Realism Flashcards
Explain statism
State is the most important actor with highest authority
Sovereignty
Internally, anarchy is solved
Outside- insecurities, ZERO SUM (1actor benefits, others suffer)
Criticism: challenges to state power from above and below
Normative grounds- inability of sovereign states to respond to collective global problems
What are the 3 core elements of realism
Statism, survival and self-help
Explain survival
Overriding priority
More power= better chance of surviving
-no guarantee of cont. existence
Criticism: no limits to what actions States will take to ensure survival
Explain self-help
Each actor is responsible for their own survival
No interdependence
Criticisms: not inevitable consq. of anarchy- system actors have chosen
-some states prefer collective security systems
What does realism believe will happen as states pursue their interests
States will attempt to max resources and power
Power measured by state’s military, economic and political capabilities
Classical realists (Hobbes)
Believes it’s in human nature for states to be inherently aggressive
Territorial expansion is constrained only by opposing powers
Peloponnesian war
Increased Athens power, so fear in Sparta
International politics driven by endless struggle for power
What does contemporary structural or neorealism say
International system not human nature forces states to pursue power
5 assumptions of structural realism
All states=offensive military capability
States never know about each other’s intentions-Zero sum = security dilemma
Great powers are main actors
Main goal is survival
States are rational actors with imperfect info=mistakes
Structural: what is offensive realism
States should always be looking for opps to gain more power
Ultimate goal= hegemony
Power maximisers
Structural: defensive realism
Conquest is costly and troublesome
Security maximisers
Neoclassical realism
Brings individual and unit variation back into theory
Holds that the actions of a state can be explained by
systematic variables- distribution of power
cognitive variables- perception and misperceptions of systematic pressures, other states’ intentions/threats
domestic variables- institutions etc.
Neoclassical realism on balance of power
Agrees, but adds state’s mistrust and inability to perceive one another correctly=under expansion/under balancing behaviour –> imbalances in intern. System, rise and fall of great powers and war.
What is under expansion/under balancing
Occurs when a state fails to balance, out of either inefficiency or incorrectly perceiving a state as less of a threat that it acc is
