Home / Summaries / International Relations Theories Discipline and Diversity / state-walzer-community

Normative International Relations Theory - Walzer text

13 important questions on Normative International Relations Theory - Walzer text

How does Walzer see the state?

Walzer sees the state as presumptively, though by no other means always in practice, the arena within which self-determination is worked our and from which, therefore, foreign armies have to be excluded. The subject is not necessarily the state but the political community that underlies it.

On what is this political community that underlies the state based, according to Walzer?

This community is based on a contract. This contract is metaphorical and the moral understanding of it takes a long time to shape, it is never worked out in one single generation. Individual rights are violated when this communal integrity is denied.

How are the members of this community bound to each other and their government?

Members of a community are horizontally bound/contracted to one another. There is no vertical/governmental contract. This does not mean the community does not require a government, however, the citizens are not bound to the government to defend it against foreigners. Rather, the government is bound to the citizens to defend them against foreigners.

Why do Wasserstrom, Doppelt, Beitz and Luban disagree with Walzer's Just War theory, according to Walzer?

The reason why these writers disagree with Walzer is, according to Walzer, because they have philosophical disagreements about the nature of political life.

In the argument of Wasserstrom, Doppelt, Beitz, and Luban, they criticize 2 elements of Walzer's theory. What do they argue?

The theory of Walzer protects states that should not be protected against foreign intervention (like tyrannies);
The theory of Walzer does so on grounds that are either inadequate or incoherent.

What 3 statements does Michael Walzer make in his article about the moral standing of states?

The article defends the basic significance of the political community underlying the state.
The article argues that the state should be seen as presumptively entitled to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The article regards a foreign invasion as a lesser crime than aggression if the invaded state's citizens do not defend it.

What does Walzer argue about the assumption of legitimacy of a foreign state?

Foreigners cannot judge this state, therefore, it is a moral necessity to presume that there exists a certain fit between the community and its government and that this state is legitimate.

What does dual reference of the doctrine of legitimacy entail, according to Walzer?

A state is legitimate or not depending upon the 'fit' of government and community, or the degree to which the government actually represents the political life of its people.
The presumptive legitimacy of states in international society. Foreigners can only intervene when the absence of this 'fit' is radically apparent, even if the foreigners have a good intention.

How can intervening with good or even revolutionary intentions still be unjustified, according to Walzer?

Because then the foreigners have not respected the right of revolution/slowness of the domestic citizens.

What makes a state illegitimate and are, thus, the conditions for a foreign state to intervene, according to Walzer?

When a particular state includes more than one political community, when it is an empire or a multinational state, and when one of its communities or nations is in active revolt --> no fit between government and community.
When a single community is disrupted by civil war, and when one foreign power intervenes in support of one party, other powers can rightfully intervene in support of the other party.
Interventions can be justified whenever a government is engaged in the massacre, enslavement, or the expulsion of very large numbers of people of its own citizens or subjects.

What are rights and where are they enforceable, according to Walzer?

Rights are only enforceable within political communities where they have been collectively recognized, and the process by which they come to be recognized is a political process which requires a political arena. The globe is not such an arena.

What does Walzer argue concerning communities and states?

He argues that communities have higher moral standing than states.

What does Walzer state in his article concerning the capacity of a state to understand another state?

He questions the capacity of foreigners to understand the history and culture of a state. He states that foreigners can never truly understand the situation and culture of another political community.

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 - Walzer text

13 important questions on Normative International Relations Theory - Walzer text

How does Walzer see the state?

On what is this political community that underlies the state based, according to Walzer?

How are the members of this community bound to each other and their government?

Why do Wasserstrom, Doppelt, Beitz and Luban disagree with Walzer's Just War theory, according to Walzer?

In the argument of Wasserstrom, Doppelt, Beitz, and Luban, they criticize 2 elements of Walzer's theory. What do they argue?

What 3 statements does Michael Walzer make in his article about the moral standing of states?

What does Walzer argue about the assumption of legitimacy of a foreign state?

What does dual reference of the doctrine of legitimacy entail, according to Walzer?

How can intervening with good or even revolutionary intentions still be unjustified, according to Walzer?

What makes a state illegitimate and are, thus, the conditions for a foreign state to intervene, according to Walzer?

What are rights and where are they enforceable, according to Walzer?

What does Walzer argue concerning communities and states?

What does Walzer state in his article concerning the capacity of a state to understand another state?

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…