The Realist Paradigm- Hans Morgenthau

1. The Realist Paradigm- Hans Morgenthau • Six principles of political realism (Mongenthau, Politics Among Nations) • The tenets of Realism • The notion of state • The international system • States’ foreign policy formation -Patterns of foreign policy -Relative power capability base

2. Six principles of political realism • Politics is governed by objectives laws; IR theory is a rational theory that reflects these laws • Politics is an autonomous sphere, independent of economics and personal morality • International politics is about national interests though these interests reflect the political and cultural context within which foreign policy is formulated • The political ethics is different from the universal moral principles • Particular nations cannot impose their national aspirations on other nations • Pessimistic knowledge of human nature is in the centre of international politics

3. The tenets of Realism-the notion of state • The notion of state defined through power: states are about pursuit and maximisation of power: acquiring it, increasing it, projecting it • National interest: acquisition of power; objective national interest in terms of optimization of political influence of a country in the international political environment

4. The tenets of Realism-the notion of international system • Self-help system: refers to the ultimate dependence of state on its own resources to promote its interests and protect itself • Anarchy • Zero-sum competition • Balance of power

5. States’ foreign policy formation • Rationale of state foreign policy: to advance state’s interests and survival • Patterns of foreign policy: • Status quo • Imperialist • Prestige • Relative power capability base: • Resource base: capital and industrial base; military capability; population size and education level; natural resource base; technological base; internal market capacity; transstate resources • Mobilisation base: domestic control system and political regime; nationalist predisposition of the community • Superordinate actors on international stage: foreign policy makers as rational problem-solvers