining the end of the cold war. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 11(2), 192-204. doi:10.1111/j.1467-856X.2008.00359.x

Summary: The end of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union was rather abrupt. No theoretical perspective really predicted the end of the Cold War (indeed, the failure of more traditional perspectives may have contributed to the rise of constructivist thought). In this article, Grieco argues that while liberalism did not foresee the end of the Cold War, several liberal theorists did note evolutions in the progress of the Cold War and did see it abate over time.

Questions to Consider

1. The article acknowledges that liberal theory did not predict the end of the Cold War. To what extent should we hold theories responsible for predicting major world events?

2. The article notes that different strands of liberalism treated the Cold War very differently. Given the differences in liberal theories, what commonalities can you identify that make them all “liberal?”

3. Do you find Grieco’s argument that liberal theorists did correctly address aspects of the Cold War persuasive?

 

Journal Article 3: Haas, P. M., & Haas, E. B. (2002). Pragmatic constructivism and the study of international institutions. Millennium, 31(3), 573–601. doi:10.1177/03058298020310031001

Summary: This article applies constructivism to international institutions with special attention to the role that institutions have as locations where new ideas and policies develop. It Is a high-level analysis of the difficulties of using constructivism as a social scientist committed to positivism.

Questions to Consider

1. This article suggests that it uses “pragmatic constructivism” as a means to use a rigorous social science methodology in a constructivist framework. What do the authors mean by pragmatic constructivism?

2. This article takes seriously the interaction of theorists and policy-makers, as well as the process of socialization. What does it suggest about how long it may take new ideas to become entrenched?

 

Journal Article 4: Keohane, R. O. (2012). Twenty years of institutional liberalism. International Relations, 26(2), 125-138. doi:10.1177/0047117812438451

Summary: This article is a retrospective of the role of neoliberal institutionalism and a response to realist critics of institutionalism by one of the most prominent scholars to use a neoliberal institutionalist framework. It concludes that while realism is important in understanding the development of institutions, but is not adequate to explain their evolution or to serve as a guide for the future.

Questions to Consider

1. Based on this article, in what ways might realism and liberalism complement one another?

2. The article explores the concept of moralism at some length. What role does moralism play in liberal thought?

3. Similarly, the article explores the concept of legalism. What is meant by legalism and how does it relate to power?

 

Journal Article 5: Kirshner, J. (2012). The tragedy of offensive realism: Classical realism and the rise of china. European Journal of International Relations, 18(1), 53-75. doi:10.1177/1354066110373949

Summary: This article compares and contrasts classical realism and offensive neorealism with special attention to the recommendations that arise out of each in regards to the rise of China. It concludes that structural realism may lead to dangerous outcomes.

Question to Consider

1. According to this article, how does classical realism differ from structural realism as exemplified by Mearsheimer?

2. Based on these differences, what would a classical realist recommend regarding the rise of China versus a structural realists?

3. One thing the author argues that all realists agree on is that the rise of China is important and has implications for global politics. Based on your knowledge of liberalism and constructivism, do you believe that the realist conception of the rise of China is accurate, or do the other approaches allow for more optimism?