Marxism

• Marx critique of IR theory

  . State is primary unit of analysis - Class relations are at heart of political dynamics in IR

  . IR is distinct from economics and sociology - They are intertwined

  . War is a product of anarchy - Product of imperial rivalry

  . Security is highest value in which order can achieve it - Order allos status-quo and preserves inequality - war can be good if it reshapes IR system - Justice is main aim
• Dus Capitol

  . Provides a positivist response as to why capitalism is fundamentally flawed
• Labour theory of value

  . Worker - Adds value and gains a wage

  . Capitalist - Owns means of production, retains surplus value

  . Therefore - Worker has been suppressed by higher levels
• Contradictions of capitalism

  . Cycle - Increased competition, Decrease wages, decrease in purchasing power, decrease in profits
• Revolution

  . Economic determinism - Society is based upon the capitalist and proletariat - communism can be determined by the contradiction of capitalism

  . Teleological - End of history is communism, class wars will spread globally

  . Utopia - World communism and thus world peace
• Historical materialism

  . Wealth and power are prime movers of IR

  . Distribution of wealth determines politics

  . Thus

  . Capitalism is constantly running itself into the ground - contradictions will continue and workers will revolt
• Like Liberalism

  . Positivist - Science can be used to explain IR

  . Utopian - History is heading towards world peace
• Unlike liberalism

  . Liberals believe we are on the track for world peace

  . Marxists stress there is need for catastrophic change
• Like Realism

  . Criticse liberal morality as a screen for imperialism

  . IR is dominated by power and stratergy which leaves little room for cooperation
• Unlike realism

  . Marx argues that power is through capitalism rather than anarchy