The readings explore what drives
states and policies and, during class, we discussed how to tell the difference
between ideas and interests. The overall
conclusion that we seemed to come to is that policies start out as ideas and
interests branch out from these ideas.
Later, as time and circumstance change, ideas turn around and
shape/distort ideas. This is really
evident in the ongoing back and forth with the U.S. and Russia. During the Cold War, idea drove policies on
both sides and the Red Scare in America was based on the “belief” that there
were people who were not the definition of a true “American.” Vice versa, in
the Soviet Union, the government outlawed literature and clothes from the West,
because, they did not coincide with the idea (beliefs) of Communism. The polarity of the two was a worldwide show of
vetoes in the Security Council, where they used their veto power quite often
and stunted UN efforts in major international affairs.
Synthesizing
“interests and ideas” with “coercion and rational bargaining” add up to a case
of realism. From an idealistic
perspective, states seem to want to work together, in cooperation, but, at the
end of the day a state (or sovereign) will look out for the preservation of its
people and its sovereignty. Right and
wrong (values) become dictated by what serves the interests of the people.
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