1. WORLD POLITICS – Lecture 4

2. 1. THE REALIST STATE

3. General Agreement Among Realists
State-prime actor in International Relations
The use of force to adjust relations
Competitive and conflictual character of international relations
War as the remaining option for the resolution of conflict
Pessimism about peace

4. Context of Realism Cold war (East / West blocks)
Arms race (nuclear weapons)

5. Postclassical Realism
Neorealism
Both
State centric
International relations as inherently competitive
Material factors as opposed to non-material factors
State-egoistic actors

6. 3 Assumptions Differentiating Neorealism and Postclassical Realism
The most important assumption: Possibility of conflict (Neorealism) or probability of aggression (Postclassical Realism).

7. Postclassical Realism
Neorealism
Postclassical Realism
Possibility of conflict shapes the actions of States
Heavy discount rate. Short-term military preparedness over long term
Military vs. economy -- military preparedness
States’ actions are based on assessment of probabilities of threats
Long-term not subordinate to short term preparedness for military action
Military vs. economy – economic trade off if probability of war is low

8. Possibility vs. Probability
Neorealism
Postclassical Realism
Imminent possibility of conflict
International relations as brutal
Anarchy-suspicious and hostile context
With states deciding whether or not to use force, war may at any time break out in the absence of supreme authority
Rational state never lets down its guard: states adopt worst-case perspective
Probability of conflict rather than imminent possibility of conflict
Lower security pressure

9. Neorealism 3 principles guiding the worst-case perspective:
Costs of war  triggering possibility of conflict
Material capabilities  signal  potential for aggression
Defensive precautions are the only assurance against aggression

10. Short-term vs. Long-term
Neorealism
Postclassical Realism
Maximize military security in short-term due to the potential of immediate aggression
Maximize short-term security from potential rivals
High-discount rate
See the world under lower security pressure
 lower discount rate
 No possibility of imminent war but probability

11. Trade-off Between Military and Economic Security
45°
MRS
Economic

12. Military Security vs. Economic Capacity
Neorealism
Postclassical Realism
Military security first before economic capacity (rationality)
In case of conflict between military objectives and economic  military objectives favored (trade-off)
Power = military preparedness + economic capacity
Wealth determines power
Power is the ultimate goal of the state
Seeking power ≠ conquest. Conquest can increase wealth, but one can also increase wealth by:
changing international trade patterns
having efficient institutions
using comparative advantage to secure raw materials from weaker states
reducing non-productive expenditure