Home / Summaries / International Relations Theories Discipline and Diversity / moral-theory-normative

Normative International Relations Theory - Book chapter Erskine

24 important questions on Normative International Relations Theory - Book chapter Erskine

What is the simple aim of Normative International Relations Theory, according to the Erskine chapter in the book?

The aim is that of exploring moral expectations, decisions, and dilemmas in world politics.

There are 2 accounts of the history of Normative International Relations Theory, what are these perspectives?

A young and immature theory developed during the international problems in the 1960s and 1970s (Vietnam war) that drew focus on practical questions in world politics and was the awakening of the just war tradition + Rawls Theory of Justice;
The theory finds its roots in the works of Marx, Hegel, and Plato.

Both perspectives are correct since they both highlight different aspects of the theory.

What are the 2 radically different accounts of the moral significance of identities in Normative International Relations Theory?

Cosmopolitanism and communitarianism.

What are the 2 different meanings of cosmopolitanism in Normative International Relations Theory and what do they entail?

Political cosmopolitanism: elimination of state borders to achieve some kind of world governance;
Ethical cosmopolitanism: a global sphere of equal moral standing, everyone matters equally. (center of attention in Normative IR Theory)

What concept do both political and ethical cosmopolitanism use and what is the difference in meaning?

They both use the concept of a world citizen.
Political cosmopolitanism uses the concept quite practically as there are no state borders and thus a world society.
Ethical cosmopolitanism uses the concept world citizen because we are all equal thus the same morally.

What could be identified as a concern of ethical cosmopolitanism?

Since everyone matter equally, there can be no 'us' and 'them'. But what is left of us without an identity? We cannot make any judgments or ethical reasoning because we are simply not a person.

What does the concept communitarianism entail in Normative IR Theory? What does it define, according to MacIntyre?

Communitarianism states that membership is morally defining. Primarily you are a member of a group, a someone. It opposes cosmopolitanism and it is included in pluralist ethics. According to MacIntyre, these sorts of identities and roles necessarily define one's moral starting point.

What weaknesses of a communitarianist perspective could be identified?

A communitarian perspective forces one to give preference to fellow community members (or in the realist version, fellow citizens). State borders are thus morally defining. State borders create insiders and outsiders.

There are two different types of normative theory that provide moral frameworks on what we should do. What are these?

Consequentialism and deontology.

What does consequentialism in Normative International Relations Theory entail?

Consequentialism argues to make choices according to the state of affairs that will result from our actions. So look at the (unintended) consequences. Moral judgments on what is right and wrong rely on weighing the projected benefits that an action will produce against the possible harms.

What are 2 common criticisms on consequentialism?

That anything could be permitted or unacceptable based on its projected consequences;
It is very demanding and takes time to find out what consequences are.

The proportionality principle is part of consequentialism. What does the proportionality principle entail?

The proportionality principle states that permissible actions must clear the additional hurdle of producing more good than harm.

What does deontology in Normative International Relations Theory entail?

Deontology argues that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules, rather than based on the consequences of the action. All acts are wrong in themselves, regardless of their consequences.

What is a common criticism on deontology?

The fact that (not) doing something could lead to very bad consequences.

An answer to this problem of deontology comes from the Doctrine of Double Effect. What does the DDE in Normative IR Theory entail?

The DDE argues that it is permissible to perform an action even if it results in foreseeable harm, as long as this harm is not directly intended. For consequences to be unintended they cannot be a means to fulfilling one's objective.

What are the 3 insights of Normative IR Theory?

Norms matter in world politics;
Sites of value affect issues of inclusion;
The global realm is one of moral agents and these agents have moral responsibilities.

What are international moral norms in the eyes of a Normative IR theorist?

International moral norms are a matter of dispute because the international society is one of division and dispute but international moral norms take on some kind of universal value and consensus.

There are two positions within the sites of value that affect moral inclusion. Which 2?

