Realism

Question 1

Thucydides

Answer 1

Wrote The Landmark, a History of Peloponnesian War Between Sparta and Athens

Famous Ancient Greek Historian

Question 2

Melian Dialogue. What was it about? Key points?

Answer 2

In Landmark, Thucydides mentions a dialogue between Athenian diplomats and Melian officials. They argue over whether Melos should fight on Athens’ side.

Can be described as first realist-idealist debate.

If a state wants to talk about what is right and moral in IR, it must have power. Otherwise, no one will listen.

If a state wants to achieve national security, it must be powerful. They become worried when other states become powerful.

Athenians argue that nature allows states with power to dominate in IR.

Question 3

Landmark Important Themes for Realism

Answer 3

States become worried when other states become powerful. States try to accumulate power to ensure national security.

Realists can draw on history to say national security is the most important IR issue.

Thucydides sees causes of Peloponnesian War as a result of changing distribution of power: Athens’ power was rising and accordingly, Sparta feared for its own security.

Question 4

Thucydides on morality in IR

Answer 4

morality is never more important than a state’s power and self-interest

Countries need power to talk about and influence what other states as morally right and wrong.

Stronger states have the right to dominate weaker states.

Question 5

Thucydides’ Trap and Graham Allison

Answer 5

Graham Allison argues that China and the US will go to war even if both do not want it because of the changing distribution of power in IR (China’s rising power going up against an established US power that feels threatened)

Question 6

Thucydides’ Trap

Answer 6

Notion that states between whom the distribution of power is changing go to war. (Ex: Peloponnesian War)

Question 7

Hans Morgenthau

Answer 7

Founder of Classical Realism. Author of Politics Among Nations.

Question 8

Niccolo Machiavelli Life Background

Answer 8

Italian Political Philosopher and Diplomat

Lived during a time when Italy was a bunch of independent city-states.

Gained political prominence during Republic of Florence. Medici family expelled and democracy introduced. Appointed a diplomat and Secretary of War.

Kicked out of politics when Medici family took back power over Florence. He wanted so bad to get into politics.

Based on his experiences, he wrote The Prince

Question 9

Machiavelli on Speaking Truth to Power

Answer 9

Does not intend to say how politics should be. He wants to focus on what politics actually is, especially how brutal. Insists anyone who wants to rule a country should focus on how things really are.

Question 10

Machiavelli on Lying

Answer 10

Machiavelli says a prudent ruler should break promises if they are disadvantageous or if the reasons for the promise no longer exist. If humans were good, this would be bad, but because others are just as deceptive, one is justified in lying.

Question 11

Machiavelli on Being Feared and Loved

Answer 11

It is better for a ruler of a country to have your citizens fear you than to be loved. That’s the only way to maintain power.

Question 12

Machiavelli on Power

Answer 12

The possession of power is enough to rule. A ruler does not need to be concerned about what is a legitimate use of power. Having power means legitimacy to rule.

Rulers must pursue maximization of power as an end in itself.

Being a good ruler is not enough to maintain power.

Question 13

Machiavelli on State

Answer 13

Sometimes credited with coining the concept of “raison d’etat”, meaning acting in the best interest of the state. (IR concept)

Lo stato (The state is the property of the ruler like a private possession.)

Personal qualities of the ruler shape the governance of a state.

Question 14

Hobbes on the Laws of Nature

Answer 14

1. The first step to overcome the state of nature if for people to contract with each other to not kill one another.
2. Don’t to do to others what you don’t want others to do to you. (If you don’t want to be killed, don’t try to kill others.)

Question 15

Hobbes on Sovereignty

Answer 15

People have natural passions, which may lead them to kill one another, even if they have a mutual agreement to not kill each other per the Laws of Nature. Therefore, government is necessary to enforce these obligations.

Question 16

Link Between Hobbes and Realism

Answer 16

He likened the state of nature between citizens to situation between states, contributing to realism.

Says states try to obtain more power to feel more secure. In the process, they want to dominate or weaken other states. This is all due to anarchy.

Question 17

Morgenthau’s Principles of Realism

Answer 17

1. Human nature is flawed as people are selfish, aggressive and power-hungry. This is nothing new in human history. So, why expect states to change and become less so? States reflect the nature of humanity.
2. States are interested in power and inform everything states do in international politics.
3. Power does not always entail military coercion. There are different ways in which states can exercise power such as through manipulation and mind control.
4. The state must not make morality the deciding factor when looking out for its foreign policy interests.
5. No state has the right to argue that their foreign policy is morally superior. Once we realize this, it makes it easier to respect differences with other states.
6. International relations cannot be understood well when studied from any other lens or field besides the political sphere. Ex: Economics and law tools are not effective tools to understand dynamics between states.

Reject legalistic-moralistic approach (Not keen on talking about what actions are moral and/or legal or not in IR.)

Question 18

Morgenthau’s Thoughts on Realism vs Idealism

Answer 18

Idealist:

1. Belief that rational, just moral order can be achieved based on some universal principles.
2. Human nature is good.
3. Progress can be achieved through education, reform, and sometimes, use of force.

Realist:

1. International relations, reflecting human nature, is composed of conflict and competition.

Moral principles can never be fully realized in international relations.

Realism aims to achieve less evil rather than absolute good.

Question 19

Morgenthau on Sovereignty, War and Peace.

