Neutrality in International Relations
The Theory and Practice of Peace during War
Waseda University, graduate level
Overview
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This course introduces graduate and advanced undergraduate students of International Relations or World History discursively to the study of neutrality as a paradigm of International Relations.
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Course Requirements
The average reading assignment for each class will be approximately 150 pages. Each student will act as a rapporteur for one class during the course. Depending on the size of the class, one or more students will be assigned responsibility for reviewing the readings orally during each session prior to the general discussion.
The average reading assignment for each class will be approximately 150 pages. Each student will act as a rapporteur for one class during the course. Depending on the size of the class, one or more students will be assigned responsibility for reviewing the readings orally during each session prior to the general discussion.
Objectives
The course provides a historical and conceptual overview of neutrality as a national and a structural-security model that has been part-and-parcel of War and Peace for at least 2500 years. The course uses key texts in neutrality studies including classical Greek writings, sources from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the research of contemporary scholars of International Relations, International Law, Security Studies, and Conflict Resolution. It will touch upon America’s Europe’s and Asia’s experiences with neutrality policy and discuss the “global neutrality regime” that emerged from the intricate treaty system of the late nineteenth century. Finally, the course will examine contemporary forms of neutralist policies in the post-Pax-Americana world order. It will look at the emerging multipolar system of the twenty-first century and, the return of a global security architecture that might or might not be conducive for new neutrals to emerge.
The course provides a historical and conceptual overview of neutrality as a national and a structural-security model that has been part-and-parcel of War and Peace for at least 2500 years. The course uses key texts in neutrality studies including classical Greek writings, sources from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the research of contemporary scholars of International Relations, International Law, Security Studies, and Conflict Resolution. It will touch upon America’s Europe’s and Asia’s experiences with neutrality policy and discuss the “global neutrality regime” that emerged from the intricate treaty system of the late nineteenth century. Finally, the course will examine contemporary forms of neutralist policies in the post-Pax-Americana world order. It will look at the emerging multipolar system of the twenty-first century and, the return of a global security architecture that might or might not be conducive for new neutrals to emerge.
Readings
The average reading assignment for each class will be approximately 150 pages. Each student will act as a rapporteur for one class during the course. Depending on the size of the class, one or more students will be assigned responsibility for reviewing the readings orally during each session prior to the general discussion.
The average reading assignment for each class will be approximately 150 pages. Each student will act as a rapporteur for one class during the course. Depending on the size of the class, one or more students will be assigned responsibility for reviewing the readings orally during each session prior to the general discussion.
Presentation
Each student will act at least once as a rapporteur for one of the classes. Depending on the size of the class, one or more students will be assigned responsibility for reviewing the readings orally during each session prior to the general discussion.
Each student will act at least once as a rapporteur for one of the classes. Depending on the size of the class, one or more students will be assigned responsibility for reviewing the readings orally during each session prior to the general discussion.
Research Paper
All students attending the class are required to write a research paper of 4000–7000 words (word count does not include footnotes and bibliography) on a topic related to neutrality studies. All seminar participants must submit a one-page description of the project plus an initial bibliography to me beforehand.
All students attending the class are required to write a research paper of 4000–7000 words (word count does not include footnotes and bibliography) on a topic related to neutrality studies. All seminar participants must submit a one-page description of the project plus an initial bibliography to me beforehand.
Lecture Plan
1. Introduction
The first session discusses the overall structure of the course, its requirements, grading, student contributions and format of essays and rapporteur reports. This class is also dedicated to a general discussion about our intuitive notions about neutrality and each student’s background in History and International Relations.
2. Neutrality: Not a New Idea
The first session introduces the class to the three fundamental aspects of the neutrality concept: Impartiality, the renunciation of alliances, and the principle of universal friendship, according to Thucydides’ classic definition “friends to you, and foes to neither.” It will discuss the position of neutrals in conflict triangles and introduce the roots of two most important forms of neutrality in Medieval ages: Maritime and Territorial Neutrality.
Reading Assignments
Mandatory
Optional
Reading Assignments
Mandatory
- Thucydides. (1874). The Melian Dialogue (Book VI) (R. Crawley, Trans.). In The History of the Peloponnesian War (pp. 396–404). London: Longmans, Green, and Co.
- Müller, L. (2019). The Forgotten History of Maritime Neutrality, 1500-1800. In P. Lottaz & H. Reginbogin (Eds.), Notions of Neutralities (pp. 67–86). Lanham: Lexington.
- Washington, G. (1793). The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793. In U.S.A. (Ed.), A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate Pursuant to an Act of the Fifty-Second Congress of the United States. New York: Bureau of National Literature. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/neutra93
Optional
- Knight, W. S. M. (1920). Neutrality and Neutralisation in the Sixteenth Century-Liège. Journal of Comparative Legislation and International Law, 2(1), 98-104.
3. Theorizing Neutrality: A Question of Framing
This preparatory meeting will focus on different ways of framing neutrality in International Relations and history. We will look at realist interpretations, constructivist approaches and the redefinition of US neutrality to isolationism and the implications thereof.
Reading Assignment
Mandatory
Optional
Reading Assignment
Mandatory
- Blower, B. L. (2014). From Isolation to Neutrality: A New Framework for Understanding American Political Culture, 1919-1941. *Diplomatic History, 38*, 345-376. https://doi.org/10.1093/dh/dht091](https://doi.org/10.1093/dh/dht091
- Simpson, A. W. (2018). Realism, Small States and Neutrality. In D. Orsi, J.
