Professor Stephen Krasner

International Politics

1. “Conventional theories of international politics such as realism and liberal institutionalism assume that unified, rational, autonomous states are the fundamental actors in international politics. However in the contemporary international environment the most challenging problems are presented by states that are often not unified or autonomous. The challenge presented by failed or weakly governed states makes it necessary to develop a new theoretical perspective on international politics.”

Discuss. Refer to readings where appropriate.

2. “The dominant perspectives toward international relations in American political science -- realism and liberal institutionalism -- are fundamentally misleading because they ignore ideas and variations in national cultures."

Discuss. Refer to reading where appropriate.