International Relations Theory

A Critical Introduction
By
Cynthia Weber

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

 Learning aims:

Understand the
Recognize difference
different between
understandings of conscious and
culture unconscious
ideologies

See how the

Understand the
course works and
myth function in
what you have in
IR theory
store

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

Questions we ask in this course:
What makes a
How does the
particular story
“truth” function in
about international
a particular IR
politics appear to
myth?
be true?

If so, what must go

Is IR theory a without saying for
culture? IR theory as a
culture to function?
© 2014 Cynthia Weber
 What is culture? (box 1.1)

“Culture is concerned with the production and exchange of

meanings – the ‘giving and taking of meaning’ – between
members of a society or group” (Stuart Hall, 1997)

“The social production and reproduction of sense,

meaning, and consciousness” (John Hartley, in O’Sullivan
et al., 1994)

“an ensemble of stories we tell about ourselves” (Clifford

Geertz, 1975)

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

What is ideology? (box 1.2)

Conscious ideology:
“a fairly coherent and comprehensive set
of ideas that explains and evaluates social
conditions, helps people understand their
place in society and provides a program
for social and political action”
(Ball and Dagger, 1995)

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

What is ideology? (box 1.2)

Unconscious ideology:
Ideology that is not formally named
and that is therefore difficult to
identify. It is the common sense
foundation of our worldviews that is
beyond debate

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

Examples of conscious and unconscious
ideologies (box 1.3)

Conscious Unconscious

Feminism Boys will be boys

America has a classless

Socialism society

Conservatism English people are white

Liberalism Everyone I know is straight

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

 What is an IR myth? (box 1.4)

An IR myth is an apparent truth, usually

expressed as a slogan, that an IR theory
or tradition (like realism or idealism)
relies on to appear to be true

Examples:
“international anarchy is the
permissive cause of war”
“there is an international society”
© 2014 Cynthia Weber
 The IR myths
2. Realism 3. Idealism
4. Constructivism
“anarchy is the “there is an
“anarchy is what
permissive cause of international
states make of it”
war” society”

5. Gender 6. Globalization 7. NeoMarxism

“gender is a “it is the end of “Empire is the new
variable” history” world order”

8. Modernization 9. Environmentalism
and Development “human-made 10. Anarchism
“there is a clash of climate change is an “We are the 99%”
civilizations” inconvenient truth”
© 2014 Cynthia Weber
 What is the myth function in IR
theory? (box 1.5)
The myth function in IR theory is the
transformation of what is particular, cultural
and ideological (like a story told by an IR
tradition) into what appears to be universal,
natural and purely empirical

Cultural
Myth function “Natural fact”
interpretation

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

 Each week we will ask:
1. What does the myth say?
• Select a classic IR text that uses that myth
• Situate the IR text in its particular IR tradition
• Summarize the text
• Explore how the IR text makes use of the IR myth

2. How does the myth function?

• Select a film that illustrates the myth function in a particular IR myth
• Summarize the film
• Relate the film to IR myth. Ask: “how does the film make sense of the world?”
and “what is typical and deviant in that world”?
3. What does this critical analysis of the myth function in IR theory tell us
about IR theory culturally, ideologically and popularly?
• How does IR theory make sense of the world?
• What does IR theory say is typical and deviant in that world?
© 2014 Cynthia Weber
 The theories/traditions and their films
2. Realism 3. Idealism 4. Constructivism
Lord of the Flies Independence Wag the Dog
(1963) Day (1996) (1997)

5. Gender 6. Globalization
7. NeoMarxism
Fatal Attraction The Truman Show
Memento (2001)
(1987) (1998)

8. Modernization 9. 10. Anarchism

and Development Environmentalism The Hunger
East is East (2000) WALL-E (2008) Games (2012)
© 2014 Cynthia Weber
 Activity: Myth and ideology in IR and
films
• Reflect on the role of myths and unconscious ideologies in IR and films
Aim

• Why are unconscious myths perhaps more powerful than conscious myths?
• How is ideology related to culture?
Answer • How can we see culture and unconscious myths function in IR theories?

• What are the connections between “the popular” and “the political”?
• Is “the popular” always already “political”?
• What films have you seen lately that you think we can interrogate as having
Discuss a conscious and unconscious ideology?

© 2014 Cynthia Weber

 Next week: Realism

Sovereign States
International
Anarchy
Film: Fear
Lord of the
Flies Is international anarchy the
permissive cause of war?

© 2014 Cynthia Weber