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GV505-week 4
Group level of
Analysis/Institutional Factors
2.
State/Structural Factors
1.
Group level of analysis
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Identification with a group
Social and ethnic groups
Aggression among groups: conflict as a
social construct
Group Level Causes of Conflict
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Robbers’ Cave experiment
 The role of territory
 The role of common danger
 “In-group” vs. “out-group”
Socio-psychological arguments
 Enemy System Theory: “Us” vs. “Them”
 Social Identity Theory: social mobilization and
identification with groups
 Decision Making Theories
Structural arguments
 Relative Deprivation and Expectations’ Gap
 Human Needs Theory
 Power Structure
Conflict at the State
level/International System Structures
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Define State and Types of States
Realism and power
Definition of power
Strong, Weak, and Failed States
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How do we define state sovereignty?
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Is sovereignty is a state’s right or privilege?
Differences between Developed (North) and Third
World/Developing/ South states
Strong state: Autonomy and Capacity
Weak state: Difficulties satisfying the needs of
citizens
Failed state: domestic anarchy and the role of
ethnic and tribal groups
Example of failed State: Somalia
Official name: Soomaaliya
(Somali)(Somalia).
Form of government: no
permanent national
government
Head of state and
government: No
effective central
government exists.
Population projection:
(2000) 7,434,000
Life expectancy: 47 yrs.
GDP (1996)(110 per capita).
GDP (2001) $550 per capita.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Form of government:
dictatorship; presumably
undergoing a transition to
representative government
Head of state and
government: President
Joseph KABILA (since 26
January 2001); note following the assassination of
his father and 4 armies.
Population: 55 mil
Life Expectancy: 49 yrs and
keep dropping due to
Aids.
GDP growth rate: -5%
GDP (2001) $590 per capita.
“…Nay, number itself in armies importeth not much,
where people is of weak courage; for as Virgil saith: “It
never troubles a wolf how many the sheep be.” Francis
Bacon
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Assumptions of realism
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State centered international system, principle
sovereignty
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Rational, unitary actor
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Anarchic or loosely hierarchical international
system
Historical roots of realism
Main focus of studying: Power relations among
states
State behavior: maximize security and/or power
Defining Power
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Power as influence
Power as capability
Relativity of power
Can we estimate power?
Difference between “capabilities” and “power”
 Political
 Technology
 Reputation
 Regime Type
 RPC
 Geography, Resources, and Economics
 Military
Boulding’s three faces of
power
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Threat power
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Economic power
Integrative power
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Deterrence
State authority over citizens
Legitimacy, persuasion, loyalty
All three faces of power are necessary: Why?
Examples: Soviet Union, Germany during
WWII, British empire