Liberalism vs Realism Flashcards
Define Multilateral
Agreed upon or participated in by three or more parties, especially the governments of different countries.
Define Unilateral
performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of another or the others.
Define Bilateral
Involving two parties, especially countries.
What is a realist Machiavelli quote about human nature?
“all men are evil and they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.”
What is a realist Hobbes quote about human nature?
“Nasty, brutish and short.”
What is a realist Rousseau quote about human nature?
“Our greatest evil flows from within ourselves.”
What is statism?
a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.
What are the features of statism?
- State as the pre-eminent actor
- Sovereignty
- Order within state
- Prevalence of anarchy
- Distinction between international politics and domestic politics
What is the realist view on states?
States are rational- relations with other states are determined by the relative value of the costs vs benefits of such an action
States are unitary actors- states interest to increase their power and their security
States are amoral- don’t act according to concepts of justice, rights or religious morality
States seek power- motivated by the pursuits of national interest- power
What is the security dilemma?
Any actions by a state intended to increase its security- such as increasing its military strength- can lead to other states responding with similar measures, producing increased tensions that create conflict.
give an example of a security dilemma.
WWI – Naval arms race between Germany and the UK, Cuban Missile Crisis- Russia put missiles in Cuba after saying they wouldn’t- US found out, locked down Cuba with naval blockade, compromised due to M.A.D
What do realists say about the inevitability of war?
Selfish human nature
Gaining power = others losing power
All states pose a threat, intentional or not
To protect themselves states must arm themselves
