Neo-Realism

Question 1

realism Dominant when

Answer 1

During Cold War

Question 2

Types of realism

Answer 2

1. Classical (immediate post war)
   - states are selfish because they resemble human nature
   - Kissinger, Morgenthau, Carr
2. Neo-realism/structural realism (from late 1970s)
   - anarchy is responsible
   - two types
   
   • offensive
     
     • states are driven by self-interest
     • the more power the better
     • often leads to security dilemma
     • Mearsheimer
   • defensive
     
     • power is a means to ensure security
     • country should have a balance of power that is equal between all states
     • tries to avoid security dilemma
     • Waltz
3. Neo-classical/modified neo-realism (from 1990s)
   - takes also domestic actors into account
   - Rose, Ripsman

• increasing criticism from other schools of thought since 1980s

Question 3

Why realism

Answer 3

Claim to analyse the world “as it is” (not as it could or should be)

Cautions against “idealist” recipes of interwar period (LoN)

Question 4

Critique of neorealism

Answer 4

• doesn’t take into account different actors (except neoclassical and domestic actors) eg international organisations etc

Question 5

Anarchy

Answer 5

The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must (Thucydides)

= absence of international authority

• permissive cause for conflict
  
  • IF a state should decide to use threats or wage war there is little to stop it
    
    • except being prepared by deterring the opponent

Question 6

Implications of realism

Answer 6

2. States behave like units
   - the international system
   
   • when the system of power is divided, the duties/responsibilities are distributed
   • depends on differences in
     
     • nature of threat
     • different military/economic capabilities
       
       • consequences
   • internal constitution (democracy, autocracy etc) of a state is less important
3. Security dilemma
   - honest communication about mutual intentions is impossible
   - trying to create more security eventually results in less security
4. Weakness of international agreements
   - both states might prefer mutual security agreement
   - but both cannot be sure that the other plays by the rules + security first (protect own country -> go for the second best outcome [arms race] to prevent the least preferred outcome [being conquered by the other state])
   => agreements tend to be unstable

Question 7

Things that can be understood well by realism

Answer 7

• deterrence during Cold War
• arms race and preventive war
• wreaking of international agreements
• India and Pakistan rivalry in nuclear weapons

Question 8

Things that are puzzling for realists

Answer 8

• increasing number of international organisations and growing membership
• influence of international law on state behaviour
• identity of states
  E.g. Netherlands wants to protect EU values like democracy and rule of law

Question 9

Concepts of neorealism

Answer 9

• statism (states are the main actors)
• anarchy (no international authority)
  
  • stronger states survive, weaker states suffer
• survival
• second order concerns (law, protection of the environment etc)
• self-help (states can only rely on themselves to ensure survival, can’t trust anyone else)
• zero-sum game (therefore world peace impossible)
• security (most important interest)
  
  • brings SECURITY DILEMMA (one state increases, second one increases -> spiral)
  • resolution = BALANCE OF POWER
    
    • internal - increasing own military arsenal
    • external - forming alliances
• states act rationally
• moral code = security, nothing else