1. International Relations Theory A New Introduction
Chapter 4
The Realist Theory

2. Six features of the realist tradition:
Introduction
Six features of the realist tradition:
Claims a monopoly on understanding reality
Strong sense of tragedy/ considerable degree of pessimism concerning a more peaceful world
Almost exclusive focus on the “political”
Clear-cut distinction between domestic & international politics; almost exclusive priority to the latter
Theories within realism are all theories of conflict
Realism tends to cultivate a cyclical view of history

3. Genealogy In the course of the 20th century:
Born & raised in Europe reflecting 19th century European Realpolitik
However, the tradition ‘grew up’ in US; being the dominant tradition since the 1950s and until recently
Three main currents of thought:
Classical Realism: Took off during the late 1930 & maintained prominent position until the 1980s  gradual transfer to Neorealism followed by Post-neorealism
Recent developments: an increasingly pluralist tradition

4. Currents of Realist Thought Classical Realism
Origins E.H. Carr (1939) and H. J. Morgenthau´s (1946) critique of the liberal tradition
Realist publication in the 1930s and 1940s
M. Wight and G. Schwarzenberger in Europe
R. Niebuhr and F. Schuman in the US
Classical realists insisted on describing the world as it is, not as it should be, thereby drawing on a Rankean conception of historiography.
Representatives: H.J. Morgenthau, I. Claude and G. Kennan
Relationship between religious conviction and classical realists, cf. Wight, Morgenthau and Niebuhr

5. Currents of Realist Thought Neorealism
Point of departure in classical realism, yet clear discontinuities
Writings of K. Waltz (1979, 1996)
Neorealists characterise actors a priori
Explanation of different kinds of state behaviour  balancing, bandwagoning & seeking relative and absolute gains
Agent-oriented ontology; behaviour explained by systemic structural factors

6. Currents of Realist Thought Post-neorealism
Point of departure in systemic characteristics; yet aiming at explaining foreign policy  neorealists
Emphasis on
Encounter between theoretically deducted state strategies & actual foreign policies of states
Offensive  Defensive realism J. Mearsheimer  M. Mastanduno
S. Walt (1987) Concept of Balance of threat

7. Kinds of Realist Theory
Morgenthau (1954) Politics Among Nations – six principles of political realism (seemingly positivist)
Constructivist realism, see Nau (2002) and Barkin (2003)
Realists explicit on explanatory theory, though implicit presence of interpretative and normative theory

8. Main Variants of Theories
Balance of Power Theory
K. Waltz, H. J. Morgenthau, J. Herz
Point of departure: Anarchy, self-help & security dilemma
Alliance Theory
Different takes from classical realists & neorealists on alliances, see G. Liska (classical realists) and G. Snyder (neorealists)
Power Transition Theory
A.F.K. Organski (1958)
International system seen as hierarchical, not anarchical

9. Main Intra-Tradition Debates
Debates have mainly been among American realists as
contemporary realism is exceptionally strong in the US
Between classical realists & neorealists
K. Waltz (1975, 1979, 1990)
Within the broad confines of structural neorealism
Modifications by B. Buzan (1993), G. Snyder (1997)
Between neorealists & post-neorealists
S. Walt (1987), J. Grieco (1990)
Relationship between realism & economics

10. Research Agenda
Studies of world politics: balance of power politics, research on polarity change & balancing or bandwagoning strategies
Three main challenges for realist theorists:
Produce more specific theories & demonstrate value of these theories by theory-informed empirical studies
Broaden the agenda  produce different kinds of theory & cultivate different meta-theoretical commitments
Apply their theories to range of different counter-intuitive actors, processes and structures

11. Conclusion
Theorizing with realist tradition remains highly relevant for understanding contemporary international politics
Aspects of power, conflict, war, interests & security are likely to stay in world politics
States continue to be among main actors of international system
United States, being the prime bastion of realism might loose its position with the emergence of new major global players (China, India, the EU)