Ethical particularism;
Ethical universalism.

What does the position of ethical particularism entail and what type of moral framework in Normative IR Theory belongs to this position?

Ethical particularism is a position whereby one engages in moral reasoning from the perspective of his or her own particular ties, relationships, practices and context. It is charged with favouring those with whom they stand in particular ties with. Communitarianism belongs to this position.

What does the position of ethical universalism entail and what type of moral framework in Normative IR Theory belongs to this position?

Ethical universalism is a position whereby one stands apart from all local loyalties and affiliations when engaging in moral reasoning. It recognizes the equal moral standing of all human beings. Cosmopolitanism belongs to this position.

Why is the global realm one of moral agents and moral responsibilities?

Because purposive actors in world politics are moral agents and these agents can think about their actions and thus have moral responsibilities.

What are the 2 senses of the relationship between moral agents and moral responsibility in the global realm in Normative IR Theory and what do they entail?

Forward-looking sense: associated with claims to duty and obligation, in terms of acts that ought to be performed;
Backward-looking sense: accountability and blame/praise for acts and omissions.

What does the Just War Tradition in Normative IR Theory entail?

It sets limits to the use of force thus opposes the notion of unrestricted war. But it also opposes pacifism because it also licenses the use of force.

What are the 2 categories of principles of restraint in the just war tradition?

Jus ad bellum: governing the justice of resorting to war.
Jus in bello, pertaining to just behaviour in war. (deontological)

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

International Relations Theories Discipline and Diversity | 9780199298334 | Timothy Dunne, et al

View summary

A unique study and practice tool
Never study anything twice again
Get the grades you hope for
100% sure, 100% understanding

Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.

Normative International Relations Theory - Book chapter Erskine

24 important questions on Normative International Relations Theory - Book chapter Erskine

What is the simple aim of Normative International Relations Theory, according to the Erskine chapter in the book?

There are 2 accounts of the history of Normative International Relations Theory, what are these perspectives?

What are the 2 radically different accounts of the moral significance of identities in Normative International Relations Theory?

What are the 2 different meanings of cosmopolitanism in Normative International Relations Theory and what do they entail?

What concept do both political and ethical cosmopolitanism use and what is the difference in meaning?

What could be identified as a concern of ethical cosmopolitanism?

What does the concept communitarianism entail in Normative IR Theory? What does it define, according to MacIntyre?

What weaknesses of a communitarianist perspective could be identified?

There are two different types of normative theory that provide moral frameworks on what we should do. What are these?

What does consequentialism in Normative International Relations Theory entail?

What are 2 common criticisms on consequentialism?

The proportionality principle is part of consequentialism. What does the proportionality principle entail?

What does deontology in Normative International Relations Theory entail?

What is a common criticism on deontology?

An answer to this problem of deontology comes from the Doctrine of Double Effect. What does the DDE in Normative IR Theory entail?

What are the 3 insights of Normative IR Theory?

What are international moral norms in the eyes of a Normative IR theorist?

There are two positions within the sites of value that affect moral inclusion. Which 2?

What does the position of ethical particularism entail and what type of moral framework in Normative IR Theory belongs to this position?

What does the position of ethical universalism entail and what type of moral framework in Normative IR Theory belongs to this position?

Why is the global realm one of moral agents and moral responsibilities?

What are the 2 senses of the relationship between moral agents and moral responsibility in the global realm in Normative IR Theory and what do they entail?

What does the Just War Tradition in Normative IR Theory entail?

What are the 2 categories of principles of restraint in the just war tradition?

Summaries related to International Relations and Social Science

International Relations Theories Discipline …

Principles of Comparative Politics

Indian Economics

Global politics

Essentials of international relations

Behavioral genetics

Management and organisational behaviour

Follow Up Engels idioom 4/5 H

International Business

Marketing fundamentals

Projectmanagement, A practical Approach-Engl…

Basic Management Accounting for the Hospital…