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 purports to reveal how the economic trumps other concerns, which allows for the elevation of class as the focus of the 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 little attention in the United States where even democratic socialist parties lack mainstream political influence. Throughout Africa, Latin America, south-eastern Asia, and parts of Europe—especially France, Greece, and Italy—Marxist and other theories are more incorporated and influential into political and social discourse.

Leninism

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 multi-national corporations (MNCs) to integrate them into the capitalist system in order to appropriate natural resources and foster dependence by developing countries on developed countries.

World-systems theory

Criticisms

Realists and liberals criticize Marxist conflict theories for ideological and consequentialist reasons. Postpositivists disagree with Marxists' elevation of class conflict as the most significant aspect of human life and the key to understanding all human history and behavior.

See also

• International relations theory
• Critical international relations theory
• Marxism