Lecture 3 - Classical Realism Flashcards
background realism
oldest school of thought in IR, dominant in post-WW2 era.
theory to which other theories reacted
roots: machiavelli / hobbes
idealism
assumes essential goodness & infinite malleability of human nature
blames the failure of social order to measure up to the rational standards
believes that a rational and moral political order, derived from universally valid abstract principle can be achieved
trust in education, reform, sporadic use of foce to remedy these defects
classical realism
imperfect world is the result of forces inherent in human nature
a world of opposing interests and of conflict
moral principles can never be fully realized
solution = temporary balancing of interests / system of checks and balances –> aims at lesser evil than absolute good
appeals to historic precedent rather than abstract principles
with whom does Morgenthau situate himself with in a discussion?
idealism
principle 1 = politics is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature
it distinguishes between truth and opinion
international politics should be about what is true objectively and rationally, supported by evidence - no motives or preferences
human nature = interest in power (actor based theory)
Why develop a rational theory of international politics?
To avoid two fallacies:
- Concern with motives.
- Concern with ideological preferences.
If you let your own ideas, motives and ideological preferences get in the way of your theorizing, that is dangerous.
Theories should not be made by and judged by morals
principle 2 = Interest is defined in terms of power
political sphere thinks in terms of power, so all politics is a struggle for power.
sets politics apart from economics / religion / ethics
domestic leval has laws / norms / institutions that restrain individuals, international level does not
principle 3 = interest defined as power is an objective category that is universally valid
interest = power goes for everyone
the exact meaning of power is not fixed. power can be described as military / economically / territorially / influence etc.
but the essence of power is unaffected by the circumstance of time and place. what kind of power is relevant is dependent of in which time we live, with its own political / cultural context
so the kind of interest determining political action dpeneds on political / cultural context
principle 4 = only moral rule is prudence (weighing the consequences of alternative political action)
virtue of politics is prudence
duty of leaders is to act in the national interests
rational foreign policy is a good policy
principle 5 = exactly the concept of interest defined in terms of power, saves us from both moral excess and political folly
by defining interests as power, you do not clothe your particular aspirations and actions in the moral purposes of the universe, because that will distract you from doing what is the most rational
principle 6 = realism maintains the autonomy of the political sphere
duty of politcal realists is to protect the political sphere from other interests than power (moral or economic)
balance of power
aspiration for power on the part of several nations, each trying either to maintain or overthrow the status quo, leads of necessity to a configuration that is called the balance of power and to policies that aim at preserving it.
purpose = maintain the stability of te system without destroying the elements composing it
Without a state of equilibrium (balance) among states, one state will gain ascendancy over the others, encroach upon their interests and rights, and may ultimately destroy them
no choice to join this sytem, because of the nature of the system. every state has the tendency for wanting to be superior, and a balance is in favour of all nations
so balance of power is necessary, inevitable and essential for the states, because without a balance, another country may overtake them
two typical patterns in balance of power
direct opposition
competition
patterns balance of power: direct opposition
clash between two nations, where one nation wants to establish its power over another nation.
yet this nation refuses to yield and will in turn try the same
this balancing and opposing will continue until nations (or one) change their objective or if one becomes the stronger one.
patterns balance of power: competition
country A en B try to safeguard the independence of country C against enroachments by the other
there are three factors that determine the neutrality of state C
- balance of power
- the protection of the dominant state
- unacttrativeness concerning imperialistic aspirations
different methods of balance of power
divide and rule
compensation
armaments
alliances
divide and rule
a tactic to keep competitors weak by dividing them or keeping them divided.
compensation
countries will only agree to concede political advantages to another nation with the expectation of receiving proportionate advantages in return
this could be pieces of their own land or from their colonies. fertility of the soil and number of the equality of the populations were used to determine the worth of the territory.
armaments
the principal means of handling disputes. states try to keep up, if not outdo, each other with a superior military force - cold war
high level of competitiveness and uncertainty
can also stabilize balance of power by a reduction of armaments
alliances
Alliances are a necessary function of the balance of
power operating within a multiple-state-system
three choices to maintain relative power positions
1. increase own power (armaments)
2. add to their own power the power of others
3. withold the power of other nations from adversary
an alliance requires of necessity a community of interests for its foundation
problems of balance of power
uncertainty = exact power difficult to measure
unreality = Requires to always seek maximum power/superiority which can, however, never really be achieved -> limitless aspiration for power.
its use as an ideology = To disguise, legitimize, justify use of power through appeal to principles
How useful is then a BoP for the Preservation of Peace and Security? - pro’s
No universal dominion by a single state since 1648;
Between 1648-1795 [partitions of Poland], all members of the state system were preserved
How useful is then a BoP for the Preservation of Peace and Security? - cons
BoP kept at the price of many wars and of states having been eliminated;
BoP only functions at the cost of much violence and warfare
