GOVT 1621 A guide for understanding analysis
A guide for understanding analysis
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A guide for understanding analysis and essay
elements for GOVT 1621
This is meant to provide n examples of how to construct core elements of an academic essay – it is
not to copy identically or take content ideas from. It is for stylistic inspiration. Previous students
have kindly consented to their work being used for this so please respect their intellectual property.
These papers all received HDs.
Thesis Statements
• The international relations (IR) theories of realism, constructivism and poststructuralism
make sense of the politics of climate change in contrasting ways, with the issue of climate
change revolving around the themes of “power, morality and interests” (Pfefferle, 2014).
Realism examines how the state-centric nature of IR is centred around self-interested
policies to maximise power, viewing cooperation with other states as a last resort.
Constructivism acknowledges climate change as a social process, with state identity and
norms shaping climate policies and agreements and poststructuralism examining the
language and discourse that shapes public perceptions of climate change as well as
critiquing and questioning power relations that explain why climate change is the way it is
presently.
• For the purposes of this essay, solutions pertaining to global poverty will utilise a case study
of the limited education sector in Timor Leste. Neoliberalism would posit that increasing
privatisation in the education sector will foster greater competition and thus stimulate
economic activity. Radical Feminism theory would challenge hegemonic masculinity
through an overhaul of the patriarchal society which perpetuates gendered discrimination.
Neomarxism would encourage Timor Leste to diversify its export market to subsequently
disturb the cyclical relationship with core states which entrenches poverty (Shannon, 2018),
and Postcolonialism would advocate for peaceful western intervention to provide monetary
and the practical facilitation of programs to improve the quality and accessibility of
education.
These are exemplary thesis statements as there is a logical flow to the language, they
contain key theoretical elements, and, most importantly, contain the core arguments of
the essay.
Introduction
• International relations is both the subject and the object of a variety of theories which
purport to explain, analyse and critique it. In doing so, neoliberalism, feminism, neo-
Marxism and postcolonialism function as ‘lenses’ through which disparate social, political
and economic issues may be perceived. The problem of global poverty is so pervasive,
however, that it is predominant in each theory’s examination. Whilst the existence of poverty
is irrefutable, these theories vary in their analysis of its causes and consequences, and,
accordingly, propose different solutions. Throughout this essay, poverty will be investigated
through scrutiny of the instances of poverty experienced in the South Pacific nation of Fiji,
which is emblematic of global poverty. Any analysis of the solutions for poverty created by
neoliberalism, feminism, neo-Marxism and postcolonialism first requires an understanding
of the theories themselves. This essay will thus explain each theory before examining their
respective solutions to global poverty in the case of Fiji. Ultimately, neoliberalism advocates
Compiled & edited by Dr. Laura Welty pg. 2
for international organisations to assist in economic growth via the free market, and
feminist theorists apply a gendered lens and perceive equality of the sexes as necessary to
alleviating poverty by reducing inequality. Neo-Marxists perceive the class relations within
the global order and support rejection of core-periphery exploitation as imperative to poverty
reduction, whilst postcolonialism analyses the concrete legacy of colonialism to deem
benevolent cooperation from Western nations necessary to minimise poverty levels.
This is an exemplary introduction paragraph. The language is clear and the purpose of
the essay is presented logically. All relevant theories are referenced and the core
arguments are listed in the order they are presented within the body paragraphs.
Definitions of Theory
• Constructivism is focused on understanding rather than explaining the world, explaining
how constructivists understand climate change as a social process resulting from socially
constructed ideas, with the identity of the state influencing foreign policy and decision
making.
• Social norms are a central aspect of constructivism generally defined as “a standard of
appropriate behaviour for actors with a given identity” (Finnemore, and Sikkink, 1998,
p.891), with states conforming to a certain identity and complying with the norms that are
associated with that identity (Jung, 2019).
• Elites are seen as using arbitrary language to shape human experiences and the perception
of reality, with power relations an intrinsic part in the construction of knowledge and how
it is viewed.
• The feminist lens challenges the historical principle that class, and race are determinants
of poverty by asserting that it is rather a “gendered experience” that impacts women more
greatly than men.
• The postcolonial critique embraces the historical and cultural implication of imperialism to
challenge western structures that have foundationally caused poverty to seek emancipation
for those living in deprivation.
• Unlike Marxism which centralises class structure within the state between the owners of
production (the bourgeoisie) and those who work for them (the proletariat), Neomarxism
adopts an international lens to argue that the global capitalist system is oppressive and thus
engaging in it does not serve to alleviate developing nations disadvantage.
• Originally derived from classical liberalism in the 1980s, this theory combines a laissez-
faire approach to economic markets with strong support of non-governmental transnational
bodies and institutions.
• Feminist theory focuses specifically upon the socially constructed gender relations which
permeate the international system. In perceiving international relations from a female
perspective, feminist theorists contend that mainstream discourses are ‘gendered’, insofar
as women are subjugated by an all-pervasive ‘hegemonic masculinity’.
These are excerpts of longer definitions within the essays. They have clear and direct
language. They explain key characteristics of the theory, often within the contextual
argument of the essay. All the definitions provide characteristics which are later linked
to elements of the case studies.
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Integrated Analysis
• Constructivism demonstrates that norms held by states shape their foreign policy and
decision making, explaining that when states have shared interests, they will cooperate with
other nations to achieve common goals such as reducing carbon emissions. This is evident
in the 196 nations adopting the 2015 Paris Agreement. Constructivism demonstrates how
cooperation between states manifests when states share the same norms which can result in
cohesive climate policies and agreements between nations.
• Climate change is not an objective reality, but rather a socially constructed phenomenon,
resulting from the way scientists talk about climate change in their research papers or the
way the media covers it in the news, which influences the way the public perceives the issue.
