INR3003 Exam One Notes Introduction to Realism 1 9 14 and course Introduction The study of relationships between countries The modern study of International Affairs starts after the two world wars Goal is to learn why it happened and how we can prevent it from happening again Birth of the liberal enlightenment in Europe foundation formation of America Individual equality Democracy Realism has been the dominant perspective since the cold war in the US Liberalism creeping up How you view the world Liberal Realist etc projects your assumptions and expectations for the world No one theory is correct though I Classical Realism Hans Morgenthau What is Realism Obtaining projecting power Hans Morgenthau leader of group called classical realists Classical Realism response to Idealism Politics Among Nationals 1948 author Looked at American foreign policy and the early realists thought it was idealistic and na ve They then titled themselves as realists Other Historical Intellectual Realists Thucydides Niccolo Machiavelli Thomas Hobbes Carl von Clausewitz Hobbes man is selfish thus his goals are selfish Man can be evil Man can be aggressive A Response to US Idealism Idealism was built on the Enlightenment concepts and believed in a perfectibility of mankind They realized the system was flawed and thought so because Poor leadership Poorly organized states Flawed political systems But they believed that all of this could be fixed perfectibility by open communication between the states facilitate cooperation Idealist final solution democracy Most notable Idealist President Woodrow Wilson The League of Nations failed WW2 starts with Hitler Classical realist would agree Structural realists minimize the role of Hitler but instead look at international system that Germany was in inner war Europe no balance of power Germany begins to strengthen 1 Neighbors begin to feel threatened 2 Germany then feels threatened because they fear their neighbors will want to stop their rise In order to ensure it s rise Germany must act aggressively B Pursuit of Power realpolitik Power politics realpolitik More recently less focused on power and more focused on security the survival of the nation Is primarily the state system state is the primary actor in international relations Realists don t deny international organizations exist but they do argue that international orgs are tools of the states International org cannot be more powerful than the state though it can enhance power and security the state system is at the core Realists yes we have flawed leaders and systems but don t believe in the perfectibility of mankind Leaders and states were seeking power creating competition and resulting in war II Neo Realism Kenneth Waltz 1960 1970s Formalized realism develops Kenneth Waltz Neo Realism or Structural Realism Theory of International Politics 1979 Differs from classical realism They did not believe that conflict was the result of poor leadership frailty of men Divorce the individual from the state leaders don t matter A state s behavior is not based on the leader but instead of the alignment of the international order structure of system and how states relate Neo Realism No authority over the states no one state in charge of all states Kenneth Waltz States have to act according to a self help agenda states responsible for own security Means actions will be selfish comes at expense of another increase competition and conflict at times A aka Structural Realism B Assumptions 1 States are Rational Unitary Actors Act with only their best interests in mind 2 States Seek Security Best way to avoid war is to prepare for war Then you can hopefully deter your enemy from attacking 3 Anarchy We live in anarchy because there is no global authority over the states Realist argue that anarchy breeds insecurity because the states know that they don t have anyone else to protect them punish the states that act aggressively consistent with Hobbes war of all against all C Balance of Power 1 Alliances Alliance system makes sense for both weaker and more powerful states to have alliances should always be fluid not fixed get in when they serve state and out when they don t Fixed alliances can be drawn into someone else s war 2 Bandwagoning Bandwagoning weaker states seek to align themselves with the strongest military power Doesn t always end well for smaller states weakness becomes known Example Song Dynasty in China economically strong but militarily weak Example Germany and Soviet Union Russia right before WW2 Can be betrayed by an ally 3 Balancing Realist solution to war balance Most secure when there is a balance of power conflict less likely Balancing Realists think this is what states do D Polarity 1 Uni Polarity Hegemonic Stability Theory have one main seat of power in our global system one hegemon What the US is currently because we are the strongest power right now some realists like 2 Bi Polarity majority of realists prefer this because it represents balance Two main seat of power example during cold war the US and USSR were the two major powers US and Soviet Union we wouldn t risk attacking one another because it would be suicidal 3 Multi Polarity Where we believe our world is moving into China expected to surpass the EU etc Most realists do not like our alliances power alignments are less clear More competition more conflict E Security Dilemma Prisoner s Dilemma Game Theory Prisoner s dilemma make decision because they re protecting themselves from the worst case scenario but also giving themselves a shot at the best Relative Gains Zero Sum Absolute Gains Non zero Sum Non zero sum absolute gains when we cooperate both benefit Realist concern what if you end of better off than me A threat to me Problem they re shared We both end up better off Realist prefer relative gains I gain at your expense I m better off and you re worse off Not a collective view but an individualistic view Ultimate focus of classical realist obtaining and projecting power Ultimate focus of Neo Realist not about power it s about security A state s actions are designed to ensure it s survival Israel survival on the line against Iran No choice but to be a realist view because of their security dilemma Neo structure security Realism individual power Realism Continued 1 14 14 I WWI 1871 not 1914 Germany was unified realist explanation of events to come Strong east and strong west in Europe with a weaker center This maintained peace Dynamics changed when
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