Realism Flashcards
When was Realism born?
After WW2, as a critique of the errors made during the 30 years crisis
What are the basic general assumptions of Realism?
- Pessimistic View of Human Nature (homo homini lupus)
- Conviction that international relations are conflictual
- Anarchy of the international system
- Focus on State Survival and National Security
- Skepticism towards change
What are the Realist Assumptions regarding the STATE?
1) The agent/ units of analysis are the STATES
2) The State is a Unitary Actor
3) The State is a Rational Actor
4) State’s agenda is centered on Security
What is POWER?
Is the ability to influence and change the action of the counterpart, by aligning them to your will
What makes a state Powerful?
- TANGIBLE RESOURCES (e.g: population, natural resources, industrial capacity etc.)
- INTANGIBLE RESOURCES (e.g: political culture and patriotism, technological and scientific development, “power of ideas”)
Are all States EQUAL according to Realists?
No, there is a HIERARCHY among States
How can you reach STABILITY according to Realists?
STABILITY DEPENDS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
Two ways to reach stability:
1) BALANCE OF POWER (power is equally distributed)
2) HEGEMONIC STABILITY (power is unequally distributed –> unbalanced power relation, which is considered legitimate by the actors)
What is a Public Good?
A public good is a good that is bothnon- excludableandnon-rivalrous
Do the hegemons always remain such?
(Gli hegemon rimangono sempre tali?)
No, there are phases of hegemony, therefore a state that is considered an hegemon doesn’t always stay as such, but instead, it can be substituted by another at any time
What are the phases of hegemony?
- Emerge
- Stabilization
- Decline
- Crisis
What does the Thucydides Trap study says?
The study describes an apparent tendency towards war when an emerging power threatens to displace an existing great poweras a regional or international hegemon
What is considered a “THREAT”?
Threat è l’insieme di:
· Aggregate power (traditional power)
· Military technology: offensive capabilities
· Geography: neighboring and continental powers are more threatening (my neighbor is my enemy; the neighbor of my neighbor is my friend)
· Intentions: aggressive or not aggressive
What do “hard power” and “soft power” mean?
SOFT POWER: is immaterial, a-territorial and can be defined as: “the ability to set the standards and the rules of the game: to create international institutions”
HARD POWER: military action and economic sanctions
What does “defensive realism” mean?
+ name a Defensive Realist
DEFENSIVE REALISM: The belief that states’s goal is to increase their protection and therefore states do not strive for excessive power that goes beyond their primary goal of national security
WALTZ is considered to be a Defensive Realist.
What does “offensive realism” mean?
+ name an Offensive Realist
OFFENSIVE REALISM: The belief that great powers are always searching for opportunities to gain power over their rivals. –> their goal therefore is HEGEMONY, not state survival
MEARSHEIMER is considered to be an Offensive Realist
What are the Strategies to Increase Power: (strategies of Offensive Realism)
- War
- Bait and bleed
- Bloodletting
- Bleeding
- Divide et Impera
- Hub and Spoke
What are the Strategies AGAINST the Oppressor (strategies of Defensive Realism)
- Balancing
- Buck-passing: Pushing another state to oppose the aggressor, while staying aside
What do Realists think about alliences?
In an anarchic world in which states have to rely on themselves and prioritize national interest, alliances have to be flexible
- Anarchical International System, therefore STATES MUST RELY ON THEMSELVES
- Alliances must be flexible
What is the Security Dilemma?
The Security Dilemma is a situation in which actions taken by a state to increase its own security cause reactions from other states, which in turn lead to a decrease rather than an increase in the original state’s security
What do Realists think about International Institutions / Organizations ?
Realists believe thatsovereign states are the principal actors in the international system. International institutions, non-governmental organizations etc…are viewed as having little importance
What are the two main schools of Realism? (and their approaches)
- Classical Realism: NORMATIVE APPROACH
- Social Science Realism: SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
What does Social Science Realism comprehend?
- Strategic and Structural Realism (e.g Schelling)
- Neoclassical Realism
What are the two important Realist claims formulated by Thucydides?
- That the STRUCTURE of the international system affects relations between states
- That the moral reasoning has little bearing on relations between states
Is power equally distributed among states according to Thucydides?
No, power is unequally distributed ; there is a HIERARCHY between states
What does Thucydides emphasizes regarding the conduct of foreign policy?
