Behavioralism

Perspectives are an influential aspect of international relations because they help make proper selections. Aside from pointing explanations in a conventional direction, different perspectives offer diverse levels of analysis and reasons behind any given situation. Hypotheses can be formulated from perspectives, which allows the theories to be tested and analyses to be refined. More specifically, perspectives help narrow down theories and generate explanations for each international circumstance. There are many theories that can be associated with major or secondary perspectives and can give justifiable reasons behind possible questions.

Behavioralism is considered to be a type of major perspective called the liberal perspective. This approach is known to use scientific methods of observation to study the interactions between their subjects and the way they act. This type of social study falls under the liberal category because behavioralism focuses on the way a group acts towards one another (The IR Theory Knowledge Base). As explained in the text, the liberal perspective “emphasizes diplomacy and getting together repeatedly to solve problems” (Nau, p. 52). Therefore, the subjects are studied based on an observation of their behavior and, similar to the liberal perspective, are understood by the quality of their interactions.

Another theory that can be associated to a major perspective would be collective defense. This phrase stems out from the liberal perspective because it involves cooperation between two alliances. “’The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them… shall be considered an attack against them all” (The IR Theory Knowledge Base). Although the liberal perspective runs on repeated interactions, there is also an interest in the causes of cooperation. According to the textbook, liberalism “focuses on the causes of cooperation and finds them in the ways in which states interact with and relate to one another though repetitive processes and practices” (Nau, p. 52). When the parties decide to act unified and are more trusting of one another, they are acting in a liberal perspective.

Cosmopolitanism is also related to a major perspective and is known as the idea that all humans belong to some form of moral norms. Regardless of their political beliefs, people are required to have a specific identity in which there is a common cultural expression (The IR Theory Knowledge Base). This idea is related to the identity perspective because “identities are collective or shared, not autonomous and individual” (Nau, p. 63). Like the identity perspective, cosmopolitanism states that everyone can be identified through independent or collective beliefs.

The Frustration-Aggression theory is correlated with the identity perspective because it discusses how a collective form of etiquette is a product of frustration. As previously mentioned, the identity perspective focuses on the similar norms that group individuals together and this theory is a great example. Although the speculation assumes that shared behavior is caused by frustration, repetitive social interactions allowed researchers to understand how each person is related to one another (The IR Theory Knowledge Base).

A theory that is related to the major perspective of realism would be the Golden Arches Theory on Conflict. This theory explains the balance of power strategy, where states participate in an equal amount of influence in order to avoid conflict. “No two countries that both had McDonald’s had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonald’s.” Thomas Friedman compared power to a fast food establishment in order to help the audience understand that no party can dominate the other due to an equilibrium among the states (The IR Theory Knowledge Base).

The critical theory perspective causes researchers to focus social and political forces that influence history in one way or another (Nau, p. 75). Gramscianism is a theory that falls within the critical theory perspective because it questioned the difficulty of encouraging a rebellion in Western Europe, while understanding the factors that affected Russia’s history. This philosophy is related to Marxism, but rather that the main areas of interest being solely coercion, consent is involved as well. Another theory involved with the critical theory perspective would be historical materialism. This premise is defined as a process that “is determined by the type of economic relations prevalent during a specific time period. That is, the economy, or mode of life, determines the political, cultural, religious, legal and other dimensions of society.” Historical materialism is a product of theorists, one of which was Karl Marx, and studies the economical elements that affected the past (The IR Theory Knowledge Base).

Imperialism is another theory that can be associated to the realist perspective. Imperialism is defined as “a national foreign policy aimed at acquiring more power than the state actually has, through a reversal of existing power relations, in other words, a favorable change in power status” (The IR Theory Knowledge Base). Therefore, this notion focuses on the states earning more authority and creating an equal amount of influence through the balance of power strategy. Due to the realist perspective arguing that power is one of the most important components of a state, imperialism serves as a form of support for this outlook.

Intergovernmentalism and the state cartel theory are both forms of the liberal perspective. The liberal perspective is interested in the topic of cooperation and how these interactions create similarities between parties to improve international relations (Nau, p. 52). Intergovernmentalism is a perfect example of this perspective because the theory discusses interstate cooperation as a means to position the interests of the states. The state cartel theory aims to create unification. This approach emphasizes the fact that “the benefits of cooperation most often outweigh the costs of conflict,” meaning that this theory uses collaboration as a way to promote better outcomes within the region (The IR Theory Knowledge Base).

In conclusion, theories offer prominent insight to the reasons behind international relations. Although there are multiple categories within perspectives that each theory can fall under, the ability to understand levels of analysis or different mindsets help researchers provide explanations for issues involving two parties. This can promote proper judgements and improve the relationships made at an international level and understand domestic connections as well.