REALISM THE THEORY

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS LECTURE 4

THEORY

what is a theory and what is it intended to do? why are there theories of international relations What do we need theories for? History provides us with facts, newspapers with information on current affairs.

theories are explanations for how and why certain events and developments occur (or will occur) there are plausible and implausible theories a theoretical framework is a means of organizing premises, argument, and empirical content. It gives a coherent, scholarly basis to claims about what is happening in the world all theories have certain presumptions and logic or should have some issues, questions, presumptions : humans are cooperative or competitive? are states (and/or nations) cooperative or competitive

Theory: in order to abstract, analyze and generalize from single events. Abstraction: use of generic terms: state, structure, system... Analysis: test of hypothesis derived from theories, or development of new hypotheses; Generalization: placing of single event in pattern, understanding it as part of a larger picture. US intervention in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama... Great power politics vs. its sphere of influence. US intervention in WWI and WWII and Korea and Vietnam and Persian Gulf: commitment to Balance of Power in regions.

scope of theory

scope of theory theories that try to explain particular phenomena - e.g. why Cold War ended; the rise of Nazism; etc grand theories that claim to be able to explain almost everything in history - e.g. why (any) war occurs; human nature; etc

functions of theory

functions of theory injects meaning and order into what we observe (or think we do) attempts to explain reality helps to understand cause and effect some theories attempt to predict and control

Theories of IR

Realism: the state Neo-Realism: state-system liberalism: states/non-state actors (global interaction) Marxism: economic classes dependency theory: economic core/periphery constructivism: ideas, values, norms, human agency feminist: gender post-colonial: race/ethnicity

important Realist scholars in the 20th Century

the most influential ones: Hans Morgenthau - Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace (1948) Edward H. Carr - The Twenty Years Crisis: 1919-1939 Kenneth Waltz: - Man, the State and War (1959) - Theory of International Politics (1979)

Definitions of Power

Power is the ability to get someone to do something they would not have otherwise done The ability to influence the behaviour of others in a desired pattern to achieve certain goals

Sources of Power: Military power Population Economic Power Geographical Location Diplomatic Skill History and Culture

the timeless wisdom of Realism

the timeless wisdom of Realism is dominant theory of world politics throughout history of academic IR even longer history outside academia: classical political theorists: Thucydides, Machiavelli, Morgenthaw were skeptical about the capacity of human reason to deliver moral progress Hobbes: life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short - forces of the state are necessary to maintain order and security

Realism

most influential theory in IR: focuses on states behavior in a political system characterized by anarchy (absence of central authority/government). survival; only means available: self-help. Power the central concept, power decides what states get what, and what states have to do to survive. Realism is the Theory of Conflict and Difference. It assumes that community and solidarity are only real within states and societies. There is no community of mankind so states should not waste time and resources fighting for it. The spread of ideals, values and norms is to be avoided

Realism presumes that states (like people) are egoistic utility maximisers it is rational for states (and people) to do this because states are rational actors some analysts consider that it can be predicted mathematically how they will pursue their interests (survival, power) The foreign policy should be pursued on the bases of power and deception- the lion and fox strategy

Commandments realism

Statism Survival Self help Focus: conflict Actors: states who act as unitary rational actors Goal: survival and power; therefore zero-sum gain concern with relative gains Organizing principle: anarchy & self-help Means: force is usable, effective and long-lasting. Dynamics of system: acquisition and attempts to balance power

REALISM:BASIC PRINCIPLES
States are the principal actors States are unitary and rational States act in their best interest and can be perceived as single entities The International system is anarchic There exists no systemic power to safeguard the state State interest is defined as the expansion and maintenance of state power Self help requires power maximization The Security Dilemma Improvement in security for one weakens the security of others International Politics is amoral (not immoral) Morality for the state cannot be equated with individual morality There is no universal yardstick of morality States dont have gods

President Nixon on US national interests

Our objective is to support our interests over the long run with a sound foreign policy. The more that policy is based on ours and others interests the more effective our role can be. We are not involved in the world because we have commitments; we have commitments because we are involved. Our interests must shape our commitments rather than the other way around.

Criticism

Cooperation exists Human nature is relative, can be bad can be good Harmony of interests leads to peace International society is anarchical but not international system Phenomena of globalization