Join us on CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 08, Episode 07, as we dissect Chapter 7 on 'Identity' from International History and International Relations by Andrew J. Williams, Amelia Hadfield, and J. Simon Rofe. This episode explores the multifaceted nature of identity as a concept, organizing category, and legitimating principle, highlighting how it signifies both sameness and difference for individuals, groups, and states. We delve into historical perspectives, tracing the evolution of identity from ancient civilizations through to the rise of the modern nation-state, and examine the foundational philosophical ideas from thinkers like Locke, Kant, and Hegel. Discover the debates surrounding political versus cultural nations and how different theories of nationalism—from genesis to modernist and primordialist schools—interpret identity's role. Finally, we explore how identity shapes state behavior and foreign policy, contrasting its treatment in various International Relations theories, including realism, liberalism, and constructivism, and the contemporary understanding of nations as "imagined communities."

In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 08, Episode 06, we dissect Chapter 6 of 'International History and International Relations.' This chapter explores the fascinating history and evolution of International Organization (IO), focusing on the two main IOs of the last hundred years: the League of Nations (LON) and the United Nations (UN). Listeners will explore the core subject matter of IO, often claimed as a 'cure' for war and an advocate for peace, and trace how humankind has attempted to organize itself to discourage warlike behavior and encourage peaceful endeavor.

The episode delves into the central debate contrasting liberal internationalist thinking with praxis and realism, examining whether attempts at IO are merely statements of desire for powerful liberal democracies to institutionalize their global power, or if they offer a voice to smaller states and non-governmental organizations. We will discuss the historical antecedents of IOs, from the emergence of the Westphalian state system and the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers like Kant, to the impact of the French Revolution and the Concert of Europe.

The main concepts explored include the rise of functionalism through the work of David Mitrany and its evolution into neo-functionalism by Ernst Haas, focusing on the idea that economic and technical cooperation can lead to political integration. We also examine the significant role of disarmament in the LON's goals and its challenges. The episode analyzes the creation and initial promise of the UN, highlighting its differences from the LON, particularly the role of the Security Council. Furthermore, it covers the historical development of human rights within IOs and the contemporary debates surrounding humanitarian intervention, tracing its roots in liberal imperialism and the use of collective security. Discover how the idea of international cooperation has continuously adapted amidst the realities of power dynamics and conflict, and reflect on whether these global bodies truly aim for universal good or primarily serve the interests of the powerful.

In this Season 08, Episode 05 of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we delve into Chapter 5, 'Empire,' from International History and International Relations by Andrew J. Williams, Amelia Hadfield, and J. Simon Rofe. This episode moves beyond casual uses of the term 'empire' to explore its profound implications in International Relations. We'll unpack how the concept of empire has been defined and re-evaluated over time, examining its often-contradictory legacies of multiracialism and religious tolerance versus condemnation and war. Listeners will journey through various historical empires, from the Greek and Roman to the Mongol, British, Russian-Soviet, and the intriguing debate surrounding the American 'empire'. We explore core themes like the interplay of power and ideas, how empires create the notion of the 'other,' and the recurring question of why empires decline and collapse. Join us as we consider if empire, despite its complex history, offers alternative insights into global order and political life.

In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 08, Episode 04, we explore Chapter 4 of 'International History and International Relations', focusing on the complex concept of sovereignty. This chapter highlights how knowledge of sovereignty is vital for understanding state behavior in International Relations and appreciating the driving force of European and international history. We delve into its historical origins and development, from its conceptualization in ancient Greece and Rome, where it was associated with the sovereignty of law, to the medieval period's debates on where authority resides—in the people or the ruler. The episode will then examine how Jean Bodin systematically articulated the theory of state sovereignty in 1576, establishing it as a permanent attribute of the state itself, and how the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 further consolidated the sovereign state as the singular mode of European constitutional authority, establishing the legal equality of states. We also discuss the social contract theories of Hobbes and Rousseau, which legitimized the state as a unit based on the will of the community. Looking at contemporary sovereignty, the episode will explore its internal and external aspects, positive and negative dimensions, and the ongoing tension between absolute and relative interpretations, especially in the context of international law versus international relations perspectives. We’ll consider the impact of colonialism, the rise of international organizations, and the European Union's influence on state sovereignty, revealing that this core concept remains ambiguous, challenged, and flux-ridden.

