Chapter 2 - Realism Flashcards
3 Assumptions of the World According to Realists
- Groupism
- Has evolved into the modern state
- Very contextual, but group dynamics are based on similar things - Egoism
- Power-centrism
Realist FP - 3 Things
- Ought to be oriented to the most powerful at any given time (not universalist)
- Skeptical towards progressive foreign policies other than state interest
- Skeptical of any state’s ability to transcend power politics
Kyoto and Realism
They believe it was destined to fail as it expected global north states to give up relative power and pay for the damages of climate change
What national interests are defined by
Opportunities and Threats
Realism in Practice - 2 Things
- Will try and find who has the most power in a given group and understand their interests
- How can you best achieve your national interest given the balance of power?
Classical Realism (HEHA)
- Human nature determines state behaviour
- Attempts at progress are misguided
- Ethic of Prudence
- History-based, not scientific
Classical Realism and Major Events
- Came about in the concert of Europe, liked that sweet sweet balance of power
- Failure of the League of Nations
- Holocaust
Melian People
They didn’t believe Athens would wage war because of democracy but they did.
They didn’t see the world the way it was, but the way it wanted.
Ethic of Prudence
Your behaviour should be dictated by what you want to avoid before what you want to achieve
Neo/Structural Realism
- Wanted to be more quantitative, predictive, scientifically rigorous
- Believe it’s all about that system level - anarchy dictates our behaviour
- Balance of power = rational non-differentiated actors (unitary states) + condition of anarchy + differential in power
- One must be wary of this and act on the world as such to promote peace
Concert of Europe
The period following the Napoleonic wars and prior to WWI in which powerful European states decided their strategy would be to maintain a strict balance of power and fight those who tried to alter it.
Note - First time power really trumped prestige for states
Defensive Realism
Maximize security
Varied policies, don’t scare others too much, but don’t appear weak.
Risk of over expansion, balancing
Offensive Realism
Maximize power
Expansionist
Balancing is inefficient, security of competition
Hegemonic position
5 Characteristics of Neoclassical Realism
ODTPF
- Agree with structural realists that FP is defined by opportunity and threats at the systemic level
- Disagree by claiming that policy is largely influenced by domestic factors
- Recognize an imperfect transmission belt between FP inputs and outputs
- They believe in moving away from prescriptions and moving towards probability
- More FPA than theory of IR
5 Neoclassical Realist Critique of Structural Realism
DDAIP
- Doesn’t take domestic factors into account
- Is too deterministic
- Doesn’t account for agency
- Doesn’t take intervening variables into account
- They are poor predictors considering they claim to do just that
Two Neoclassical Realist Critiques of Classical Realism
- It’s a theory of history, not science or FP
2. Eurocentric
Balance of Power Theory
External/internal balancing
External/Internal Balancing
Internal - Building up military, technology, economies to be able to defend yourself
External - finding allies who are the enemies of your enemy to compensate for that which you don’t have
Internal is better because you can control yourself, don’t have to rely on others.
Balance of Threat Theory
- Aggregate Capabilities
- Taking notes of the rise of other states - Geography
- Your locale in relation to other states - Perceptions of Aggressive Intentions
- Most important
- One reason the EU has lasted
HST
- If it most ideal if one state can create and maintain a system - it will be more stable
- Nothing to do with justice, just stability
- The more polars, the less stable
- Posits that peace hegemonic decline is unrealistic
Power Transition Theory
- Tries to explain changes in hegemonic stability
- Makes the distinction between status quo and revisionist states
- Many believe you must look at revisionist states to understand the future
Ethic of Prudence
Always watch your back first before expanding or looking elsewhere
An agreement between all realists
You must recognize that the balance of power is what matters - you need to know your place and act accordingly
Three Things Realists Say Must be Identified
Assumptions - groupism, egoism, power-centrism A scope condition - anarchy, world government, or global empire A general theory - politics in anarchy is conflictual
Things to Consider When Determining Which Realist Theory to Use
Need to consider the system of states
And establish scope conditions
Realists and Attaining Peace
It is attained when people act upon the world the way it i while acknowledging power differentials.
Balance of Power =
rational non-differentiated actors (unitary states) + condition of anarchy + differential in power
Power v Reason
Standards of right and wrong defined by the power (not an ethical question)
Medium/Small sized states can’t do the same things
Pitfall Of Realism as Guide
Poor predictors
2 Major Lessons for Avoiding Pitfalls/Poor Predictions
- Study your case very well
2. Recognize scope conditions
Foxes and Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs - know one thing really well (Academic theorists)
Foxes - draw upon many things to produce quality analysis (don’t over commit to one theory)
