LECTURE 3 - realism, why theory Flashcards
Purpose of theories
1: there needs to be some
preconception of which facts
significant and which are not.
- select information
- order/categorize complex info
- is the info acc useful?
- what facts matter and what facts don’t
* guides. and influences the types of questions you ask - dif theories = dif priorities/lens
- no human agent can rest content
with facts alone:
all social activity involves moral questions, of right and wrong, and
these can, by definition, not be decided by facts.
what is a theory?
set of propositions
that help us understand
events or behaviours”
- A lens through which
we explain the world
what makes a good theory?
DEPP:
– Describe
– Explain
– Predict
– Prescribe
anarchy
- Literally, the absence of government
or law - There is no world capital or
government
Realism in International Politics:
Implications of Hobbes
Key questions
– How are units related to one another?
– How are political functions allocated?
– How is power distributed?
While realists assume an anarchical international system, there is hierarchy
– Key differentiator is capability
* Usually conceptualized in terms of force,
but can encompass economics, ideas,
morality
Hobbesian order
(thomas hobbes = realist)
– Life is nasty, brutish, and short
– Implies world of self-help, all out for
themselves
* Contradiction is that this is not
how the world works
you can’t trust anyone, constantly guard those taking advantage of you and attack others so they dont get stronger
3 core ideas of basic realism
- Men are equal.
- They interact in anarchy.
- They are driven by
competition, diffidence and
glory
3 Core principles of realism
the 3 S’s:
Statism: Sovereign states the
main actor
Survival: States pursue
“national interest” in
anarchic world
Self-help: States must rely on
their own power resources to
ensure their survival in
anarchic world
core assumptions of structural realism (or neo-realism)
- Anarchy is the defining feature
of the global political system. - The structure of the
International system is a key
determinant of how states act. - States are rational, self-
interested actors. - The most important goal for all
states in the anarchic
international system is survival
Classical vs. Structural realism
Classical realism: (Thucydides, Hobbes, Machiavelli)
– level of individual human nature:
* We are greedy and egotistical, which explains behaviour
* Significant role for statecraft of individual state leaders
- Structural realism (or neo-realism): (Waltz)
– level of the system - Impersonal balance of power explains behaviour
- Very little role for statecraft (skillful management of state affairs) = anarchy
Structural Realism and
the International System
The nature of a state, its
government and leadership
might impact international
politics. (Waltz’s first and second images)
* The most important factor in
international politics is the
structure of the system and
its impacts. (Waltz’s third image)
* The International structure is
defined by anarchy and the
distribution of capabilities
across states.
* Structural realism makes no
differentiation of the roles
played by states in the
international system.
* The distribution of capabilities between states in the international system is important.
how does structural realism focus on capabilities?
- Power defined as combined capacities of a country
– i.e., Military, population, resources, economy, geographic location, leadership - Most important determinant of power is the size and capacity of a country’s military
- states can be functionally similar, but very different in terms of power capability
- Power capabilities of a state and its comparison to those of other states critical determinants of state behaviour and foreign policy choices
types of Polarities and the
International System
Unipolar system: one single, all-
powerful state dominating the
structure (USA in 1950s)
* Bi-polar system: two roughly co-
equal powerful states dominating
the structure (United States and Soviet Union during cold war)
* Multi-polar system: multiple states
with the power to influence, but
not dominate the system. multi-polar = stable than other polarity forms, since major powers can benefit power through alliances and small wars that do not directly challenge other powers (WW2) and a realists’ nightmare
offensive vs defensive realism
O:
States should always be
looking for opportunities to
gain more power
* Ultimate goal is to achieve
hegemony understood as
systemic dominance or
structural power
D:
Unrelenting expansion is
unwise
* Conquest is often costly and
troublesome
* States should seek an
‘appropriate’ amount of
power
implications of these for international law
Power capabilities influence the ability to:
* deploy the technical capacity to draft legal text
* Provide incentives for others to sign onto a text
– i.e., side payments, pressure, reciprocity,
prestige
– Power capabilities and ambitions influence:
* The range of issues of importance to a country
* The credibility of a country to engage in an issue
* The ability to build coalitions to advance priorities
