LEC 2: origins of IR: realism and liberalism Flashcards
what was the first debate of IR
utopian liberalism v realism
who set the foundations of liberalism/idealism
Normal Angell when he published his book ‘the great illusions’ in 1909
what arguments did norman angell make
states advance their national interests based on military power and economic motivations
- fighting is becoming increasingly expensive because economies (due to globalisation) are becoming more intergrated
- the incentive to go to war used to be economic expansions but due to the integration of economies this is diminishing
(published in 1909 before 2 world wars proved him wrong
what was angels argument based on
the liberal idea of tradition
what impact did WW1 have on international relations?
in 1919 after WW1 the first chair of international relations was created at the university of aberystwyth called the woodrow wilson chair
in order to study the origins of the war and avoid it happening again
why is the woodrow wilson chair problematic
wilson created the league of nations and then didnt join it which arguably created the twenty years crisis
who came up with the ‘twenty year crisis?
E.H.Carr
what is the ‘twenty year crisis’
- attempted to explain the pre-war period and how states behaved
- simplified international tensions to the distinction between states who have and those who have not
- argues that war occurs when the have nots have enough power to overthrow the haves (ex germany v britan)
- critiques angell’s belief that interantional law benefits everyone
- beeleives that interantiona law is the law of those who have power and therfore it is fundamentally political
what name is given to Carr’s critique of Angell?
the critique of utopian universialism
what view does classic realism hold
international relations is shaped around power
war is therefore always a possibility as states will always hold power therfore war cannot be forbidden only mitigation
why was there a rise in realism in america
migration of jews fleeing WW2 to america brought realism to the country and began to question liberalist principles with dominated american policy making at the time
what did morgenthau say about mitigation
war can be mitigated in 2 ways:
1) balance of power: when a rough equality exists between major states war is reduced
2) prudence: state leaders should measure their interests against their means ie. they should not do anything they are not capable of and compromise on things that are not vital
what did morgenthau say about foreign policy
’ the aim of foreing policy should be to guarentee our security so that each citizen has the opporunity to be free’
what are the 6 principles of political realism (according to morgantheau)
1) believes politics is governed by objective laws which are rooted in human nature
2) the main way to understand behaviour is interest defined in terms of power
3) interest defined as power is an objective category (the laws of human nature cant change but idea of interest can)
4) for every state or political leader their purpose in IR is to senure national survival
5) prudence: do not try to impose your worldview on others accept everyoen has different views
6) power is the currency of politics
4 fundamental rules of diplomacy
1) diplomacy cannot have a crusading spirit (dont impose on others
2) foreign policy objectives are defined in terms of national interest as supported by adequate power
3) diplomacy must. accept that other national interests are valid
4) nations must. be willing to compromise on all issues that are not vital
