Session 3: Classical Realism Applied--The Iraq War Flashcards
What are the core elements of political realism?
- Politics is fundamentally a battle of competing interests in which power is the ultimate arbiter of disputes
- Physical Violence is the most important form of Power
- Due to a combination of environmental factors and human nature– war is inevitable.
What are the 2 ultimate values of political realism?
Self-interest & survival (SS)
How many people died on the US front and the Iraqi front? Additionally how much did it all cost the US?
There were 4, 500 American casualties, and 30,000 troops wounded
There were 115,000 Iraqi casualties and 500,000 war-related deaths
It cost US 1.7 trillion
Why did the US invade Iraq?
Because of the September 11th terrorist attacks, and the alleged link between Sadam Hussien and Al-Qaeda. The US also invaded Iraq because there were allegedly weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
How would Thucydides explain the War?
He would say that Iraq was a rising power and because the US felt threatened, they invaded them due to the shift in power. T
How would Machiavelli explain the War?
Human nature and the lust for power. Bush and his administration wanted to expand their interests even further so they used 9/11 and the War on Terror as a way to further their interests and settle old political scores
How would Hobbes explain the War?
Due to the anarchy present in Iraq, the US had to do its part to restore order. Having preemption even for remote threats (like weapons of mass destruction) is vital. Additionally, he would say that anarchy breeds fear and insecurity, resulting in international reluctance.
