Introduction to International Affairs Introduction to Realism I Beginning of International Relations in the United States a Began in the time period of the two world wars point of origin i WWI ii WWII 1 15 million deaths 1 40 75 million deaths depending on inclusion of civilian deaths b Unlike any other wars that had occurred before i How did this happen especially in the West home of Enlightenment ideals 1 Freedom equality sovereignty of other states individual rights c How do major power wars happen i How are they prevented II How the international system works a How different actors think and act b Help ensure peace c Two theories i Realism dominant theory of 20th century 1 Look at the past for patterns of behavior ii Liberalism iii Constructivism doesn t catch on until after the Cold War d Challenge to theories i Doesn t always correlate with reality ii Only educated guesses III What is realism a Emphasis on power and power structures i How states exert power IV Intellectual roots of realism a Thucydides b Niccolo Machiavelli c Thomas Hobbes d Carl von Clausewitz V Classical Realism Hans Morgenthau a Focuses on power and power structures i Emphasizes role of individual leader b Hans Morgenthau i Father of classical realism ii Politics Among Nations 1948 iii Heads the classical realists 1 Thought they had a more realistic understanding of international workings than idealists Woodrow Wilson Neo Liberals c A response to US Idealism i Idealists felt imperfections of leaders and policies could be cured 1 Possibility of a perfect system Increase communication between states a b Recognize sovereignty of other states c Spreading democracy i Lead to less conflict ii Idealists seen as na ve by Realists 1 Agreed on flaws 2 Disagree of ability to fix perfect a Didn t see how this fit with human nature d Pursuit of power Realpolitik i Power politics ii Recognize leaders and states seek power 1 Conflict when all leaders and states seeking increases in power a Always at another state s expense b Conflict part of human nature c Always be prepared for war 2 Hobbes a Man was inherently selfish evil and aggressive b Adopted by Realists c Characteristics of individuals superimposed on the state i Reflection of its leader e Dominant until 1960s and 1970s VI Neo Realism Kenneth Waltz a Takes emphasis off of the leader i System not leaders drive the states 1 Structure creates insecurity ii Ensure survival because of threats and changes b Aka structural realism c Focus on security rather than power i Survival of the state d Only deals with state actors i Less focus on international organizations 1 Claim they can never be more powerful than the state 2 Serve interests of utilized by the state e Assumptions i States are rational unitary actors 1 States work alone a Can t depend on other states 2 Make rational decisions about security ii States seek security 1 Only way to ensure survival ultimate goal iii Anarchy 1 No governing body over states a Must look out for themselves self help scenario b Anarchy breeds insecurity i Lead to rash actions and selfish actions 2 Hobbes s state of nature a Selfish desires leads to war of all against all 3 Draws states into competition always looking for own best interests f Balance of power i Best way to prevent war ii Think of Cold War iii Alliances 1 Weaker states seek alliances with stronger states 2 Build in a sense of protection 3 Give state additional reinforcements iv Band wagoning 1 Smaller state seeks alliance for protection with a major power 2 Stronger power then takes advantage of that alliance a Overrun it b Sung Dynasty weak power militarily strong economically i Conflict with Liao ii Seek alliance with Jurchen to help defeat Liao success iii iv Happened again with Mongols Jurchen end up taking part of Sung territory c 1939 Non Aggression Pact b t Russia and Germany i Russia considerably weaker than Germany ii Germans broke the agreement invaded Russia v Balancing 1 Part of states natural behavior 2 Realists warn against alliances a Don t believe in fixed alliances should always be fluid b Can draw into someone else s war i Compromise own security g Polarity i Uni polarity hegemonic stability theory 1 One major power Hegemon 2 Current configuration a United States is Hegemon expected to change 3 Some believe ideal situation a Not in line with majority of Realists ii Bi polarity 1 Two seats of power 2 Most Realists in favor of this 3 Most balanced a Most likely to have peace Like the Cold War 4 5 Two sides offset each other iii Multi polarity 1 Multiple seats of power 2 Realists say current events are moving to a multi polar world a India and China rising and European Union 3 Conducive with more rapidly changing alliances h Cooperation does not guarantee security i Lack of enforcement no global power ii Cooperation calls for compromise 1 Does that breed vulnerability i Security dilemma prisoner s dilemma Game Theory i Israel and Iran Iran building up nuclear power 1 2 Puts Israel in security dilemma j Often falsely depicted as war mongers i Goal actually to learn how to prevent war k Relative gains zero sum i What one gains over another at the expense of another I Security dilemma prisoner s dilemma Realism a Part of game theory b State s primary interest security and survival c Prisoner s dilemma simple way to analyze security dilemma i Last move scenario only once chance to act ii Decision you make is best for you and yourself alone 1 Realist s version both will confess d Decisions are rational decisions self help e Real life example nuclear arms race II WWII a Europe in the 1800s multi polar world i Balance of power between Eastern and Western Europe 1 Confederation of German states only unified in 1871 a Weak Central Europe b Germany and the security dilemma i Unification of Germany 1 Orchestrated by Otto von Bismarck a Ensured strength of Germany ii Became a strong state iii Neighbors had a security dilemma 1 Particularly Britain and France 2 Options 2 Either become weak and overcome or powerful seen as a threat a Destroy Germany and eliminate the threat after WWI b Win over the Germans after WWII c Balance of power and reason for its demise i Triple Entente UK France and Russia and Central Powers Germany Austria Hungary and Italy until 1915 1 Triple Entente surrounds Central Powers 2 Create equilibrium in Europe a Should create peace according to realists ii Alliances lead to mass involvement in WWI iii 1 Power transition 1 Britain was the
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