1. REALISM
PAMELA RIZIKI
I43022

2. TABLE OF CONTENT
1.INTRODUCTION 1.1 WHAT IS REALISM? 1.2 CORE ASSUMPTIONS OF REALSIM 2.VARIATIONS OF REALSIM 2.1CLASSICAL REALSIM 2.2 STRUCTUAL/DEFENSE REALISM 2.3 OFFENSIVE REALISM 2.4 NEOCLASSICAL REALISM 3.THREE Ss’ 4.CONCLUSION 5.QUESTIONS

3. 1.INTRODUCTION

4. 1.1 WHAT IS REALISM? Dominant approach to the study of IR. why?
-The most powerful explanation of state war
TEACHES TO FOCUS ON
1.INTEREST > IDEOLOGY
2.PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

5. 1.2 CORE ASSUMPTIONS OF REALISM
The unitary actor assumption treats states as a single entity that tries to maximize national interest
1.States are principle, unitary actors in international politics 2.International system is anarchic (there is no world government) 3.All States must pursue power to survive

6. 4.States can never be certain about other states’ intentions
5.States possess power (capabilities)
6.States are rational (i.e. they think strategically)

7. 2.VARIATIONS OF REALISM

8. 2.1.Classical or Human Nature Realists
THUCYDIDES ( BC) Machiavelli (1532) Hans Morgenthau (1948)
The Peloponnesian war:
International politics is driven by an endless struggle of power, which has its roots in human nature.
Politics among nations: Politics is governed by laws that are created by human nature.
The prince: political realism recognizes that principles are subordinated to policies.

9. CLASSICAL REALISM Human nature is bad - hard to trust others
states are the only actors and give importance to military power and maximization of power
The behavior of the state as self-seeking egoist is reflection of characteristics of human nature

10. -Growth of Athens power and the fear of Sparta
This theory argues that it is from Nature of man features of international politics, such Competition, fear and war can be explained
International politics is a struggle for power which is rooted in the biological drives of human beings.
Patriotic virtue is required in order for communities to survive in battle between good and evil.
-Thucydides take on the war between Athenians and Sparta in ancient greek
-Growth of Athens power and the fear of Sparta
Sparta’s national interest was survival and the changing power balance posed a threat to its existence, Sparta was therefore compelled to go to war to protect itself but also Athens felt equally compelled to pursue power in order to preserve their empire it had acquired. The Athens leader Pericles was acting on the basis fundamental of human motivation: ambition, fear and self-interest.

11. Classical realism suggest that leaders must disregard all obligations and treaties with other states if the security of the community is under threat.
Imperial expansion is legitimate as it means of gaining greater security.
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12. 2.2 Structural Or Defensive Realists
Rousseau (1750)
Waltz (1979)
The state of war: It is not human nature but anarchical system that fosters fear, jealousy ,suspicion and insecurity
Theory of international politics :Anarchy leads a logic of self help in which states seek to maximize their security. The most stable distribution of power in the system is bipolarity.

13. STRUCTURAL OR DEFENSIVE REALISM
They Agree that international politics is a struggle for power but it is not due to human nature.
Security competition and inter-state conflict is due to the lack of an overarching authority above the states.
The international system can be divided into three elements, organizing principle, differentiation of units and distribution of capacities.
organizing principle :1.anarchy:decentralized realm of international politics
2.hierachy:basis of domestic order

14. Interested in ranking order of states so that they can discern the number of great powers that exist at any particular point in time.
The number of great power determines the overall structure of the international system. E.g. the USSR and USA during the cold war ( the constituted power of international system was bipolar .after the cold was the international system had been unipolar .
Be sensitive to the capability of over states
A state might use force as a result of being worried about its survival

15. Instead of being power maximizers ,states are security maximizers.
Waltz: ‘because power is a possibly useful means, sensible states try to have an appropriate amount of it’. But ‘in crucial situations, however, the ultimate concern of state is not for power but for security’
Instead of being power maximizers ,states are security maximizers.

16. 2.3.Offensive Realists John Mearsheimer (2001)
Tragedy of great power politics:
The anarchical, Self help system compels states to maximize their relative power positions.

17. OFFENSIVE REALISM
The structure of international systems compels states to maximize their relative power position.
Under anarchy ,self help is the basic principle of action.
States can never be certain about intentions of other states
States are continuously searching for opportunities to gain power at the expense of other states.
The ideal position is that one has to become a global hegemony.
conclusion ,the world is condemned to perpetual great power competition.

18. 2.4 Neoclassical Realist Randal Schweller Fareed Zakaria (1998)
From wealth to power: The systemic account of world politics provided by structural realism is incomplete.it needs to be supplemented with better accounts of unit-level variables such as how power is perceived and how leadership is exercised.
The assumption that all states have an interest
In security results in realism exhibiting a profoundly status quo basis

19. NEOCLASSICAL REALISM
Leaders are the important intervening variable ,namely How they perceive the distribution of power.
There is no single objective account of the distribution of power, rather what matters is how state leaders derive an understanding of distribution of power.
States differ in terms of interests and also their ability to extract resources from the societies they rule

20. States possess different capacities
Contrary to waltz all states can not be treated as ‘like units’.

21. THREE ‘S’ of REALISM STATISM
The state is the main Actor and sovereignty is its distinguishing trait
Max weber
-state is as the monopoly of legitimate use of force within given territory
Sovereignty means that state has supreme authority to make and enforce laws.
According to Hobbes ,we trade our liberty for security.
Once security is established civil society can begin

22. Domestically ,the problem of absence of security and order is largely solved.
However outside ,in the eternal relations among independent sovereign states, insecurities, danger and threats to the very existence of the state loom large
In anarchy states compete with other states for power and security

23. KEY CRITICISM
Empirical (Challenges To State Power From ‘Above’ And ‘Below’) And Normative Grounds (The Inability Of Sovereign States To Respond To Collective Global Problems Such As Famine, Environmental Degradation, And Human Rights Abuses).

24. SURVIVAL In the world of politics the primary goal is survival
Survival can be defined as a precondition for obtaining your goals e.g. independence or conquest
Defensive realists: security is the principle interest of all states thus states seek only requisite amount of power to ensure survival

25. Offensive realists: the ultimate goal of all states is to achieve a hegemonic position in international system
Henry kissinger “a nation’s survival is its first and ultimate responsibility; it can not be compromised or put to risk’

26. KEY CRITICISM
There No Limits To What Actions A State Can Take In The Name Of Necessity

27. SELF HELP
Principle of action: States rely on themselves to achieve security
(wheeler and booth) Security Dilemma
- military Preparation (defensive or offensive purposes)
One states quest for security is the sources of another state’s insecurity . (less trust and more suspicion)

28. It Is A Logic That States Have Selected.
Key criticism
Self-help Is Not An Inevitable Consequence Of The Absence Of A World Government;
It Is A Logic That States Have Selected.
Moreover, There Are Historical And Contemporary Examples Where States Have Preferred Collective Security Systems, Or Forms Of Regional Security Communities, In Preference To Self-help.

29. CONCLUSION
The importance of realism has not been diminished by globalization
This is because the state continues to be the dominant unit in world politics.
State is not going to be eclipsed by global forces operating either below or above the nation-state

30. QUESTIONS
1.Why do Realists claim that states must pursue power or that morality has no place in world politics?
2.How would a realist explain 9/11?
3.According to the realists, the states are the important actors in the international politics. Do you think states are still the most important actors in today’s international politics? Why or why not?