Answer 19

Sovereignty makes states struggle for power, which leads to war.

Institutions like UN and EU have limited effectiveness due to competing interests of great powers.

Diplomacy is more effective states do not pretend to have moral foreign policy interests; can lead to international community.

Conditions for peace: Balance of Power, International Law, Morality, Public Opinion

Question 20

Kenneth Waltz

Answer 20

Founded neorealism

Question 21

Waltz on Why Wars Occur

Answer 21

Three images of international politics:

Individual image (The nature of particular political leaders, or human nature in general)

State image (Domestic characteristics of states such as whether a state is a democracy or not, imperialistic or not)

System Image (International anarchy is a source of war.).

Question 22

Realism on the direction of US foreign policy post-Cold War

Answer 22

It has moved away from realism. Either a neoconservative approach (Bush Jr.) or liberal internationalist approach has been taken (Clinton, Obama).

Question 23

Realists on War on Iraq

Answer 23

Why go to Iraq? No threat to US national security. If no war in Iraq, lives could be saved, Iran’s influence would be smaller, no Islamic State, and greater stability in Middle East politics.

Question 24

Realists on NATO Expansion

Answer 24

Expansion not in America’s interest. There would be better relations with Russia, no Russian intervention in Ukraine. Should have focused on Partnership for Peace rather than Expansion.

Question 25

Realists on Persian Gulf

Answer 25

No need for US to contain Iran and Iraq such as committing more military in region. Should have used their mutual rivalry to balance each other. 9/11 probably happened as a result.

Question 26

Realists of America in Afghanistan

Answer 26

After Iraq War, US did not have resources to rebuild Afghanistan. Obama failed to withdraw on time (Lives could be saved and US’s standing in IR would be stronger).

Question 27

Realists on Iran Nuclear Deal

Answer 27

Stay in. It was in America’s interests. Alternatives are let Iran develop a bomb or wage a preventive war with Iran. Preventive war means greater instability in Middle East.

Question 28

Realists on US-Israel Relations

Answer 28

Work with Israel for mutual gain, but end unconditional support for Israel. Press for two-state solution, but not as “Israel’s lawyer”.

Question 29

Realists on Rise of China

Answer 29

If China continues to grow economically, it is bound to challenge American hegemony.

Just as the US has strived to establish its own hegemony, China will do the same.

China will seek to expand influence and dominate in its own and neighboring regions. It will even seek alliances in Americas as well.

Wars will likely happen with rise of China due to number of powers (Japan and Russia) in close proximity to China and territorial disputes between China and neighbors.

As China seeks to dominate Asia, US along with neighboring countries will seek to prevent regional hegemony, keeping China in check. There will be an intense competition with the potential for war. Rise of China will unlikely be tranquil.

China should want militarily weak neighbors like Russia, India and Japan.

US should create a NATO-like alliance with China’s neighbors to keep China in check, preventing it from conquering other territories and achieving regional hegemony.

Question 30

Realism on Coronavirus

Answer 30

Realism is power-focused and national security-focused, so it does not have much to say about pandemics.

COVID-19 reaffirms the centrality of the state. (States took the main role in dealing with coronavirus rather than international organizations.)

COVID-19 can lead to de-globalization.

Question 31

Neorealism and Anarchy

Answer 31

Anarchy creates similar interests among states such as national security and survival.

States must fend for themselves in anarchy.

There is no world government to enforce international law and norms unlike at the state level where there are courts, police and other structures in place to enforce consequences for lawbreaking.

Major differences between states concerns their level of power to achieve outcomes they want.

States always act in their own national interests. They have a single foreign policy enacted by the national government.

Question 32

Waltz on Anarchy and War

Answer 32

Conflicts will happen in the world due to anarchy. There is no world government to prevent it. Some states will inevitably use military force. So, other states must be prepared to use it as well.

Question 33

Mearsheimer on Waltz’s thinking

Answer 33

Mearsheimer says Waltz is wrong in not emphasizing that great powers want to act offensively and gain as much power as they can. He disagrees with Waltz that states behave defensively and try to seek to maintain balance of power rather than upset it.

Question 34

Offensive realism assumptions

Answer 34

1. International system is anarchic.
2. Great powers possess some offensive military capability.
3. States can never be certain about other states’ intentions.
4. Survival is primary goal of great powers.
5. Great powers are rational actors. (They are aware of their external environment such as the actions and interests of other states to figure out best strategy for survival.)

Question 35

Tragedy of International Relations

Answer 35

Mearsheimer says that even if great powers are merely concerned with their own survival, because of the nature of the international system, they have no choice but to seek to maximize power and seek hegemony.

Question 36

Neoclassical Realism tenets

Answer 36

1. Accepts anarchy influences state behavior
2. Rejects notion that states can shape foreign policy however they like
3. Foreign policy choices are influenced by political leaders and elites, based on perception of how powerful their country is relative to others.
4. In response to changing distribution of power among states, political leaders may not have power to modify or change allocation of resources due to factors like domestic politics and resistance from parliament.
5. Countries may have similar resources (Some are similar in that they are more powerful and others weaker), but act differently due to differences in domestic politics.
6. Based on relative power on international system, states will increase or decrease ambition of their own foreign policy.
7. States don’t always seek more power, but to control external environment in response to anarchy. The more their capabilities and power, the more ambitious they will be in doing so. With less, they will have to scale back.