Introduction to RealismI. Classical Realism (Hans Morgenthau)Response to US IdealismPursuit of Power (realpolitik)II. Neorealism (Kenneth Waltz)Aka Structural realismAssumptionsStates are Rational Unitary ActorsStates seek SecurityAnarchySBalance of PowerAlliancesBandwagoningBalancingPolarityUni-polarity (Hegemonic Stability theory)Bi-polarityMulti-PolaritySecurity 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 EuropeCurious that it’s the same place as the epicenter of the enlightenmentEquality, individual rights, progressive thoughts, etc…WWI – 15million deathsWWII- 45 – 75 million deathsInternational relations in the US developed to answer 2 questions:Why did this happen in such a progressive society that has embraced enlightened ideas?How can we prevent it from happening in the future?Theories: assumptionsIn this case about how the world works or how it should workRealismWhat is realism? (no unified realist answers, depends on who you ask)1. Focus on the acquisition and excretion of power – power politics (realpolitik)2. A primary emphasis on security and the survival of the statemodern answeroverall focuses on the state systemfor the realist most important actor is the stateand how states interact with each otherdoesn’t mean they don’t recognize non-state actorsstate is dominant system others are submissive** Historical/Intellectual RealistsThucydesNiccolo MachiavelliThomas HobbesCarl von ClausewitzClassical RealismHans Morgenthau – father of classical realismNamed itself in response to idealism – more realistic understanding of how the world works, more realistic viewpoint on how America should handle its foreign policyMorgenthau criticized foreign policy “erroneously based on concept of human progress tied to enlightenment idea ...”System can be broken and can be fixedTherefore preventing conflict, especially if states communicate with each other1. Communication2. Respect and recognize sovereignty of other states3. spreading democracywar was a result ofPoorly organized statesFlawed leadershipWoodrow Wilson created League of Nations in response to the causes of war… however, failure because of WWIIRealists said:Cannot stop conflict by democratizing the world or talkingInstead realist saw war as natural or inevitableBecause there is a pursuit of power among nationsClassical Realists put power heavily on the leader of a state and human nature being selfish and humans are aggressiveHobbean ideal (Thomas Hobbes)Therefore this action of the leader reflects on the stateNeo-RealismConflict 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 realismBecause there is no global governmental authority, states are going to be in a competition with each otherEx. Hitler not responsible for WWII but rather the structure of the states – no balance of power so states fought for itAlignment of structures before WWII flawedStates #1 concern should be security so it can ensure its survivalAssumptions of Neo-Realism:States are unitary actors – state acts as individual playerActions designed to guarantee its securityBased on own rational self interestConcerned primarily on themselvesStates seek securityWhether democracy or authoritarian regime the goal is survivalMay do so by increasing their security/power and possibly scaring their neighborsEach state responsible for its own securityBreeds insecurity – don’t know what other actors are doingWhat can we do to avoid conflict?For realists the answer is usually that we need a balance of powersBut 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 strengthBandwagoning – small states join more powerful larger statesBalancing - balance of powers, not one side larger than the otherPolarity Uni-Polarity – one state has the most power, militarily, economically and culturallyBi-polarity – two powerful players one on one side one on the otherseen as the most secure by the realistsMulti-Polarity- when you have multiple powerful players in a systemRealists predict this is where we are headedWhatever the polarity may be, we want to know how states are going to act with each otherCan states work together and cooperate?Ultimately problematic because it has to exist under anarchy. Cant force a state to cooperateZero-sum games – one states gains result in another state’s lossThere is no guarantee that it will work… realists don’t trust this and expect them to protect them – do it themselvesEx. League of nationsSecurity Dilemma – Prisoner’s Dilemma (game theory)do not confess – disarmconfess – armWWIGermany and the Security DilemmaBalance of powers and reasons for its demisePower transitionRussia and Preventative WarInterwar to WWIIBalance of Power?League of NationsJapan (Manchukuo) & ItalyAppeasementNazi Germany as a Revisionist StateMearsheimer’s viewpointIII. The Cold War EruptsA. division of post-war EuropeB. East-Central Europe = Soviet SatellitesC. Marshall PlanD. NATO (1949)/Warsaw Pact (1945)E. Bi-Polar world = Balance of PowerWWIUnified Germany was going to be strong – Otton von Bismarckchief factitioner of realpolitikensure Germany would be strongTriple Entence – France, UK, Russia (Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, italy)Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman EmpireThere is balance and therefore equilibriumLess chance of warBecause of alliance there is no guarantee of survival because every power is too evenly balancedBut equilibrium can be thrown off balance – Power transitionBritain declining and Germany risingCould have been destabilizing factor and catalystMaybe not? Because the war wasn’t between them – Britain reluctant to go into warRussia 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 problemWWI most destructive war – destruction unfathomable for those who lived through itLoss of lives, land destroyed, economies ruined, very widely feltInterwar to WWII VERY UNSTABLEGerman empire fell, Austria-Hungary fell, Ottoman Empire fell, and Russian
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