Glossary – Marxist, Critical and Dependency Approaches

Marxist, Critical and Dependency Approaches

Introduction

Marxist, critical and dependency approaches examine international politics through questions of economic structure, capitalism, inequality, class, exploitation, historical power and global hierarchy.

These approaches challenge theories that treat states and international institutions as politically neutral or independent from broader economic and social structures.

Marxism

Marxism: A body of social, economic and political thought associated primarily with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that emphasizes class relations, capitalism, production and historical change.

Historical Materialism: An approach that explains historical development partly through material conditions, production and social relations.

Class: A social group defined in relation to economic position and ownership or control of productive resources.

Bourgeoisie: In Marxist terminology, the capitalist class that owns or controls the means of production.

Proletariat: In Marxist terminology, the working class that sells its labour.

Means of Production: Resources and institutions used to produce goods and services.

Capitalism: An economic system characterized by private ownership of capital and production, markets and wage labour.

Marxist International Relations

Marxist International Relations: Approaches that analyze international politics through capitalism, class relations, economic structures and global inequality.

Capitalist World Economy: A global economic system organized around capitalist production, markets and accumulation.

Economic Structure: The organization of production, ownership, trade, finance and economic relationships.

Class Conflict: Conflict arising from opposing economic interests between social classes.

Imperialism

Imperialism: The extension of political, economic or strategic influence by powerful states over other territories or societies.

Economic Imperialism: Influence or domination exercised through economic relationships.

Colonialism: Direct political control or occupation of territories by an external power.

Neo-Colonialism: A concept referring to indirect forms of influence or dependence that may persist after formal colonial rule ends.

Dependency Theory

Dependency Theory: An approach arguing that the economic development of poorer countries has been shaped by unequal relationships with wealthier countries and the global capitalist system.

Dependency: A condition in which one economy is structurally reliant on another in ways that constrain autonomous development.

Core: Wealthier and more powerful areas of the global economy.

Periphery: Less economically powerful areas that often occupy subordinate positions in global economic relationships.

Semi-Periphery: Intermediate positions between core and peripheral economies.

World-Systems Theory

World-Systems Theory: An approach associated particularly with Immanuel Wallerstein that analyzes the global capitalist system through relationships among core, semi-peripheral and peripheral areas.

World-System: A broad historical-economic system within which political and economic relationships operate.

Unequal Exchange: The concept that international economic exchange can systematically benefit stronger economies relative to weaker ones.

Critical Theory

Critical Theory: An approach that examines existing political and social structures with the aim of understanding power, inequality and possibilities for transformation.

Critical International Relations Theory: Approaches that question established assumptions and examine how international institutions and structures reproduce particular forms of power and inequality.

Emancipation: The reduction or removal of conditions that restrict human freedom and autonomy.

Historical Structure: A configuration of material conditions, institutions and ideas that shapes political possibilities.

Gramscian Approaches

Antonio Gramsci: An Italian Marxist thinker whose ideas have influenced critical approaches to International Relations.

Hegemony: The maintenance of dominance not only through coercion but also through consent, ideas and cultural leadership.

Counter-Hegemony: Ideas, movements or practices challenging an established hegemonic order.

Organic Intellectual: In Gramscian thought, an intellectual emerging from and contributing to the development of a social class or movement.

Global Capitalism

Global Capitalism: The international organization of capitalist production, finance, trade and investment.

Transnational Capital: Capital operating across national borders through corporations, financial institutions and investment networks.

Global Production: Production organized across multiple countries through international supply and value chains.

Financialization: The increasing importance of financial activities, institutions and markets within economic systems.

Critical Approaches to International Institutions

Critical approaches may examine international institutions by asking:

• Who establishes the rules?
• Whose interests do the rules serve?
• Which actors have greater influence?
• How are inequalities reproduced?
• Which alternatives are excluded?
• How do institutions affect different social groups?

This differs from approaches that primarily ask how institutions facilitate cooperation.

Key Distinctions

Marxism vs Dependency Theory: Marxism provides a broader theory of capitalism and class; dependency theory focuses particularly on unequal relationships between developed and developing economies.

Colonialism vs Imperialism: Colonialism generally involves direct territorial control; imperialism is broader and can include indirect political, economic or strategic domination.

Dependency vs Interdependence: Interdependence implies mutual effects; dependency emphasizes structural asymmetry and unequal relationships.

Core vs Periphery: Core refers to relatively powerful positions in the world economy; periphery refers to structurally weaker positions.

Critical Theory vs Conventional Theory: Critical approaches examine underlying structures and possibilities for transformation; conventional approaches often focus more on explaining or managing existing international relations.

Key Terms at a Glance

Marxism | Historical Materialism | Capitalism | Class | Bourgeoisie | Proletariat | Means of Production | Imperialism | Colonialism | Neo-Colonialism | Dependency Theory | Dependency | Core | Periphery | Semi-Periphery | World-Systems Theory | Unequal Exchange | Critical Theory | Emancipation | Hegemony | Counter-Hegemony | Global Capitalism

Related Glossaries

International Relations Theories | International Political Economy | Global Inequality | Globalization | Colonialism and Decolonization | Hegemony and Polarity | Global Development