Optional
- Agius, C., & Devine, K. (2011). Neutrality: A Really Dead Concept? A reprise. Cooperation and Conflict, 46, 265-282. https://doi.org/10.1093/dh/dht091
- R. Augustin, & M. Nurnus (Eds.), Realism in Practice: An Appraisal (pp. 119–130). Bristol: E-International Relations Publishing.
4. Neutrality and International Law: The Rights and Duties of Neutrals
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The third session will move towards a historical overview of the connection between neutrality and International Law. We will read parts of Steven Neff’s classic work on the “Rights and Duties of Neutrals.” The class will discuss the roots of neutrality law, its practical and moral implications, and the developments of different schools of thought about neutrality.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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5. Neutrality as Structure I: The Long Nineteenth Century
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Today’s class analyzes the first half of Maartje Abbenhuis’ book on the structural role of neutrals after the Congress of Vienna. The class will discuss their initial impressions and the implications that follow from the context of the Concert of Europe.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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6. Neutrality as Structure II: The Long Nineteenth Century
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This class continues the last topic. We will be discussing the second half of Abbenhuis’ book, especially her conclusion and the view of neutrality as an essential part of the international system in the nineteenth century.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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7. Neutrality Collapsing: The Impact of the Great War
Today we will be looking at a catalyst for change in the international word; the First World War. Whereas neutrality was a well-defined and precisely delimited concept at the end of the nineteenth century, only a few years into the twentieth century the entire system collapsed with disastrous consequences not only for small and medium-sized neutrals but for the entire global trade system that used to depend on neutrals for their worldwide operations.
Reading Assignment
Mandatory
Reading Assignment
Mandatory
- Orvik, N. (1953). The Decline of Neutrality 1914-1941. With Special Reference to the United States and the Northern Neutrals. Oslo: Johan Grundt Tanum Forlag. 38–187: Chapter II—Neutrality During World War I; Chapter II—The Inter War Period.
8. Neutrality Resurgent: The Second World War
After the inter-war period, a new era of total warfare started in 1939. Already before that neutrals changed their approaches toward the League of Nations, but the big change came with the violence in Europe and in Asia.
Reading Assignment
Mandatory
Optional
Reading Assignment
Mandatory
- Orvik, N. (1953). The Decline of Neutrality 1914-1941. With Special Reference to the United States and the Northern Neutrals. Oslo: Johan Grundt Tanum Forlag. 195–257 (Chapter IV—From Neutrality to Non-Belligerency; Chapter V—Conclusion)
Optional
- Lottaz, P. (2018). Neutrality and Wartime Japan. In P. Lottaz & H. Reginbogin (Eds.), Notions of Neutralities. Lanham: Lexington, 113-134.
- Morgenthau, H. J. (1939). The Resurrection of Neutrality in Europe. American Political Science Review, 33, 473-486.
9. The Critics: Neutrality in WWII, an Immoral Endeavor?
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During WWII, some neutrals perished because they were invaded, some entered the war, and some remained unharmed—but at what price? For decades the small WWII neutrals like Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain have portrayed their wartime posture as one of resilience, good intensions and military preparedness. All of that changed when in the 1990’s criticism from the United States, and especially from the survivors of the Holocaust started to appear about the complacency of European neutrals with the Nazi war machinery. This lecture will review and analyze some of the core criticisms about neutrality in the concrete case of WWII in Europe.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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10. The End of US Neutrality and the beginning of a New Era
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Ever since the neutrality proclamation of George Washington in 1793, the United States had used neutrality as a key pillar of its foreign policy. Not even the two years “break” when it joined World War I on the side of the Entente Powers could change that. In the inter-war period, the US went right back to its traditional neutrality policy. All of this came to an end in 1941. We will discuss the US as a neutral power and the developments of neutrality once it abandoned the policy for good.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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11. New Parameters in the American Century
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With the end of the Second World War, a new era in Europe, Asia, and the Americas began. Peace returned to most parts of the world in a strange form of a bipolar rivalry, famous for the mutual distrust among former allies. In this class, we will continue with J.M. Gabriel’s famous work on the American conception of neutrality and the many experiences the US made immediately after WWII with a neutral model that had did not function anymore as it used to.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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12. New System, New Neutrality: The Cold War
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Carrying the discussion from last week forward, we will dive into the depths of the Cold War and the new role that neutrals came to play as well as an entirely new category of neutral states; the nonaligned countries.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
Optional
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13. The Neutral Idea in a Multi-Polar World
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The Cold War has been over for 30 years and the world has moved on. Some predicted “The End of History,” but history has proven resilient to hasty endings. Conflicts and confrontations persist from the violent collapse of Yugoslavia, the Gulf Wars, 9/11, the Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the fight against ISIS. Does this world leave space for neutrals or is the concept finally coming to an end?
Reading Assignment Mandatory
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Neutrality in the Post-communist Space
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This meeting continues last week’s discussion and brings us definitely to present times. We will the development of neutrals who are today part of the European Union, ideas for neutral security corridors in Europe and the future of neutralism in Asia.
Reading Assignment Mandatory
Optional
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15. CONCLUSION
The last lecture is reserved for a concluding discussion. Where will the neutral idea go from here? What are the chances? What are the dangers? Students will also have time to discuss their seminar paper topics and receive individual advice.
No Reading Assignment
No Reading Assignment
