The class discussion on Thursday brought up a lot of good points about the marginalized population and their function in a state. Do they undermine the existing IR theories? Current IR theories dictate that the state is of supreme importance – even in liberalism and constructivism, where other institutions can play large roles, the state is still the head honcho.
However, I do not believe that recognizing the importance and power of marginalized people contradicts the three prevailing IR theories. Especially in liberalism and constructivism, the marginalized groups can easily fit in with the theories. If one argues that states are the most important entity in international political theory, that argument does not necessary dispute the existence or importance of other institutions or sources of power. It would probably be very hard to argue that marginalized people have never held any power or affected the international political realm, even in the slightest way. It would also be hard to argue these marginalized groups have power over state entities.
Instead, what we need to do is examine the power of all institutions and states and marginalized groups, and recognize that they all play a role in how states deal with each other. This is especially true in the age of technology, when the majority of the planet has access to learn about the groups in America and in other places that have been pushed to the bottom rungs.
I agree that one can include the importance of the marginalized with each of the different schools of thought within international relations. However, this creates a different perspective on the marginalized. If approaching these groups from a realist perspective, the state should only recognize their power solely because of their ability to come together and revolt which makes them a threat to physical security. Constructivism is tricky in this topic. Maybe, a state acts for the benefit of the marginalized because it claims the identity of a benevolent nation. Liberalism is the one theory that I see acting with actual empathy towards the marginalized. This theory is based mainly on "power from the masses." Therefore, the state should listen to the marginalized because it creates a mutually beneficial system between state and populace. In short, each IR theory can address the marginalized, but not always in the most empathetic way. However, it is completely subjective whether or not the marginalized should even be approached with empathy.
ReplyDelete