Lecture Jan. 24th (3/6)

Question 1

realism

Answer 1

The dominant theory of world politics throughout history of academic IR; Grounded in skepticism about the capacity of human reason to deliver moral progress

Question 2

Classical political theorists

Answer 2

Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Rousseau

Question 3

Unifying theme

Answer 3

states in anarchy cannot take their security for granted, and therefore rationally compete for power and security

Question 4

Two different types of realism

Answer 4

• Those who grant theoretical primacy to human nature

- Those who accentuate the importance of international anarchy and the distribution of power in the international system

Question 5

Classical/biological realism

Answer 5

States engage in an endless struggle for power; Humans are inherently flawed; Thucydides, Morgenthau

Question 6

historical realism

Answer 6

States should subordinate basic moral principles to policies that promote their survival; ends justify means; Machiavelli, Carr

Question 7

neo-realism (Waltz)

Answer 7

Structure of the international system is the key factor shaping state behavior; Not human nature; International system anarchic; relative powers capabilities key (powerful influence weak)

Question 8

structural/neoclassical realism

Answer 8

Examines influence of internal, external (systematic) pressures on the behavior and policies of individual states; states as security maximizers

Question 9

two variants of structural realism

Answer 9

• offensive and defensive realism
• Both involve state efforts to increase their own security, so as to secure survival.
• Differ in regards to a.) state perceptions of the international system and b.) strategies

Question 10

security dilemma in IR

Answer 10

States can never know if their neighbors are revisionist or status quo states, pursuing offensive or defensive policies; must constantly increase their own security

Question 11

rational choice realism

Answer 11

Conceives of IR as bargaining process; Recognizes importance of international institutions

Question 12

statism

Answer 12

centerpiece of Realism; State as the pre-eminent actor (all other actors in world politics are of lesser significance)

Question 13

sovereignty (in statism)

Answer 13

the existence of an independent political community with juridical authority over its territory

Question 14

criticisms of statism

Answer 14

: the inability of sovereign states to respond to collective global problems - famine, environmental degradation, and human rights abuses; challenges to state power from ‘above’ and ‘below’

Question 15

survival

Answer 15

primary objective of all states; all other goals such as economic prosperity are secondary

Question 16

self-help

Answer 16

No other state or institution can guarantee survival; coexistence through maintenance of balance of power