A comparison and contrast between two authors! On the one hand, we have Kenneth Waltz, with whom we are familiar. The reading for this week is about his “second image”, the political/economic makeup of a state as a determiner of international relations. Waltz’s analysis of the liberal view (which basically means the British/American view), dominates this chapter. Note his analysis carefully. On the other hand, we have Karl Marx. The recognized founder of Communism as the world has known it. Note the relationship between economics and politics here. Your assignment for this week may possibly be the most challenging we have faced thus far. You are to take two elements from Waltz’s analysis and compare and contrast them to two elements of Marx’s analysis. If you haven’t been writing an outline before starting your paper thus far in the course, you are going to need to here. Both work much be graphed, to determine which elements you are going to focus on. Also, pay close attention to the opening pages on Waltz: he calls out Marx by name, so watch for it and the context!
