How Realistic is Realism?

1. How Realistic is Realism? By Patrick Bongo Student No. BV006299 MA in International Relations Staffordshire University

2. How Realistic is Realism? • BACKGROUND In an attempt to understand how realistic realism might be, we would endeavour to define first of all what is meant by realism. Although we seem to perceive the term realism to be strongly associated with reality, the field of international relations tends to view it more as a theory.

3. How Realistic is Realism? • What is Realism? Guzzini (1998) ascertains the conviction that there is no self-evident definition of Realism. Hence any definition given would be one of many, but rarely prone to criticism. Viotti and Kauppi (1999) claim that according to Machiavelli, one of the most prominent classical realist, realism ‘is a focus on what is rather than on what ought to be’.

4. How Realistic is Realism? • Tenets of Realism To develop an in-depth understanding from varied literature namely by Morgenthau, Machiavelli, Jackson & Sørensen, Viotti & Kauppi, the tenets of realism have been identified as follows: • Power • National Interest • State It has to be argued that all principles appear to be interrelated and interdependent, as for example, a state cannot be powerful while lacking in the ability to promote its national interest.

5. How Realistic is Realism? • HOW CAN WE DETERMINE WHETHER REALISM IS REAL? A pragmatic approach would be to place ‘realism’ under a microscope for a close examination. But since we are dealing with theoretical concepts, this presentation would attempt to examine the tenets of realism versus reality.

6. How Realistic is Realism? • POWER Realists define power as capabilities relative to the capabilities of other states (Viotti & Kauppi, 1999). But it could be argued that due to the difficulties in weighing and aggregating the different metrics used to measure power, namely military, economic and diplomatic capabilities, we may never get a true reflection of a nation’s power status.

7. How Realistic is Realism? • BALANCE OF POWER ‘A state of affairs such that no one power is in a position where it is preponderant and lay down the law to others’ (Vattel cited by Bull et al, 2002). Although it could be argued that the EU system in western Europe, seems to be a true reflection of the balance of powers where there seems to be equality and agreement with respect to trade, economies and military logistics, the same world powers of the west are still competing for dominance in economy and trade, where as a result the most powerful is influential to others. It may be possible to suggest that there has never been an balance of power, but rather a ‘imbalance of power’ in world politics as a whole.

8. How Realistic is Realism? • BALANCE OF POWERcont…. Riley (2008) also argues that Realism’s central theme of ‘the balance of power’ has been undermined in the post-Cold War, and more importantly, in the post 9/11 eras.  It is possible to suggest that the post 9/11 era that gave rise to an unprecedented war on terror, has failed to vindicate the importance of the balance of power in a world where victims of dominance are expressing anguish towards the most powerful.

9. How Realistic is Realism? • BALANCE OF POWER cont…. Governor Bill Richardson (2008), ex Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton does state “While our remarkable military and prosperous economy gave us the power to lead, our commitment to human dignity – including our willingness to struggle against our own prejudices – inspired others to follow”. It is clear that Richardson acknowledges the fact that the US is in a position of preponderance, while realists assume that there is balance of power.

10. How Realistic is Realism? • NATIONAL INTEREST Rosenau (1971) does point out that as an analytical tool, national interest is employed to describe, explain or evaluate the sources or the adequacy of a nation’s foreign policy. The fact that some interests are given priorities than others during the process, seems to discriminate the group of people who may have identified such needs. How can we possibly arrive at defining national interest while not all groups’ interests are represented and even if they were, not all interests would be classed as a national interest in setting out foreign policies? Not only could we argue that its use as an analytical tool is undemocratic, but its use in determining power appears somewhat vague, as power could easily be referred to as the authority in charge of a nation’s affairs or as the state of a nation’s military and economic might.

11. How Realistic is Realism? • NATIONAL INTEREST Cont…… Katzeinstein (1996) equally advocates that national interest is not an objective reality, as the realists assume, but instead is a constructed concept based on the norms, sense of identity, and cultures of different nations at different times. Such a view can be condoned while looking at developing countries, some of which are still under dictatorial regimes, where national interest would be what the people in power desire it to be.

12. How Realistic is Realism? • STATE Realists view state as a unitary because any differences of view among political leaders or bureaucracies with the state are ultimately resolved so that the state speaks with one voice (Viotti and Kauppi, 1999). In a democratic environment, it is unrealistic to see political leaders solving their differences by agreeing with their opponent so that the state could speak with one voice. Even Viotti and Kauppi agreed that the image of a unified, rational state is a realist assumption, not a description of the actual world.

13. How Realistic is Realism? • STATE Cont….. Realists also view the state and its rule as sovereign, and govern without any outside interference (Collins, 2007). But looking at the US actions in Iraq, where the strong do what they want and the weak endure the consequences, as pointed out by Williams and Berenskoetter (2007), it is inevitable to ask ourselves if states are truly sovereign.

14. How Realistic is Realism? • CONCLUSION After embarking on the quest to determine how realistic realism is, the findings gathered proved that the balance of power appears to be a myth, rather than the reality of world politics. The metrics used to determine power were also found to be difficult to aggregate. States have never been rational as the unitary view claims. In contrast to the realist claim, states are not sovereign by prone to bullying by the strong. Furthermore, national interest is not a real reflection of a nation’s interest.

15. References • Guzzini,Stefano (1998). Realism in International Relations and International Political Economy: The Continuing Story of a Death Foretold. PP 9. • Viotti, R. Paul and Kauppi, V. Mark (1999). International Relations Theory. PP 55, 60. • Jackson, Robert and Sørensen, Georg (2007). Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches. PP60. • Bull, Hedley et al (2002). The Anarchical Society. PP102. • Rosenau, N. James (1971). Scientific Study of Foreign policy. PP 283. • Riley, James (2008). How Realistic is Realism. [Online]. Available at: http://www.e-ir.info/?p=384 • Richardson, Bill (2008). A New Realism: A Realistic and Principled Foreign Policy. Council of Foreign Relations. [Online]. Available at: http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080101faessay87111/bill-richardson/a-new-realism.html

16. References • Collins, Allan (2007). Contemporary Security Studies. PP 17. • Berenskoetter, Felix and Williams, J. Michael (2007). Power in World Politics. PP 43. • Katzeinstein, J. Peter (1996). The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics. Columbia University Press. PP 76.