Realists vs liberals

Question 1

Who created the Stag Hunt theory?

Answer 1

• Rousseau.
• If two hunters are hunting and they both shoot early at a hare, there is only enough food for one of them.
• If they cooperate and wait longer then they will get a stag, feeding the both of them.

Question 2

What is the Billiard ball model?

Answer 2

• States are all unitary and impermeable.

- Like balls on a billiard balls table they are in danger of inevitable conflict as they risk ‘hitting into’ each other.

Question 3

What does ‘jaw jaw not war war’ mean?

Answer 3

• Winston Churchill coined the phrase.
• Overall means peacemaking, military action alone is not sustainable and risks failing unless built upon solid foundations of political strategy.

Question 4

Do Liberals and Realists prefer Hard power or soft power?

Do Liberals and realists prefer Threats or diplomacy when it comes to international relations?

Answer 4

• realists prefer the use of hard power over use of hard power, for example Trumps outward position on North Korea and in Syria.
• Liberals prefer use of soft power, Obama’s use of ‘Jaw jaw not war war’.
• relaists often use threats as mode of international operation. E.g. Trump’s use of nuclear threats against North Korea especially via the use of Twitter.
• Liberals use diplomacy to reach conclusions, war and conflict seen as last resort in international sphere.

Question 5

What is an example of opposing views between realists and liberals to do with Trump and Obama?

Answer 5

• Obama signed the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015, stated that Iran was not able to use uranium for the use of weapons but could however use it for power. Iran were rewarded with trade deals and incentives.
• Trump however pulled out of the deal in 2018, reflecting his realists views when it came to international relations. He used harsh rhetoric against Iran with imposition of harsh economic sanctions. Use of force to make a state agree with a viewpoint.