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Four Systemic Perspectives. Realism Statist Liberalism Non-Statist Liberalism Idealism. Realism. The historical context Morgenthau and the end of World War II The experience of Wilsonian idealism. Realism as an Analytic Theory.
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Four Systemic Perspectives • Realism • Statist Liberalism • Non-Statist Liberalism • Idealism
Realism • The historical context • Morgenthau and the end of World War II • The experience of Wilsonian idealism
Realism as an Analytic Theory • Politics is about conflict, and conflict is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature. • The international system is anarchic. • States seek to enhance their security by accumulating power
Realism as an Analytic Theory • States can be thought of as unitary actors. • States, as unitary actors, calculate their interests in a rational manner.
The key analytic insight: • State behavior is driven first and foremost by the external environment in which the state exists.
Realism as a Normative Theory • Realpolitick • Prudent assessments, preservation and use of power in the service of national interest • Ignore ideology • Ignore absolutist ethics • But what is the national interest?
Kissinger and the National Interest • Deal with governments not societies • Deal with power not intentions • Deal with real behavior not rhetoric • Deal with real threats -- which means making peace with your enemies not with your friends.