Task – ‘Open-source’ task. Theory – 10 point task – a ‘Open-source’ task. Find/identify main postulates of given great thinker/scholar [from Martin Griffiths

Samir Amin
Samir Amin is an Egyptian-French Marxist economist who has made significant contributions to the field of international relations. Some of the main postulates of Amin are as follows:

1. 
   Dependency theory: Amin is known for his contributions to dependency theory, which argues that the world economy is divided into a center (developed countries) and a periphery (less developed countries). The periphery is exploited by the center, leading to underdevelopment and poverty in the periphery.
   
2. 
   Eurocentrism: Amin argues that mainstream theories of international relations are Eurocentric and do not accurately reflect the experiences and perspectives of non-European countries.
   
3. 
   Delinking: Amin advocates for a process of delinking, in which peripheral countries break away from their dependency on the center and develop their own independent economies.
   

Relevant illustrations of events/cases in IR include:

1. 
   The global economic crisis of 2008: The crisis exposed the weaknesses of the global economy and the disproportionate impact it had on less developed countries.
   
2. 
   The Arab Spring: The uprisings in the Arab world in 2011 showed the dissatisfaction of people in the periphery with the status quo and the need for change.
   
3. 
   The BRICS: The formation of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group of countries and their efforts to create alternative institutions and financial systems challenge the dominant role of the center in the world economy.
   

zygmunt bauman
Zygmunt Bauman was a sociologist and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of international relations. His main postulates include:

1. 
   The Concept of Liquid Modernity: Bauman argues that the world is in a state of constant change and uncertainty, characterized by fluidity, mobility, and lack of stability. He claims that traditional sources of meaning, such as work, family, and community, have become unstable, leading to a sense of existential anxiety and loneliness.
   
2. 
   The Globalization of Culture: Bauman argues that globalization has led to a homogenization of culture, where the same products, ideas, and lifestyles are being spread across the world. He claims that this process erodes local cultures and creates a global monoculture.
   
3. 
   The Critique of the Nation-State: Bauman challenges the traditional nation-state as the sole unit of analysis in international relations, and argues that global forces such as migration, communication, and trade are creating new forms of identity, power, and political organization.
   

Illustrations:

1. 
   The Growth of Transnational Corporations: Bauman's ideas on globalization and liquid modernity can be seen in the growth of transnational corporations, which have spread across the world and have significant power and influence.
   
2. 
   The European Union: The European Union is a clear example of the erosion of the nation-state and the creation of new forms of identity, power, and political organization. Bauman's ideas can help explain the processes of integration and fragmentation in the EU.
   
3. 
   The Syrian Refugee Crisis: The Syrian refugee crisis is an example of the mobility and fluidity of modern life, as well as the anxieties and conflicts that result from the loss of stability and security. Bauman's ideas can help explain the political and social implications of this crisis for the world and for the refugees themselves.