Twenty Years' Crisis Flashcards
Utopia vs Reality
Antithesis between the two similar to free will vs determinism; theory vs practice; radical vs conservative; different conceptions of the relationship of politics & ethics
Utopians’ are intellectuals, concerned with ethics, belief in moral standards; realists are bureaucrats, blunt force, no static standard, morality is relative
The utopian molds policy to fit moral code, realists lack moral code and only assess factual evidence
The Science of International Politics
Political science is the science not only of what is, but of what ought to be - 6
Utopians’ are intellectuals, concerned with ethics, belief in moral standards; realists are bureaucrats, blunt force, no static standard, morality is relative
The utopian molds policy to fit moral code, realists lack moral code and only assess factual evidence
The role of power in intl politics has been ignored to the detriment of the intl community, culminating in the outbreak of WWII
Utopian Background
19th century liberal democracy was based on a balance of forces unique to the economic development of the time period & countries concerned
League of Nations and interwar period as a whole til 1930s characterized by utopian, Wilsonian view that there are a priori rational principles by which states should abide which produce similar results in other contexts (relativism) – Carr says this is not true
Harmony of Interests
Those who argue ethics have primacy over politics think the individual should submit for the sake of others – those who argue primacy of politics think the individual should submit because they are weaker than those in power and voluntary submission is less costly than forced submission – 43
Adam Smith & Laissez-Faire economics popularized doctrine of harmony of interests, but a natural harmony of interests non-existent (even if all states want peace, they differ in wanting to uphold or undermine status quo)
The Realist Critique
Machiavelli’s three realist principles: 1) History is a sequence of cause and effect, can be analyzed and understood; 2) theory does not create practice but vice versa; 3) politics are not a function of ethics, but vice versa
Utopians earnestly and unconsciously mistake their desire to impose their beliefs on others as concern for morality based on universal principles – 71
Limitations of Realism
Consistent realism excludes four essential elements of effective political thinking: a finite goal, an emotional appeal, a right of moral judgment, and a ground for action – 84
Politics is made up of utopian and realist elements – power and morality – 95
Power in Intl Politics
Once conflicts of power are resolved, the question is no longer political but administrative
Ultima ratio (last resort) of power is war
FP could and should never e divorced from strategy
Economic strength and autarky (self-sufficiency) are instruments of power
Econ weapon, esp exports & control of foreign markets, is a symptom not of superior morality but of superior strength
Power over opinion is third weapon of power, but limited due to conformity issues and inherent Utopianism of humanity
Morality in Intl Politics
Pervading thought that the give n take process is unique to the intl order, so all state should sacrifice to maintain it
To maintain it, those who profit most from status quo need to give concessions to those who profit the least
