Realism and Idealism

Question 1

What is the big bang myth of IR?

Answer 1

No study of IR before 1919. Suddenly came out of nowhere.

Question 2

Idealism/liberalism

Answer 2

Intellectual tradition
Norman Angell: the great illusion, nations fight for economic benefit
Economic development
Technological development
Institutional/legal development

Question 3

What are the four big myths of IR?

Answer 3

1. Ontology: utopian liberalism vs realism
2. Methodology: classical theory vs behaviouralism.
3. Theory: neorealism vs neoliberalism
4. Epistemology: positivist vs scientific approaches vs post positivist alternatives

Question 4

EH Carr

Answer 4

Historian, journalist and diplomat. Published 14 volume history of the SU. Part of UK delegation in Versailles. Worked in League of Nations.

Question 5

What is unvoidable?

Answer 5

Hierarchies. No power to overcome these inequalities. Cannot gloss over the problems of power.

Question 6

Discuss appeasement

Answer 6

1930s, outspoken proponent of appeasing Hitler’s Germany (Carr). Realism of ideas, unwise for UK to seek war w Nazism.

Question 6

Realists in America

Answer 6

Continental tradition exported to the US. Focus on power politics. Sceptical of morality in international politics. States act on interests defined by power.

Question 7

What two mechanisms can control war?

Answer 7

1. Balance of power
2. Prudence/Restraint

Question 8

Hans Morgenthau

Answer 8

German emigre in the US. Key IR figure. Critic of Vietnam War.

Question 9

What are the six principles of political realism?

Answer 9

1. Pol gov by objective laws rooted in human nature
2. Concept of interest defined in terms of power
3. Does not endow that a concept with a meaning is entirely fixed
4. Moral principle of national survival
5. Refusal to identify the moral aspirations of a particular nation with the moral laws that govern the universe
6. Autonomy of the political sphere

Question 10

What are the four fundamental rules of diplomacy?

Answer 10

1. Diplomacy must be divested of a crusading spirit
2. Foreign pol objectives must be defined in terms of national interest and must be supported with adequate power
3. Diplomacy must look at the political context from the perspective of other nations
4. Nations must be willing to compromise on non-vital issues

Question 11

What are the assumptions of neorealism?

Answer 11

• All states are the same
• Great powers are the main actors in an anarchic system
• All states have some power to inflict harm on others
• States can never be certain about other states intentions
• States are rational actors
• States want to survive

Question 12

Define defensive realism

Answer 12

Seek minimum level of power needed to maximize security. Won’t cultivate hegemony or risk imbalance

Question 13

Define offensive realism

Answer 13

Expansionist behaviour to maximize power. Compelled by anarchy to do so.