Thucydides emphasizes:
- the LIMITED CHOICES and the restricted sphere of maneuver available to rulers in the conduct of foreign policy
- That DECISIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
What are the two key words of Thucydides regarding the conduct of foreign policy?
- prudence
- caution
What is the definition of “justice” according to Thucydides?
According to Thucydides, justice is about:
- recognizing your relative strength or weakness
- knowing your proper place
- adapting to the natural reality of unequal power
What does Thucydides SAFE RULE says?
Thucydides safe rule says: to stand up to one’s equals, to behave with deference to one’s superiors, and to treat one’s inferiors with moderation
What is the Theory of Hegemonic War (Thucydides) and with what other theory is it “related”?
Theory of Hegemonic War: is the idea that the dynamic of international relations is provided by the DIFFERENTIAL GROWTH OF POWER among states.
The Theory of Hegemonic War is strictly linked with “Thucydides Trap Study”, which claims that there is a tendency towards war when an emerging power threatens to displace an existing great power
What are are the two essential means for the conduct of foreign policy according to Machiavelli?
POWER and DECEPTION
(the “lion” and the “fox”)
What is the supreme political value according to Machiavelli?
NATIONAL LIBERTY (libertas) –> aka POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
What is the main responsibility of rulers according to Machiavelli?
The main responsibility of rulers is to:
- Ensure NATIONAL SECURITY
- DEFEND THE INTERESTS of the state
What are the two main qualities a good ruler must have according to Machiavelli?
- STRENGHT (lion)
- INTELLIGENCE / CUNNING (astuzia) (fox)
What is Machiavelli’s assumption regarding the world?
That it is both a dangerous place, and an opportune place.
Should rulers engage in pre-emptive wars according to Machiavelli? Yes/No and WHY?
Yes, because according to Machiavelli states/rulers must not wait for things to happen, instead they should ANTICIPATE the motives and actions of others
What is the relation between Politics and Ethics according to Machiavelli?
According to Machiavelli there are two different moral spheres, one morality for the private sphere and another, very different one for the public sphere / statecraft
Should the ruler follow the morals of Christian Ethics according to Machiavelli? Yes/No and WHY?
NO, because political responsibility is different from private morality
What is the STATE OF NATURE?
Is a pre-civili, a-state and a-societal condition extremely adverse to human beings, characterized by war and danger
How can we exit the state of nature according to Hobbes?
We can exit the state of nature via the CREATION and maintenance of a SOVEREIGN STATE, which is created when men and women TURN THIER FEAR OF EACH OTHER INTO A RATIONAL JOINT COLLABORATION with each other in order to GUARANTEE EACH OTHER’S SAFETY
Why do men and women COOPERATE in order to EXIT THE STATE OF NATURE ? (cosa li porta a collaborare secondo Hobbes?)
Men and women cooperate politically because of their fear of being hurt or killed but heir neighbors: they are “civilized by fear of death”
Can there be a peaceful and civilized life outside of the State’s border according to Hobbes?
No, a peaceful and civilized life can only be enjoyed within a state and it cannot extend beyond the state or exist between states
How can the international state system be defined according to Hobbes?
As an INTERNATIONAL STATE OF NATURE
Can there be INTERNATIONAL PEACE according to Hobbes?
NO, according to Hobbes there can only be DOMESTIC PEACE (peace within the state’s borders)
What are the common points between CLASSICAL REALISTS? (Thucydides, Machiavelli and Hobbes)
- PESSIMISTIC VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE: the human condition is one of insecurity and conflict
- There is NO ESCAPE from this human condition of insecurity and conflict
- The international system is ANARCHIC
- Because of International anarchy, INTERNATIONAL PEACE (peace between states) IS IMPOSSIBLE
- The state main goal is NATIONAL SECURITY and STATE SURVIVAL
- International institutions/organizations take in second place, in respect to the sovereign unit of the state
What is the main goal of human beings according to Morgenthau?
PURSUING POWER
Where, according to Morgenthau, can security and power be guaranteed to the citizens?
The ultimate political space within which security can be arranged and power enjoyed is the independent state.
Can international security exist according to Morgenthau?
No, security beyond the state and between states is impossible
What are the SIX PRINCIPLES of Morgenthau?
