06 04 2013 Introduction to Realism I Classical Realism Hans Morgenthau Response to US Idealism Pursuit of Power realpolitik II Neorealism Kenneth Waltz Aka Structural realism Assumptions States are Rational Unitary Actors States seek Security AnarchyS Balance of Power Alliances Bandwagoning Balancing Polarity Bi polarity Multi Polarity Uni polarity Hegemonic Stability theory Security Dilemma Prisoner s Dilemma Game Theory International relations developed as a result to the two world wars Despite both being global wars the epicenter is in Europe Curious that it s the same place as the epicenter of the enlightenment Equality individual rights progressive thoughts etc WWI 15million deaths WWII 45 75 million deaths International relations in the US developed to answer 2 questions Why did this happen in such a progressive society that has embraced enlightened ideas Theories assumptions How can we prevent it from happening in the future In this case about how the world works or how it should work Realism realpolitik What is realism no unified realist answers depends on who you ask 1 Focus on the acquisition and excretion of power power politics 2 A primary emphasis on security and the survival of the state modern answer overall focuses on the state system for the realist most important actor is the state and how states interact with each other doesn t mean they don t recognize non state actors state is dominant system others are submissive Historical Intellectual Realists Thucydes Niccolo Machiavelli Thomas Hobbes Carl von Clausewitz Classical Realism Hans Morgenthau father of classical realism Named itself in response to idealism more realistic understanding of how the world works more realistic viewpoint on how America should handle its foreign policy Morgenthau criticized foreign policy erroneously based on concept of human progress tied to enlightenment idea System can be broken and can be fixed Therefore preventing conflict especially if states communicate with each 2 Respect and recognize sovereignty of other states other 1 Communication 3 spreading democracy war was a result of Poorly organized states Flawed leadership Woodrow Wilson created League of Nations in response to the causes of war however failure because of WWII Realists said Cannot stop conflict by democratizing the world or talking Instead realist saw war as natural or inevitable Because there is a pursuit of power among nations Classical Realists put power heavily on the leader of a state and human nature being selfish and humans are aggressive Hobbean ideal Thomas Hobbes Therefore this action of the leader reflects on the state Neo Realism Conflict is not the result of individuals or weakness of human beings Focus on the structure of the international system and not the person much broader view How states are aligned Structural realism Because there is no global governmental authority states are going to be in a competition with each other Ex Hitler not responsible for WWII but rather the structure of the states no balance of power so states fought for it Alignment of structures before WWII flawed States 1 concern should be security so it can ensure its survival Assumptions of Neo Realism States are unitary actors state acts as individual player Actions designed to guarantee its security Based on own rational self interest Concerned primarily on themselves States seek security Whether democracy or authoritarian regime the goal is survival May do so by increasing their security power and possibly scaring their neighbors Each state responsible for its own security Breeds insecurity don t know what other actors are doing What can we do to avoid conflict For realists the answer is usually that we need a balance of powers But not all states have the same amount of power but all have same insecurities so how do weak states protect themselves Seek allies protect them and build strength Bandwagoning small states join more powerful larger states Balancing balance of powers not one side larger than the other Polarity culturally Uni Polarity one state has the most power militarily economically and Bi polarity two powerful players one on one side one on the other seen as the most secure by the realists Multi Polarity when you have multiple powerful players in a system Realists predict this is where we are headed Whatever the polarity may be we want to know how states are going to act with each other Can states work together and cooperate Ultimately problematic because it has to exist under anarchy Cant force a state to cooperate Zero sum games one states gains result in another state s loss There is no guarantee that it will work realists don t trust this and expect them to protect them do it themselves Ex League of nations Security Dilemma Prisoner s Dilemma game theory do not confess disarm confess arm WWI Germany and the Security Dilemma Balance of powers and reasons for its demise Power transition Russia and Preventative War Interwar to WWII Balance of Power League of Nations Japan Manchukuo Italy Appeasement Nazi Germany as a Revisionist State Mearsheimer s viewpoint III The Cold War Erupts A division of post war Europe B East Central Europe Soviet Satellites C Marshall Plan D NATO 1949 Warsaw Pact 1945 E Bi Polar world Balance of Power WWI Unified Germany was going to be strong Otton von Bismarck chief factitioner of realpolitik ensure Germany would be strong Triple Entence France UK Russia Portugal Romania Serbia Montenegro Albania Greece italy Central Powers Germany Austria Hungary Ottoman Empire There is balance and therefore equilibrium Less chance of war too evenly balanced Because of alliance there is no guarantee of survival because every power is But equilibrium can be thrown off balance Power transition Britain declining and Germany rising Could have been destabilizing factor and catalyst Maybe not Because the war wasn t between them Britain reluctant to go into war Russia rising 1905 Germany hit apex of power stronger than Russia but Russia vast land growing quickly Preventative war if Russia became more powerful than Germany and larger it could be a problem WWI most destructive war destruction unfathomable for those who lived through it Loss of lives land destroyed economies ruined very widely felt Interwar to WWII VERY UNSTABLE German empire fell Austria Hungary fell Ottoman Empire fell and Russian Empire fell Map of Europe changed Poland back Pyrrhic Victory when you have lost more than you have gained
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