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Three Normative traditions Why states act, how they act and whether change is needed and/or feasible.

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Presentation on theme: "Three Normative traditions Why states act, how they act and whether change is needed and/or feasible."— Presentation transcript:

1 Three Normative traditions Why states act, how they act and whether change is needed and/or feasible

2 How they reason  Realist: Empirical observations (inductive)  Liberal: A rational design exists (deductive)  Revolutionist: diagnostic and prescriptive (imperative)

3 Human nature and progress  Realist: human nature is evil, rogues prey on fools, conflict and violence are inevitable.  Liberal: There is an underlying design of moral good (moral law). Human nature is blank/good, progress inevitable.  Revolutionist: only the ‘doctrine’ is good. Hard vs. soft solutions

4 Nature of International Politics  Realist: a state of nature, no common sovereign, anarchy, war of all against all.  Liberal: An international society exists (a social contract for states) but needs more law and institutions.  Revolutionist: all politics is one: the brotherhood of man, solidarity by example or by force.

5 Power and National Interest  Realist: Politics is utility. Morality derives from power. A state only pursues self-interest.  Liberal: Power must be transformed into legitimate authority. Justice must limit self-interest.  Revolutionist: (hard) end justifies means, (soft) power is never a means.

6 The state  Realist: state is the final form of political organization.  Liberal: international society to limit or transcend the state.  Revolutionist: state is a false unit, universal oneness is the goal.

7 War and Peace  Realist: war is inevitable, peace is the laboratory of war. War is the extension of the pursuit of interest.  Liberal: peace is the norm, war a violation. Only ‘just war’ to restore peace.  Revolutionist: (hard) war is the agent of change, the doctrine, not peace is the goal.(soft) pacifism and non-resistance.

8 Balance of Power and Diplomacy  Realist: States seek a positive Balance of Power. diplomacy is the intelligent application of power.  Liberal: BoP is a key institution to distribute power evenly. Diplomacy reconciles national interest  Revolutionist: one world republic, rejects BoP ‘game.’ Open conferences, no secret diplomacy

9 International Law and Organization  Realist: law does not bind states: rebus sic stantibus. No organization is legitimate that replaces the state.  Liberal: Law precedes states: Pacta sunt Servanda. Organization must ‘hem in’ the state.  Revolutionist: the doctrine is law. IL is ideology of the Status Quo. Organization is civitas maxima

10 Politics and Morality  Realist: IP is governed not by rights but by interests, by Raison d’ etat. (non-moral)  Liberal: Statesmen are trustees to seek interest tempered by justice.  Revolutionist: (soft) denial of self interest to bring about good.

11 Conclusion  Realist: “…and every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)  Liberal: “The great task is to discover what [governments] ought to prescribe, for no prescription is valid against the conscience of mankind.” (Lord Acton)  Revolutionist: “Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways: the point, however, is to change it.” (Karl Marx).


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