• As the issue of climate change concerns the atmosphere, a global commons, The Kyoto
Protocol requires states to communicate and adhere to international agreements, a concept
rejected by realism’s emphasis on an anarchic international system where states act in self-
interest for power and security.
• With norms influencing the behaviour of actors and states, the environmentalism norm
must be internalised by states to address climate change, as without the norm becoming a
part of national identity, the state’s behaviour will remain the same.
• The discourse created by political elites surrounding the subject of climate change shapes
the policies that are implemented and changes knowledge of the issue, with the perceived
level of threat altering behavioural responses.
• (De)securitising the threat of climate change removed the issue from public political
discourse, allowing former US President Bush and former Australian Prime Minister
Howard to avoid addressing it, seen through their failure to reduce CO2 emissions.
• Notably, focusing its criticism on the undeserving poor, asserting that they are “responsible”
for their poverty due to an “intentional mental state” that inhibits individuals from
maximising material wellbeing. Along with this, neoliberalists emphasise that its human
nature to “self-interestingly” pursue materialistic wealth.
• The feminist agenda diversifies the dimension of poverty by holistically revealing that
gender disparities inhibit the ability of women to develop, rather than the conventional
notion that poverty arises due to economic inequalities. This is exemplified by the theorist
Fukuda-Parr as they refute the economic-based solution of the discipline arguing that
gender inequalities are the essence of the issue.
• Similar to the feminist lens, Marxist recognise that inequalities inhibit the individual’s
ability to overcome poverty and develop. However, it digresses by asserting that capitalist
institution seeks to preserve inequalities as it enables the exploitation of circumstantial
economic disparities of workers to maximise production outputs.
• The postcolonial agenda emphasises the intricate connection between historical and
political struggles of imperialism within the discourse of development and poverty by
outlining that the pursuit of development is unconsciously reflective of Eurocentric ideals.
• To maximise profit outside of the governmental arena, Neoliberalists would encourage
private sector-led recovery programs to found schools and universities within the nation. As
companies would devote themselves to keeping costs to a minimum to achieve significant
economic gain, there would likely be an increase in productivity and employment rates as
the workforce would be largely made up of local labour.
• The nation’s dependency on oil and gas exports, while importing almost 80 percent of the
goods it consumes, is a means by which core countries perpetuate their hegemonic
Compiled & edited by Dr. Laura Welty pg. 4
dominance over the periphery to advance their own wealth, while exacerbating inequality
within the international system.
• Financial NGOs such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) act as forums within which member States may establish reciprocal
interdependence. This collaboration is mutually beneficial, as neoliberalism contends that
States working together expedites the optimisation of absolute gains.
• Increasingly, the politics of climate change have become more commodified as throughout
the world there has been a greater tendency for ‘marketisation’ because of the entrenchment
of neo-liberal politics and economics in the 1990’s.
• The creation of such emissions targets would result in a movement away from fossil fuels,
such as oil, as a source of energy. This would alter the balance of power away from the
minority group of countries who export oil, such as Norway, Russia and Saudi Arabia, in
turn lessening their power in the international arena.
• From a carbon emissions perspective, this has manifested in actors pressuring governments
and firms to act on cutting emissions through the setting of targets, the removal of subsidies
from fossil fuel creating industries and the allocating of funding and resources towards low
carbon emitting energy production technologies. Indeed, constructivists argue that states
have primarily come together to “develop climate change mitigation policies because it is the
right thing to do”.
• From a post-structuralist perspective, the solution to increasing carbon emotions is to shift
climate discourse, to change the problem into a matter of national security, forcing states to
implement combative measure. Further, those in hegemonic power situations, should engage
in dominant discourse to ensure that climate change action is taken, and its potential
threats are evidenced.
• The 2017 report by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency determined that
together China and the US accounted for approximately 43% of carbon dioxide emissions
but gaining reductions is tricky due to their competition with one another leading to them
being unwilling to fall economically or militarily behind the other.
• Though scientists as powerful actors in society acted as norm entrepreneurs to reach the
emergence part of the cycle that recognises that it is an issue and have with subsequent
following entered the cascade or spiral model of the norm life cycle values surrounding
environmental sustainability and the belief that action is needed against climate change
have not yet been internalised in state actors and society that sacrifice is willing to be made
for these beliefs.
• The implications of securitising climate change might have further consequences though, as
by securitising they have also militarised the issue which may not be appropriate in fostering
cooperation between states. Framing climate change as a threat to national security justifies
a more self-centred response in securing the national interest as is under Realism which
produces uncertainty and distrust between states
Key to a good analysis and strong argumentation is the intertwining of theory and case
study examples. Some of these statements are about linking theory to broader concepts
within the case studies while other are connected directly to explaining facts and
statistics. All these statements are providing explicit linkage and walking the reader
through the logical connections. The authors have ensured that the reader does not have
to rely on their own knowledge to fill in any argumentative gaps.
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Conclusion
• From a realist perspective, climate change is explained as an issue resulting from the
competition for power between states in the anarchic international system, while a
constructivist lens sees norms prescribe state behaviour and national identity, with the
issue of climate change not being addressed due to the normative value of pro-environment
not reaching internalisation. Poststructuralism analyses how the dominant discourse
surrounding climate change (de)securitises the issue and influences knowledge and
behaviour to align with current national identity. In applying these theories of
International Relations to the actions of the US and Australia regarding the Kyoto
Protocol, the current politics of climate change are explained and possible solutions to the
issue are offered.
This is an excellent conclusion as it is a concise restatement of the core theoretical
arguments and their perspectives on the case study of climate politics. No new knowledge
is introduced. Think of your conclusion as a summative statement of your core arguments
that is meant to bracket your body paragraphs with your thesis statement.