INRL Week 9 - Graham Finlay & Tobias Theiler PDF

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Graham Finlay & Tobias Theiler...

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UCD Day Sixty-Eight - 5/4/18 - Foundations of Pol. Theory and Int. Relations - Week 9.2 - Tobias Returns

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Does Catalonia have the right to national self-determination? Monday 16 April, 1000 words. bear in mind that a monkey can reference correctly Power and diplomacy… On one level all states are formally equal but on the other hand this is not functionally the case. Characteristics of power - power is dynamic, state capabilities fluctuate over time. Power has “objective” and “subjective” aspects. Sometimes perception of capabilities (and of the willingness to use them) is more important than actual capabilities. Kissinger’s madman theory - no use having nuclear deterrents unless your adversaries are convinced that you will use them, when/if being attacked. Power is relative (power in relation to whom?). Power is situational - certain types of power are useless in certain contexts, i.e., physical force may be eliminated from a relationship, and then the more militarily powerful state cannot use that in negotiations. Dimensions of power - military capabilities, geography (size, location, type of boundaries), population (size, cohesion, morale, support for government, education level, age profile, etc.), economic factors (technology, productivity, self-sufficiency, natural resources, communications, transport infrastructure), nature of government and political elites (traditions of self-government or otherwise), social, cultural and ideological attractiveness and influence. Different arrangements of power - multipolar (competitions with various powers), bipolar, unipolar. Power tends to get balanced - how a state counterbalances depends on its capabilities in relation to those of the states it seeks to counterbalance. Formal diplomacy - often highly standardised, ritualised, enshrined in international law - embassies, ambassadors, doctrine of exterritoriality (embassy area is legally the territory of the given country) and diplomatic immunity, accreditation procedures. Diplomats immune from arrest. Principal aim to uphold communication between governments, on a day-to-day basis and during crises. Subordinate aims - information gathering, promotion of one’s country and governmental policies abroad, trade promotion, investment and tourism, maintaining links with expatriates, consular services. Formal diplomacy carried out by specialised staff attached to foreign ministries - diplomatic corps. Many of these governed by international conventions. International diplomacy traditionally bilateral, but becoming increasingly multilateral - NATO, UN, EU, OECD....