REALISM INTRODUCTION: THE TIMELESS WISDOM ...
CHAPTER 5: REALISM INTRODUCTION: THE TIMELESS WISDOM OF REALISM Pg. 86 – the idealist focused much of their attention on understanding the cause of war so as to find the remedy for its existence
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Ignored the role of power Overestimated the degree to which human beings were rational Mistakenly believe that nation-states shared a set of interests New realist approach replaced idealist approach Realism taught American leaders to focus on interests rather than on ideology, to seek peace through strength, and recognize great powers can coexist even with different values and beliefs Raison d’etat is the fundamental principle of international conduct, state’s first law of motion Survival of state can never be guaranteed, use of force is an instrument of statecraft The state is the principal actor Argues that survival requires state leaders to distance themselves from traditional morality Raison d’etat speak of dual moral standard – one moral standard for individual citizens living inside the state and a different standard for the state in its external relations
Pg. 87 – raison d’etat argue that states represent moral force, existence of state create an ethical political community to exist domestically -
Realism’s core elements – statism, survival, self-help – classical realist Since peace of Westphalia, sovereign state as principal actor in international polities (statecentric assumption of realism) Statism – idea of state as legitimate representative of collective will of people Outside boundaries, anarchy exist (international politics with no authority above) Each sovereign states consider them to be its own highest authority and it doesn’t recognize a higher power Assume all states wish to perpetuate their existence Self-help – the principle of action in an anarchical system where there is no global government If states feel threatened, should seek/engage in military arms build0up
Pg. 88 – balance of power – if survival of a state or weaker states is threatened by hegemonic state, they should join forces, establish alliance, seek to preserve independence by seeing opposite’s power -
Warsaw Pact and NATO ex. of balance of power in cold war Critics: unable to explain the increase, incidence of intra-state wars plaguing global south Unable to provide accounts of regional integration, humanitarian intervention, security community in West Europe
ONE REALISM, OR MANY?
Pg. 89 – periodization of realism: classical realism (beginning with Thucydide), modern realism (First Great Debate), structured or neo-realism CLASSICAL REALISM -
Thucydides’ representation of power politics as a low of human behaviour Human nature explain why international politics is power politics (Hans J. Morgenthau) Politics governed by objective laws with their roots in human nature The struggle for belonging
Pg. 90 – Thucydides’ explanation of the growth of Athenian power and fear which caused in Sparta
-
Sparta’s national interest was survival and change in distribution of power represent threat Athens pursue power to preserve empire Athen’s leader Pericles was ambitious, fear, self-interest Machiavelli – all obligations and treaties must be disregarded if security of the community is under threat
Pg. 91 – mid-20 century anarchy could be miligated by wise leadership and pursuit of the national interest in ways that are compatible with international order -
Acting only of power/self-interest without moral/ethical principles result in self-defeating policies
STRUCTURAL REALISM -
A struggle for power but not result of human nature Conflict because of lack of authority above states and relative distribution of power Waltz structure of international system – organizing principle, differentiation of units, distribution of capabilities 2 organizing principles: anarchy and hierarchy
Pg. 92 – number of great powers determine structure of international system -
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Waltz – any state may use force to advance interests result in all states being worried about survival Power is a means to end of security States are security maximizers John Mearsheimer’s theory of offensive realism Waltz’s theory termed defensive realism Offensive realism – how much power states want? Under anarchy, self-help is basic principle of action All states continue to search for power at expense of other states Waltz and Mearsheirmer – to get peace is to have more power than anyone
-
Mearsheirmer believes global hegemony is impossible
CONTEMPORARY REALIST CHALLENGES TO STRUCTURAL REALISM -
Perceptions of state leaders, state-society relationships, motivation of states Neoclassical realism – places domestic politics as an intervening variable between the distribution of power and foreign policy behaviour Structural realists assume all states have similar set of interests Not the case for neoclassical realism