In Season 08, Episode 03 of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we dive into Chapter 3 of International History and International Relations, exploring the complex and often blurred relationship between war and peace. This episode challenges the traditional view of peace as merely the absence of conflict, arguing instead for a deeper, more synergistic understanding. We'll trace the historical context of peace, examining how it's been understood through the lenses of liberalism and realism, and its intricate ties to justice, including the harsh reality of a "Carthaginian peace." Listeners will gain insight into the question of whether peace is a "normal" state or a modern "invention," delve into Immanuel Kant's visionary ideas on "Perpetual Peace" and the influential concept of democratic peace, and understand the profound role of the state in establishing order since the Peace of Westphalia. The episode also navigates the monumental efforts for peace following World War I, including the contested Versailles settlement and Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, as well as the comprehensive peace aims and institutional building of World War II, leading to the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system. Finally, we’ll explore the evolution of peacekeeping in the post-Cold War era, highlighting how the lines between peace and conflict have become increasingly intimate and difficult to distinguish.

In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 08, Episode 02, we explore Chapter 2, "War," from "International History and International Relations" by Andrew J. Williams, Amelia Hadfield, and J. Simon Rofe. This chapter confronts the central obsession of International Relations and International History: the causes, motivations, and ending of war. Listeners will delve into the paradoxical nature of war, examining whether its character has fundamentally transformed, especially with technology and global political systems, or if it remains largely constant across history. We explore key questions such as the influence of "great men" versus underlying structures, the profound individual and collective experiences of war, and whether conflicts ever truly "end" or simply leave "unfinished business." The episode touches upon insights from ancient warfare (like "si vis pacem, para bellum" and the role of honor), its role in state-building and globalization in the modern era, and the evolution of just war theory. A significant focus is placed on Carl von Clausewitz's enduring theories on war as "politics by other means" and the concept of "friktion" (unpredictable pitfalls). We then navigate the era of "total war" (1900-1990), discussing World War I's profound impact on public opinion and the birth of the IR discipline, the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust's link to the emergence of human rights, and the unique ideological standoff of the Cold War. Ultimately, this episode offers an insightful look into the enduring nature of conflict and the challenges analysts face when attempting to apply historical "lessons" to contemporary wars. The main concept discussed is the persistent and paradoxical nature of war throughout human history.

In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 08, Episode 01, we dive into Chapter 1 of Andrew J. Williams, Amelia Hadfield, and J. Simon Rofe's essential textbook, International History and International Relations. This chapter tackles the often-perceived ahistorical nature of International Relations (IR), arguing for the crucial value of historical context in comprehending global dynamics. We explore the fundamental contrasts and comparisons between the methodologies of historical inquiry and political science. While historians often focus on unique, particular events and employ inductive, ideographic methods emphasizing difference, context, and process, IR scholars typically seek generalizations and patterned behavior through deductive, nomothetic approaches. Despite these differences, we discover how both disciplines are united in their quest for causes and their reliance on objective evidence. The episode also navigates the evolution of historical scholarship relevant to international affairs, examining distinct schools such as diplomatic history, international history, global/world history, and transnational history, highlighting how these diverse historical lenses can profoundly enrich our comprehension of international relations.

In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we crack open Chapter 18 of Atkinson & Hilgard's "Introduction to Psychology 15th Edition," Season 07, Episode 18, to explore the fascinating realm of social cognition. Get ready to understand how we perceive, think about, and judge other people, and how these mental processes profoundly impact our interactions. We'll uncover the two fundamental modes of thinking—automatic and controlled—and see how they influence our impression formation. Delve deep into the pervasive power of stereotypes, learning how they are automatically activated, bias our perceptions and memories, and can even become self-fulfilling prophecies through phenomena like stereotype threat. But there's hope! We'll also examine the process of individuation, where we move beyond broad categorizations to appreciate people for their unique qualities, and discuss conditions that allow us to control stereotyped thinking. Our journey continues into attributions, exploring how we explain the causes of behavior, including the common pitfalls like the fundamental attribution error, and how culture shapes these explanations. Finally, we'll shift our focus to attitudes and interpersonal attraction, unraveling the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion—how messages change our minds—and the multifaceted factors that draw us to others, from physical attractiveness and proximity to similarity and the profound concept of self-expansion in love. This episode promises to illuminate the hidden workings of your social mind, offering insights into why you think and feel the way you do about the people around you.