IR 210 1st Edition Lecture 23 Current Lecture Politics are in one sense always power politics EH Carr Exam question What is the nature of power and weakness in the international system Return to E H Carr What did he think about power Military power Power over the political process itself Soft power influence of a countries story and culture Economic power as it stands What he really thought about power o Military Economic and control over public opinion o IR is seen as a zero sum game o A good leader will always accommodate those with power What did he think about morality o State is not a person do not treat as a person Duality argument o It is fatal in politics to ignore power as it is to ignore morality o Got to focus on both power and morality middle path not excessively utopian nor realist Why will states not honor moral codes Not in national interest Personal state morality If it s a zero sum world others aren t obeying you will be left behind o No community No common values o Sovereignty and nationalism not internationalism o Little hope for restraint and altruism from others o Failure to treat others as equals o No enforcer Advice on international law o Powerful states rule makers use international law to keep weak states in line minima use o International law does not match up with force o Criticism of idealists similar to criticism of Morgenthau by Tickner o Points out failure of Weimar republic Why did the idealists start World War II o Peace treaty Treaty of Versailles o Treaty didn t recognize role of military power in the foreign policies of these states o Gave too much authority to those who won WWI o Was based on wishful thinking idealistic concepts unenforceable o Didn t deal with human nature Treaty of Versailles o Issue of sovereignty states seek power o Doesn t account for an anarchic system in an anarchic system a leader is always looking for more power Treaties are merely constraints Why are idealists wrong 1 Human beings are not rational na ve to trust human nature no faith in human reason 2 No harmony of interests among all people of the world 3 Assumption that leaders have a broad range of choices and what we do domestically will work globally lack of common power 4 Laws and moral codes are not universally accepted 5 Assumption that war is irrational behavior The search for power is not made for the achievement of moral values moral values facilitate the attainment of power Spykman 1942 Meaning Morality not the primary motivation Morality can enhance your position but power should be primary concern If you can push moral position and enhance power at the same time it is a win win situation Search for power ultimately but try to act morally along the way States always looking for material hard power but also looking for ideational power Carr agreed with Utopians on the danger of nationalism Rethinking the state and consider EU like organization No room for grand solutions sanctions and coercion use of power cannot be replaced by persuasion and conflict prevention through the application of laws and norms Hans Morgenthau Legal systems and moral restraints will not stop the aspirations of governments George Kennan Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime Therefore we must be saved by hope R Niebuhr The utopian makes political theory a norm to which political practice ought to conform The realist regards political theory as a sort of codification of political practice E H Carr Voice 3 Reinhold Niebuhr 1892 1971 Influence of Morgenthau and Kennan Niebuhr The irony of American history Seen as a truth teller transcending partisan positions referenced by democrats and republicans Dilemmas facing US as super power four truths 1 Persistent sin of American exceptionalism 2 Indecipherability of history 3 False allure of simple solutions 4 Appreciating the limits of power a We think everything can be fixed b Low tolerance of ambiguity No patience for those who say the US is acting on God s behalf He would be a target for the Neocons tea party and Rush and Beck Other Contributions Warning against extremes right or left Need for struggle and commitment in life No political groups can create a society free of greed deceit and injustice Only Marxists and deluded liberals think we can Voice 4 George Kennan 1904 2004 Present at the creation end of WWII Diplomat Riga school Author of the long telegram Mr X on Soviet Conduct Critical advisor to Truman who did not know Foreign policy Promoted containment of USSR but not the global militarization of containment Contributions to realism Opposed to legalistic and moralistic foreign policy o Legal systems and restraints will not stop aspirations of government On war and intervention Opposed to NATO militarized containment opposed Vietnam Nuclear arms race and Reagan s defense budget Increased defense budget is only justified if US and its allies are in danger Objected to any ambitious plan to solve problems Bush war in Iraq no national interests Before going to war should always give preferences to the diplomats seeking peace On human nature sober and pessimistic irrational selfish obstinate and a tendency toward violence Can we do anything about human rights violations and genocide I think there are limits to what we ca do about it I think it is dangerous to try to create great chance in human nature in any short space at any time Critical of US exceptionalism Avoiding arrogance of power Extremely dubious of the affect of Global Civil Society What would Kennan say about ICC Not worth our time because it may not work it s against human nature against the state s power no enforcement Kennan and climate change Weakening if we agree to climate change restrictions not in our national interest to sign in Final modern realist voice Hans Morgenthau 1904 1980 Scientific man versus power politics 1946 Politics among nations 1948 In defense of national interests 1951 Tried to convince US leaders to embrace world leadership how to use power Four flaws of US Foreign Policy 1 Utopianism and wishful thinking a Ex UN diplomacy will replace power politics 2 Legalism a More treaties and regimes will change power politics 3 Sentimentalism a We tend to take a successful policy and continue to use it around the world b Truman doctrine you must confront communism around the world with military power worked in Greece kind of Iran 4 Neoisolationism a Rejecting traditional diplomatic responsibilities b League of nations