Realism

Question 1

What is the classical realist paradigm?

Answer 1

A system. Sets of variables, states like billiard balls - no need to look deeper than the state.

Structure. States main actors, can be viewed in groups/clusters.
Multipolarity most stable system
-Hans Morganthau, “Politics Among Nations”

Question 2

What does classical realism emphasize?

Answer 2

Power maximization, competition, and values.
—> animus dominandi
Thucydides’ foundational realist appraisal of the world: fear, honor, interest.

Self-help system. Uncertainty over others’ capabilities.

Question 3

Who champions classical realism?

Answer 3

Thucydides
Thomas Hobbes
Niccolo Machiavelli
Max Weber
EH Carr 
Hans Morganthau - Politics among nations  
Henry Kissinger

Question 4

What is bandwagoning and balancing?

Answer 4

Bandwagoning - when weak states join with a strong state because the latter can take what it wants anyway.

Balancing - when states balance together against a stronger state.

Thucydides said: “the strong do as they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

Question 5

What is rational actor theory and who wrote it?

Answer 5

Alexander George wrote that state actions are governed by what states think will benefit them the most.

Question 6

What are classical realism’s limits?

Answer 6

As Jack Levy pointed out, it is not one theory, but a paradigm.

Lots of realists contradict each other. Struggles to explain transnational and substate threats.

Question 7

What are some limits to the rational actor theory?

Answer 7

Framing

• –Robert Jervis wrote in Hypotheses on Misperception that “decision-makers tend to fit incoming information into their existing theories and images… And tend to perceive what they expect.”
• Prospect theory
• –Jack Levy said leaders will take risks to maintain status quo
• fallacy of analogical reasoning
• –Yuen Foo Khong, historical analogies fail us, inaccurate
• Sub-state theories/culture/bureaucratic and organizational processes