1. Realism and Liberalism:

2. Realism: Origins Dominant IR theory Also one of the oldest
Dates back to Ancient Greece
But there is more than one “realism”
Classical realism
Structural/neo-realism
Some similarities (assumptions made)
Very different methodologically.

3. Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
Melian Dialogue: Debate between Melos and Athenians
Melians want to be neutral, Athenians argue they cannot allow this.
Makes Athens look weak
Melians refuse: want independence, appeal to ideas of justice and morality.
Others will come to their aid for the sake of justice and honour

5. Thucydides
Don’t care about looking bad so long as they look strong, especially to our own people.
Hope blinds people to their situation
Honor and principle don’t count for much when it comes to interest.
No one is going to come to their aid even though they may be right.

6. “the powerful do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
Thucydides
“the powerful do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

7. Machiavelli The Prince (1513, published 1532) Discourses on Livy
Guidebook on how to rule
Discourses on Livy
Applying lessons of Rome to “modern” statecraft.

8. Machiavelli
“because I want to write what will be useful to anyone who understands, it seems to me better to concentrate on what really happens rather than on theories or speculations. For many have imagined republics and principalities that have never been seen or known to exist. However, how men live is different from how they should live that a ruler who does not do what is generally done, but persists in doing what ought to be done, will undermine his power rather than maintain it. If a ruler who wants always to act honourably is surrounded by many unscrupulous men his downfall is inevitable. Therefore, a ruler who wishes to maintain his power must be prepared to act immorally when this becomes necessary.”
- The Prince

9. Machiavelli
“men should either be caressed or crushed; because they can avenge slight injuries, but not those that are very severe. Hence, any injury done to a man must be such that there is no need to fear his revenge.” (The Prince)
“it is a sound maxim that reprehensible actions may be justified by their effects, and that when the effect is good,… it always justifies the action.” Discourses

10. Realist Lessons Learning from the past
Both look at the actions of leaders
Machiavelli is interested in drawing conclusions
Human nature: both take men as they are, not as they “should” or “might” be.
Unlike other Greeks, Thucydides does not attribute actions to the gods.
Machiavelli takes human nature to be “bad”; greedy and self interested.

12. Key Realist Principles
Anarchy
Self-Help
Survival
Security Dilemma
Dismissal of idealism
Pragmatism
Statism
Responsibility to nation-state

13. Realism in the 20th Century
Realism developed in the interwar period ( )
Rejection of utopian thought post-WWI
Attempts to foster peace through “rational” schemes; international law
E. H. Carr, Twenty Year’s Crisis (1939)
Hans J. Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations (1948)

14. Realism in the 20th Century
States, leaders motivated by power; will always act to strengthen position or maximize power
If act out of idealism, will be attacked, defeated and/or destroyed
Best way to understand politics is through the concept of interests, defined by power
“Objective laws that have their roots in human nature” govern IR
States must recognize this & adopt policies
Effects of anarchy might be mitigated

15. Liberalism

16. Liberalism Today There isn’t “one” liberalism
Several responses to realism
All adhere to core principles of liberalism
Different emphasis on the principles
Idea of progress

17. Modern Liberalism: History
19th Century Origins
world court, international law, restraints on warfare.
First international organizations.
Post- WWI
League of Nations
New ideas:
self-determination of peoples
democracies more stable than dictatorships.
Post-WWII
United Nations and new liberal institutions
EU based on liberal ideas

18. Kant’s Perpetual Peace
Starts with realist assumption: anarchical system - increases the likeliness of war
Perpetuates injustice within states (cannot be secure)
Therefore an obligation to work for a cosmopolitan society

19. Kant’s Perpetual Peace
Can’t be done through a world state
Practical difficulties
May lead to despotism
Turns to “republicanism”
Essentially characteristics of a liberal state
Has issues with direct democracy
Republics will form a federation.
Will protect other states from outside the union.

20. Kant’s Perpetual Peace
States consult each other regarding their relations
Disputes settled without war.
Matters decided on principles of justice.
Federation/Union members do not fight each other – may fight outsiders.
Example will inspire people in other states
More republics, federation will grow.

21. Kant and Liberalism
No world government, but not a war of all against all.
Rather there is potential for cooperation:
Benefits of peace, trade and exchange
People prefer peace to war

22. Kant and Liberalism Central liberal ideas:
role of republican democracy
role of institutions
ideas about progress
Ideas about the potential for cooperation

23. Democratic Peace Theory
Idea that democracies do not fight one another
Why?
Costs (blood and treasure)
People don’t like war
Share similar ideas – willing to resolve disputes in other ways.
Similar norms, morality

24. Sociological Liberalism/Pluralism
Looks beyond the state
Emphasis on groups/relations that go across boundaries (transnational groups)
Better at fostering relations between states
World as a series of networks (rather than billiard balls!)

25. Sociological Liberalism/Pluralism
Karl Deutch
Security community: a group of people which have become “integrated”.
Integration:
sense of community has been achieved
agreement that conflicts and problems can be resolved peacefully
i.e.: North Atlantic countries

26. Interdependence interdependence = mutual dependence.
states are not self-contained units.
affected by what goes on in other states.
Increased by:
International division of labour
trade, etc.
decreases the chance of conflict
Different forms: fuctionalism, complex-interdependence

27. Interdependence Functionalism David Mitrany
Transnational ties between countries to foster peace
Cooperation via technical expertise
Leave politicians out of it
Hope that cooperation will “spill-over” into other areas.
Will bind states ever closer together
Philosophy behind the EU

28. Interdependence Complex Interdependence:
Keohane and Nye Power and Interdependence (1977)
Post-War interdependence different
Previously military was always an option
Relations no longer just between leaders
Concern for “low” issues: economics
Power is relative to an issue
Japan: not military power, but economic one

29. Interdependence Complex Interdependence
Realist assumptions still important
Military issues still most important
But:
Not every issue is “life and death”
Issues: (i.e.: trade) may be negotiated
States don’t always resort to force.

30. Institutional Liberalism
Institutions promote cooperation
Increase trust, eliminate fear
Institutions
Formal organization of states: UN, EU
Regime: set of rules which govern state behaviour and activity.
Trade regime (NAFTA)
“Fundamental objects” of international system
International law, diplomacy

31. Institutional Liberalism
Tends to be “empirical”
Measures
“scope”: number of issue areas where institutions
“depth”: how meaningful
Research
Collect information on how institutions function
What are the best conditions to form institutions?
Why do institutions persist?
Can institutions persist if circumstances change?
A high level of institutions makes a multipolar anarchy more stable.

32. Liberalism(s) Democratic Peace Theory
Sociological Liberalism/Pluralism
Interdependence
Functionalism (Mitrany)
Complex Interdependence (Nye and Keohane)
Institutional Liberalism