Structural Realism, Neorealism, Anarchy and the Disciplinary Role of Structure

Question 1

What is the core of structured realism?

Answer 1

States care about the balance of power and compete either to gain power at the expense of others or at least to make sure they don’t lose power - this because the structure of the international system does not leave an alternative. With no higher authority it is a question of survival.

Question 2

What is defensive Realism (Kenneth Waltz, Theory of International Politics, 1979)

Answer 2

Structural factors limit how much power states can gain which ameliorates security competition. Unwise to chase too much power as the system will punish them via balancing. see the appropriate amount of power otherwise balancing will occur.

Question 3

What is offensive Realism (John Mearsheimer)

Answer 3

System structure encourages states to maxmise their share of world power, to include pursuing hegemony, intensifying security competition. Best way to secure survival.

Question 4

Hegemony

Answer 4

In realist thought used to refer to an international system dominated by a hegemon that dominates through military and economic might

Question 5

What constitutes power?

Answer 5

Material capabilities, for example, tangible military assets. Secondary is latent power - socioeconomic ingredients to building military power - money, technology and personnel. States can gain power by increasing their population and share of global wealth.

Question 6

Why do states compete for power (structured realism)

Answer 6

1. states are the main actors and they operate in an anarchic system ie no ultimate arbiter
2. all states have some offensive military capablity
3. states can never be certain about the intention of other states
4. the main goal of states is survival
5. states are rational

Question 7

What is the security dilemma?

Answer 7

A structured realist position wherein as states enhance their own security does so at the expense of another. Difficult to improve their own security without negatively impacting that of another party. Perpetual security competition.

Question 8

What is balancing? What is internal and external balancing?

Answer 8

When a state becomes too powerful balancing occurs - other great powers build up their militaries to form a balancing coalition - eg Nazi Germany. Bismarck a genius for putting a brake on German expansionist policy - 1871. Internal balancing occurs when states build up their own capablity. External balancing occurs when states form coalitions against other states.

Question 9

What is the offence-defence balance?

Answer 9

Power usually in the defender’s favour so offensive player will end up fighting a series of losing wars. Nationalism - occupied territories will rise up against occuper.

Question 10

What is buckpassing?

Answer 10

Threatened states often sometimes opt for buck-passing rather than joining a coalition ie they attempt to get other states to carry the burden of checking the aggressor - creates a window for a clever aggressor.

Question 11

How do structured realists consider the threat of nuclear war when parties are armed.

Answer 11

Offensive and defensive see little utility when both parties has weapons as neither gains advantage. Conventional war will simply scale up to nuclear.

Question 12

How do defensive realists accommodate historic behaviour that is more in line with offensive realism.

Answer 12

States don’t always act rationally - separate theory of foreign policy - need to combine domestic-level and system-level theories.

Question 13

What causes war?

Answer 13

Security - ideology - economic - but always to ensure balance of power is maintained or enhanced. 1. number of great powers 2. distribution of power among the major states. 3 changes in the distribution of power

Question 14

Bipolarity

Answer 14

Two great powers - Cold War between ww2 and 1989

Question 15

Multipolarity

Answer 15

Three or more great powers

Question 16

Why do some realists consider a bipolarity less war prone

Answer 16

1. more opportunity for great powers to fight each in multi-polarity
2. Greater equality between the great powers in bipolarity
3. Greater potential for miscalculation in multipolarity, which leads the outbreak of war
   Balancing more efficient

Question 17

Why do some realists consider multipolarity less war prone

Answer 17

1. Deterrence is easier - more states can join together agst the aggressor
2. Less hostility because states pay less attention to each other

Question 18

Unipolarity

Answer 18

End of Cold War and dominance of the US. Less chance of war with a hegemon except where they withdraw forces.