This document discusses three approaches to understanding international relations: realism, idealism, and radicalism. Realism views international politics as a struggle for power between nation-states based on self-interest. Idealism believes cooperation between nation-states and international organizations can promote peace and harmony. Radicalism sees international relations as being defined by conflicts between dominant social classes and nation-states on a global scale. No single approach can perfectly explain the complexity of world politics, and different aspects of each may apply depending on the issue and context.

1. Topic 2: 3 Approaches to IR
JOU 103
(Updated on September 20, 2007)

2. 2
Concepts
 Is a general idea about something, usually expressed in a
single word or a short phrase
 Essential step in the process of reasoning: “tools” with
which we think, criticize, argue, explain and analyze
 Value-laden
 meaning may be the subject to argument and debate
 greater substance and significance than they actually possesses

3. 3
Facts and values [1]
Facts:
 Things that happened and are happening
 Involve what, when, where, who, why, and how (5w1h)
 Regardless of what we feel, things that happened in the
past cannot be changed
 I ate an apple
 Tung Chee-hwa stepped down in 2005
 Anson Chan declared that she will contest the by-election of the
Legislative Council in December this year

4. 4
Facts and values [2]
Values:
 Personal judgments (from positive to negative)
 Even though the fact is same, but values can be
different and divergent
 Not necessarily based on facts to judge
 (I like apples): I ate a tasty apple
 (A businessman who supported Tung Chee-hwa):
Tung was a kind person
 (A pro-Beijing supporter): Anson Chan will contest
the by-election of the Legislative Council that will
disturb the domestic politics

5. 5
Facts and values [3]
Values can be determined by the following factors
1. Life experiences
2. Educational level
3. Income level
4. Interests
5. Gender
6. Ethnicity
7. Family
8. Peer group
9. Level of understanding
10. political ideologies, etc.

6. 6
3 Approaches to IR [1]
Realism Idealism Radicalism

7. 7
3 Approaches to IR [2]
 3 approaches/concepts in explaining
international relations: Realism, liberalism
/idealism, and radicalism
 The emergence of such approaches is attributed
to two world wars
 To be great powers: realism (e.g., Germany, Italy,
Soviet Union, United States)
 Peace, harmony, and order through organizations
and laws: liberalism (e.g., the League of Nations, the
United Nations)
 Self-interest and conflicts are inevitable: radicalism
(e.g., Soviet Union VS United States after World War
II)

8. 8
3 Approaches to IR [3]
Realism Idealism Radicalism
Other
labels
Realpolitik, power
politics
Liberalism,
liberal
international-
ism, utopianism
Marxism,
socialism
Nature A struggle for
power,
dominance, force,
national interest,
self-help (in order
to uphold
sovereignty)
Peace,
human progress,
social harmony,
individual rights,
moral values,
legal norms
Conflicting/
dominant
interests of
social classes,
(rich VS poor),
dominance,
trans-national

9. 9
3 Approaches to IR [4]
Realism Liberalism Radicalism
Actors Nation-states Nation-states
and nonstate
actors (e.g.,
UN)
Nation-state,
nonstate actors
and transnational
economic/ social
classes
Interact-
ions
Competitive,
conflictual,
short-term
cooperation
Competitive,
but also
cooperative in
economic and
diplomatic
issues
Competitive,
exploitative in
North-South
relations,
transnational
cooperative
relations

10. 10
3 Approaches to IR [5]
Realism Liberalism Radicalism
E.g., Germany in
World War I &
II, U.S and
U.S.S.R. after
World War II
U.N.,
World Trade
Organization, the
International
Monetary Fund,
the World Bank
A worldwide
anti-WTO
protests against
economic
exploitation and
dominance

11. 11
3 Approaches to IR [6]
 No single approach is perfect in understanding IR
 Given the complexity of world politics, three of them
can be applied in varying degrees, as well as in different
contexts
 Consider the following factors while applying the
chosen approach
1. The nature of the issue (e.g., political, diplomatic, and/or
economic ones)
2. Using keywords and points mentioned in features and
interactions to judge
3. Using examples (e.g., events, actions) to illustrate your
arguments