Pg. 93 – states differ of their ability to extract and direct resources from their society -
State strength – ability of state to mobilize and direct resources at disposal in pursuit of interests
THE EESENTIAL REALISM STATISM -
Max Weber’s definition of state- monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory Sovereignty – state has supreme authority to make and enforce laws Trade our liberty for security (Hobbes) Absence of security – no art, culture, society Non-intervention doesn’t apply in relations between great powers and their near abroad
Pg. 94 – 1. Organize power domestically, 2. Accumulate power internationally -
Morgenthau definition of power – man’s control over minds and actions of other men Resource strength doesn’t always lead to military victory Transnational corporations, international organizations, terrorist network rise and fall but state is the one permanent feature of modern global politics
SURVIVAL -
The pre-eminent goal is survival Survival is attaining all other goals, either conquest of independence Defensive realist – security as principal interest (Waltz) Offensive realist – achieve hegemonic position All views, states desire more power Defensive realist – existence of status quo powers lessens competition for power Offensive realists – competition always keen because state take risk to improve position
Pg. 95 – a nation’s survival is its first and ultimate responsibility, cannot be compromised or put to risk -
Ethic of responsibility: careful weighing up of consequences Doesn’t provide guide to how state leaders should weigh consequences
SELF-HELP -
In domestic polity, citizens don’t have to defend themselves Security can only be realized through self-help Security dilemma – exist when military preparations of one state create an unresolvable uncertainty in the mind of another as to whether those preparations are for defense or offense Balance of power are broken when war or peaceful change
p. 96 – in self-help interest, it militates against the provision of collective goods such as security or free trade -
comparative advantage – all states would be wealthier if free trade EU can increase wealth by protectionist policies providing
CONCLUSION: REALISM AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF WORLD POLITICS -
Not clear whether interdependence has made war less likely
Pg. 97 – Al Qaeda operatives challenge by force the supremacy of West -
Post 9/11 American foreign policy – classical realists, danger when states neglect their core national interest (Iraq war not in US interest) Rising threat of China Transnational governance possible but dependent on distribution of power Core values of globalization – liberalism, capitalism, consumerism Interdependence likely to breed mutual vulnerability as peace and prosperity
-
Ignored the role of power Overestimated the degree to which human beings were rational Mistakenly believe that nation-states shared a set of interests New realist approach replaced idealist approach Realism taught American leaders to focus on interests rather than on ideology, to seek peace through strength, and recognize great powers can coexist even with different values and beliefs Raison d’etat is the fundamental principle of international conduct, state’s first law of motion Survival of state can never be guaranteed, use of force is an instrument of statecraft The state is the principal actor Argues that survival requires state leaders to distance themselves from traditional morality Raison d’etat speak of dual moral standard – one moral standard for individual citizens living inside the state and a different standard for the state in its external relations
Pg. 87 – raison d’etat argue that states represent moral force, existence of state create an ethical political community to exist domestically -
Realism’s core elements – statism, survival, self-help – classical realist Since peace of Westphalia, sovereign state as principal actor in international polities (statecentric assumption of realism) Statism – idea of state as legitimate representative of collective will of people Outside boundaries, anarchy exist (international politics with no authority above) Each sovereign states consider them to be its own highest authority and it doesn’t recognize a higher power Assume all states wish to perpetuate their existence Self-help – the principle of action in an anarchical system where there is no global government If states feel threatened, should seek/engage in military arms build0up
Pg. 88 – balance of power – if survival of a state or weaker states is threatened by hegemonic state, they should join forces, establish alliance, seek to preserve independence by seeing opposite’s power -
Warsaw Pact and NATO ex. of balance of power in cold war Critics: unable to explain the increase, incidence of intra-state wars plaguing global south Unable to provide accounts of regional integration, humanitarian intervention, security community in West Europe
ONE REALISM, OR MANY?
