Plan for Today : Evaluating Theories and Introduction to Realism

1. Plan for Today:Evaluating Theories and Introduction to Realism Learn several possible criteria for evaluating theories. Speculating why realism is so dominant. Introduce fundamental shared concepts of realist thought. Begin distinguishing “classical” realist thought.

2. Criteria for evaluating theories: • Explanatory power • Fit with evidence? • Start with false premises? • Alternative explanations? • Success in predicting events. • Intellectual consistency and coherence.

3. Criteria for evaluating theories (continued): • Scope – in how many different areas does it apply? • Parsimony – explaining a lot with few variables? • Detail or completeness of explanation. • Capacity for self-reflection and engagement with contending theories.

4. Why Realism’s Dominance? • Been around a long time – traceable to ancient Greece. • Powerful critique of earlier forms of utopian liberalism. • Persistently espoused by many policymakers. • Simple, clear theory (parsimonious).

5. Basic concepts realists share • Goal: to describe the world as it is, not as it ought to be. • Key actors: sovereign states. • International politics can be separated clearly from domestic politics.

6. Basic concepts realists share (continued) • States are rational actors. • Rationality = conscious and consistent pursuit of interests. • Interest of states defined as power/ security. • Maximization of power or security (depending on version of realism). • Only significant difference among them is power relative to other states.

7. Basic concepts realists share (continued) • International system defined by anarchy (no higher legal authority). • Pervasiveness of conflict. • No room for morality in politics. • World stays basically the same, operating in recurring patterns.

8. Classical or Traditional Realism • Ancient roots – Thucydides. • Realist Athenians vs. utopian Melians. • Strong always win over the weak. • Lesson: tragedy befalls those who rely on hope, justice, and supposed friends.

9. Classical or Traditional Realism • Classical realism (20th Century). • E.H. Carr – The Twenty Years’ Crisis. • Critique of liberal “utopianism” dominant after WWI. • Response to failure of League of Nations and collective security. • Creators of League: if you believe in something enough, it will come true.

10. Classical or Traditional Realism • E.H. Carr – The Twenty Years’ Crisis (continued). • In reality, nations’ selfish concerns dominate. • Aggressive actions by states are fully rational and natural.

11. Classical or Traditional Realism • E.H. Carr – The Twenty Years’ Crisis (continued). • Need to analyze politics objectively as it is, not as it should be. • Clash among national interests inevitable. • Only way to minimize war is balance of power among states.