Realism Flashcards
What is Realism?
The anarchic system is a system where there is no higher authority that those states can turn to if they get into trouble. This implies that states can never be certain that they will not live next to a powerful state with malign intentions. Therefore, a state within the realism theory has to try to be as powerful as possible, meaning to pursue power and to dominate its region of the world. This makes it possible that no other state is capable of hurting you. If a state is weak, it can be hurt and it ends up in a very vulnerable situation. Due to that no anarchy exists, meaning there is no one to call for help, which leads to applying self-help. Statism implies that states are the main actors in the anarchic system of realism. The balance of power prevents one state becoming too powerful and the distribution of power amongst states across the international system is what determines what each state does.
(e.g. China - US rivalry; European and Asian allies containing Soviet Union in Cold War)
What are the unifying tenets of realism?
- Statism: Sovereign states are the actors in world politics
- Anarchy: There is no common power in world politics.
- Self-help: Since there is no common power, each state must safeguard its own survival.
- Balance of power: Equal distribution of capabilities across major powers establishes a minimum of international order.
Classical Realism
For the Classical Realism Morgenthau the key proponent. The states act according to human nature and they pursue power politcs, because power is the end in itself. This is also a reason for conflict in the international system. In order to prevent that, diplomacy has the role to maintain and create balance of power (by finding allies, e.g., Congress of Vienna). The only end for cooperation is to maintain the balance of power.
Structural Realism
For Structural Realism Waltz is the key proponent. The international system consists of units (=states) and structure (=distribution of capabilities, military capabilities). This implies that states balance power automatically. A bipolar balance of power is more stable than a multipolar one. This was a good theory to explain the balance of power but also the competition between the US and the USSR during the Cold War.
Rational Choice Realism
For Rational Choice Realism the key proponents are Grieco and Gruber. States will pursue and create enduring co-operation, despite the anarchical system, in order to maximize their interests. States are positional actors; they want to increase their gains relative to other states (=realist assumption). When cooperating with other states, however, states always fear that their partners will cheat (=neo-liberalist assumption).
Defensive Realism
For Defensive Realism the key proponents are Walt, van Evera, Snyder and Posen. Defensive Realism says that the international anarchy is usually quite benign and there is security within that system, so states just want to protect themselves against emerging threats. When there are threats, the other states usually respond timely to them by balancing against them., which works as a deterrent for potential conflict initiators. However, it is possible that states have a misperception of a threat and conflicts can escalate when fear of other states prevents a balance of power. For example, prevailing modes of warfare favour the offensive.
Offensive Realism
In Offensive Realism the key proponent is Mearsheimer. Anarchy is Hobbesian, that is, the security within the state is very scarce, so its goal is to be stronger than others. States are never satisfied with their relative power vis-à-vis other states (=no equilibrium, no balance) and they will thus always strive for more power in order to ensure their own security. This constant rivalry between the states leads to conflicts. This can explain well the arms race between US and USSR during the cold war, or the naval arms race between Germany and the UK.
Neoclassical Realism
For Neoclassical Realism the key proponents are Schweller, Zakaria, and Wohlforth. A state’s foreign policy is driven primarily by its relative material power. However, as opposed to OR, the impact of power capabilities on foreign policy is indirect. Systemic pressures are translated through state-level variables such as regime type and individual level variables such as decision-makers’ perceptions
Constructivist Realism
For Constructivist Realism the main proponent is Williams. The international order is socially constructed. Power, then, is as much part of this construction as social knowledge, identity, and the limits of reason (e.g. symbolic power). Constructivist realists argue that realism should contain ethical considerations and the use of power in international relations should be restrained.
What are the different strands of Realism?
Classical Realism Structural Realism Rational Choice Realism Defensive Realism Offensive Realism Neoclassical Realism Constructivist Realism