Pg. 89 – periodization of realism: classical realism (beginning with Thucydide), modern realism (First Great Debate), structured or neo-realism CLASSICAL REALISM -
Thucydides’ representation of power politics as a low of human behaviour Human nature explain why international politics is power politics (Hans J. Morgenthau) Politics governed by objective laws with their roots in human nature The struggle for belonging
Pg. 90 – Thucydides’ explanation of the growth of Athenian power and fear which caused in Sparta
-
Sparta’s national interest was survival and change in distribution of power represent threat Athens pursue power to preserve empire Athen’s leader Pericles was ambitious, fear, self-interest Machiavelli – all obligations and treaties must be disregarded if security of the community is under threat
Pg. 91 – mid-20 century anarchy could be miligated by wise leadership and pursuit of the national interest in ways that are compatible with international order -
Acting only of power/self-interest without moral/ethical principles result in self-defeating policies
STRUCTURAL REALISM -
A struggle for power but not result of human nature Conflict because of lack of authority above states and relative distribution of power Waltz structure of international system – organizing principle, differentiation of units, distribution of capabilities 2 organizing principles: anarchy and hierarchy
Pg. 92 – number of great powers determine structure of international system -
-
Waltz – any state may use force to advance interests result in all states being worried about survival Power is a means to end of security States are security maximizers John Mearsheimer’s theory of offensive realism Waltz’s theory termed defensive realism Offensive realism – how much power states want? Under anarchy, self-help is basic principle of action All states continue to search for power at expense of other states Waltz and Mearsheirmer – to get peace is to have more power than anyone
-
Mearsheirmer believes global hegemony is impossible
CONTEMPORARY REALIST CHALLENGES TO STRUCTURAL REALISM -
Perceptions of state leaders, state-society relationships, motivation of states Neoclassical realism – places domestic politics as an intervening variable between the distribution of power and foreign policy behaviour Structural realists assume all states have similar set of interests Not the case for neoclassical realism
Pg. 93 – states differ of their ability to extract and direct resources from their society -
State strength – ability of state to mobilize and direct resources at disposal in pursuit of interests
THE EESENTIAL REALISM STATISM -
Max Weber’s definition of state- monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory Sovereignty – state has supreme authority to make and enforce laws Trade our liberty for security (Hobbes) Absence of security – no art, culture, society Non-intervention doesn’t apply in relations between great powers and their near abroad
Pg. 94 – 1. Organize power domestically, 2. Accumulate power internationally -
Morgenthau definition of power – man’s control over minds and actions of other men Resource strength doesn’t always lead to military victory Transnational corporations, international organizations, terrorist network rise and fall but state is the one permanent feature of modern global politics
SURVIVAL -
The pre-eminent goal is survival Survival is attaining all other goals, either conquest of independence Defensive realist – security as principal interest (Waltz) Offensive realist – achieve hegemonic position All views, states desire more power Defensive realist – existence of status quo powers lessens competition for power Offensive realists – competition always keen because state take risk to improve position
Pg. 95 – a nation’s survival is its first and ultimate responsibility, cannot be compromised or put to risk -
Ethic of responsibility: careful weighing up of consequences Doesn’t provide guide to how state leaders should weigh consequences
SELF-HELP -
In domestic polity, citizens don’t have to defend themselves Security can only be realized through self-help Security dilemma – exist when military preparations of one state create an unresolvable uncertainty in the mind of another as to whether those preparations are for defense or offense Balance of power are broken when war or peaceful change
p. 96 – in self-help interest, it militates against the provision of collective goods such as security or free trade -
comparative advantage – all states would be wealthier if free trade EU can increase wealth by protectionist policies providing
CONCLUSION: REALISM AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF WORLD POLITICS -
Not clear whether interdependence has made war less likely
Pg. 97 – Al Qaeda operatives challenge by force the supremacy of West -
Post 9/11 American foreign policy – classical realists, danger when states neglect their core national interest (Iraq war not in US interest) Rising threat of China Transnational governance possible but dependent on distribution of power Core values of globalization – liberalism, capitalism, consumerism Interdependence likely to breed mutual vulnerability as peace and prosperity
