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Fundamentals of Realism

Fundamentals of Realism. Statism Survival Self-help. Statism – sovereignty and force internally. State = main actor, possessing sovereignty 1 st move of a state behaving as a realist: Est. a monopoly of legitimate use of violence. Statism – sovereignty and force externally.

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Fundamentals of Realism

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  1. Fundamentals of Realism Statism Survival Self-help

  2. Statism – sovereignty and force internally • State = main actor, possessing sovereignty • 1st move of a state behaving as a realist: • Est. a monopoly of legitimate use of violence

  3. Statism– sovereignty and force externally • The basis of order are missing internationally • States compete for: • Power and security • 2nd move of the state: • Gain power internationally

  4. Statism and the Realist Definition of Power • Two primary points that realists make: • Power is a relational concept • Power is a relative concept • Extremely difficult to assess/measure – too often is reduced to armies, bombs, etc.

  5. Criticisms of How realists define Power • Several key unanswered questions (p. 94) • Neorealists (Waltz) have responded by shifting the focus from power to capabilities • New way of ranking/measuring

  6. Other criticisms re: def. of power • A more sophisticated approach: • Define as the ability of a state to control or influence its environment in situations that are not necessarily conflictual • Are states really the only important actor?

  7. Survival • Survival/security is the key precondition to achieve all other goals • Contention among neorealists: • Are states power- or security- maximizers? • Debate between offensive and defensive realists

  8. Survival • N. Machiavelli – aim of The Prince • 2 key Machiavellian themes (based on idea of dual morality) • Understand the real nature of int’l pol. • Protect the state at all costs • Ethic of responsibility

  9. Self-help • Waltz; comparison between the structure of int’l and domestic politics • Int’l system; no higher authority to prevent violence – security is gained only through self-help

  10. Self-Help - Security dilemma • Leaders will question: are those military preparations offensive or defensive in nature? • Change of status quo? • Trust? • Perpetual build up of arms – self-defeating, ironic • Balance of power will: • naturally emerge, or is it • deliberately constructed?

  11. Self-Help – Balance of Power • Unipolarity, Multipolarity • As the balances inevitably collapse, states try to mitigate the worst consequences of the security dilemma, but can’t escape it • Analogy of the stag hunt

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