Marxist international relations theory

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Marxist and Neo-Marxist international relations theories are paradigms which reject the realist/liberal view of state conflict or cooperation; instead focusing on the economic and material aspects. It makes the assumption that the economic trumps other concerns; allowing for the elevation of class as the focus of study. Marxists view the international system as an integrated capitalist system in pursuit of capital accumulation. Thus, the period of colonialism brought in sources for raw materials and captive markets for exports, while decolonialization brought new opportunities in the form of dependence.

Marxist theories receive scant attention in the United States where even moderate socialist and social democratic parties lack mainstream political influence; elsewhere, especially Africa, Latin America, South and East Asia, and some parts of Europe, Marxist and other progressive theories are more incorporated into political discourse.

Contents 1 Leninism 2 Dependency theory 3 World System Theory 4 Criticisms 5 See also

[edit] Leninism

Main article: Leninism

[edit] Dependency theory

Main article: Dependency theory

Linked in with Marxist theories is dependency theory which argues that developed countries, in their pursuit of power, penetrate developing states through political advisors, missionaries, experts and MNCs to integrate them into the integrated capitalist system in order to appropriate natural resources and foster dependence by developing countries on developed countries.

[edit] World System Theory

Main articles: World System Theory and Immanuel Wallerstein

[edit] Criticisms

Realists and liberals criticize Marxist theories for being outdated particularly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War. Postpositivists disagree with Marxists' elevation of class as the most important aspect.

[edit] See also

• International relations theory
• Critical international relations theory
• Marxism