- Politics is rooted in a permanent and UNCHANGEABLE HUMAN NATURE which is basically self-centered
- Politics is an AUTONOMOUS SPHERE of action and cannot therefore be reduced to morals. (POLITICS ≠ ETHICS)
- International Politics is an arena of CONFLICTING STATE INTERESTS
- The ethics of international relations is a political or situational ethics which is very different from the private morality.
- Nations cannot impose their ideologies (e.g democracy) on other nations.
- Statecraft involves awareness of human limitations and human imperfections
What “type” of Realism is the one of Schelling?
STARTEGIC REALISM
What is Schelling’s goal?
To provide analytical tools for strategic thought
What is diplomacy and foreign policy to Schelling?
Schelling views diplomacy and foreign policy as a RATIONAL INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITY that can be better understood by the application of “GAME THEORY”.
For Schelling the activity of Foreign Policy is…
- RATIONAL
- FREE FROM MORALS
What is the distinction between
BRUTE FORCE and COERCION?
Which one is more effective according to Schelling?
Brute force is taking what you want;
while coercion is making someone giving it to you.
Brute force succeeds when it is used, whereas the power to hurt (coercion) is most successful when held reserve.
To Schelling coercion is more effective
What is a requirement for coercion to be effective?
That our interests and our opponent’s interests are not absolutely opposed. Coercion requires finding a bargain.
What is the main difference between Schelling and Machiavelli?
Schelling does not base his analysis on political/civil ethics : he takes values regarding statecraft for granted
+ Schelling doesn’t focus on goals of statecraft
Who is THE neorealist?
WALTZ
What “points” does Waltz take from Classical Realism and what “points” does he take from Social Science Realism?
(punti di contatto tra Waltz e classical realism e tra Waltz e social science realism)
Points that Waltz share with Classical Realism:
- focus on INDEPENDENT STATE
- condition of INTERNATIONAL ANARCHY
Points that Waltz share with Social Science Realism:
- LACK OF INTEREST in the ETHICS OF STATECRAFT / MORAL DILEMMAS
What is the main FOCUS of WALTZ’S NEOREALIST theory?
The STRUCTURE of international system
Waltz focuses on the STRUCTURE
Is Waltz’s theory a reductionists or a systemic theory?
a SYSTEMIC theory
How is the STRUCTURE of the International System DEFINED by Waltz?
Structure Defined as:
- ORDERING PRINCIPLE
( * Internal political structure: hierarchy ; * International political structure: anarchy)
- DISTRIBUTION OF CAPABILITIES among units
On what do States differ, according to Waltz?
According to Waltz, states differ on:
- the greater or lesser capabilities to perform similar tasks
- on POWER
According to Waltz, which one is more stable: a MULTIPOLAR or a BIPOLAR SYSTEM?
BIPOLAR SYSTEM
What are the “ few big and important things” that Waltz’s theory can explain?
- That great powers will always tend to balance each others (even tho war is always possible)
- That smaller and weaker states will have a tendency to align themselves with great powers
- That cooperating states will always strive to maximize their relative power and preserve their autonomy.
Does the Structure of the International System DETERMINE the behavior of the States according to Waltz?
No, the structure generates constraints and opportunities for the states, but it does not ultimately determine their behavior
To Neorealist the Cold War was a period of STABILITY. TRUE or FALSE?
TRUE
What does NEOCLASSICAL Realism draws from Classical Realism?
The assumption that International Relations is basically an ANARCHICAL SYSTEM
What does NEOCLASSICAL Realism draws from Neorealism?
The importance of the STRUCTURE of the International System
Does the international structure specify leadership policies and actions according to Neoclassical Realists?
No, the international structure (anarchy and the balance of power) constrains states but it does not ultimately specify leadership policies and actions
What is the goal of Neoclassical Realists?
Neoclassical realists seeks to explain why, how and under what conditions the internal characteristics of states intervene between the leader’s assessment of international threats and opportunities and the actual diplomatic, military and foreign economic policies those leaders pursue
Who formulated the theory of “under balancing”
The Neoclassical Realist Schweller
Summarize Schweller’s theory of underbalancing
Schweller proposes an explanation on why many states fail to respond effectively to threats. This happens because state-society relations are underbalanced: Underbalancing happens when there are important divisions within society due to low social cohesion and/or divided elites
What is the NORMATIVE core of realism?
The normative core of realism is STATE SURVIVAL and NATIONAL SECURITY
All Realists are WARMONGERS. True or False?
False
