Classical Realism

Question 1

By what method does Morgenthau derive his theory?

Answer 1

• He uses a realistic approach (political realism over ideologies), focusing on power as the basis of political interests.
• The belief that political interests are rooted in the acquisition of power, which maintains balance between states.

Question 2

What is the purpose of theory for Morgenthau?

Answer 2

• To analyze facts through reason and give them meaning.
• To provide a rational outline as a guide for political action and foreign policy interpretation.

Question 3

What are the sources of conflict and violence in the Hobbesian worldview?

Answer 3

• The natural state of humans.
• Everyone has a right to everything, leading to competition.
• No overarching power exists to regulate conflict.
• All individuals are equal in needs and ambitions, causing inevitable clashes.

Question 4

what is the balance of power and what are its effects?

Answer 4

• People must relinquish their total freedom to ensure peace and order.
• Power is split between spiritual (beliefs) and worldly (social, labor, interactions) domains.

Question 5

Prisoner’s dilemma - challenges for cooperation

Answer 5

1. miscommunication
2. distrust
3. rational/irrational behaviour

Question 6

baseline position of the Realist approach

Answer 6

summum malum (the highest evil) is the standard

Question 7

Claims of Realists im IR as a discipline

Answer 7

1. Realism is an old established school of thought
2. Originated from wanting to understand the background behind the two world wars
3. study realities of the world beyond national interconnectivity
   -> they claim to grasp reality in an accurate way

Question 8

Three ways of international Realism

Answer 8

1. historical roots
2. Classical realism
3. structural- /Neorealism

Question 9

Historical roots

Answer 9

• Thucydides claims that “might makes right”
• Machiavelli “morals can inhibit successful politics” -> better to take a consequentialist stance

Question 10

Classical Realism

Answer 10

Carr: “one must move away from a utopian way of thinking, power is the only thing that determines international politics, not cooperation”

Question 11

Neorealism

Answer 11

Gilpin: Interest in rise and fall of great powers
Mearsheimer: hegemonial power at the centre if international order

Question 12

Hobbes - Leviathan

Answer 12

• restless desire of power in all humans
• life is a war against all
• no market relations because there are no (property) rights in state of nature
• evil is caused by a combination of human nature, structural elements and a lack of overarching power
• lack of trust is a problem

Question 13

principal causes of conflict (Hobbes)

Answer 13

• mistrust (breaking rules can be a benefit)
• competition (turns opponents into enemies)
• glory

Question 14

opinions on the international order

Answer 14

• isn’t as bad as the state of nature
• ideas for domestic order should still be applied to the international structure
  -> hegemonic stability is needed

Question 15

Morgenthau - Politics among Nations

Answer 15

• focus on international politics
• sees room for international law and institutions
• agrees on the notion of a constant human state of nature

Question 16

domestic balance of power

Answer 16

checks and balances

Question 17

international balance of power

Answer 17

hegemonic stability in an anarchic state

Question 18

principles of political realism

Answer 18

1. politics and society is governed by objective laws rooted in human nature
2. assumption that profit/maximiziation of power is in the centre
3. interest and power are universal but evolving
4. abstract ethics vs political ethics
5. sceptical to identify moral aspirations within a nation
6. political sphere is different from all the others

Question 19

How are politics and society governed?

Answer 19

• by objective laws
• belief on positivist science
• human action in politics is rational
• analysts understand actors the best since they have access to the lens of reason and overarching structures

Question 20

maximization of power is at the core of international politics

Answer 20

• power and money work in the same way (analogy between politics and economics)

Question 21

Classical Realism is based on political ethics

Answer 21

• are consequence-centred
• prudence is a core value (objectives and consequences have to be weighed)
• survival of the state is a normative phenomenon

Question 22

political sphere as a environment of its own

Answer 22

• main interest = power
• power is key for actions within the sphere
• reflects how politics affect individuals or power between nations
• power politics co-exist with international law, international morality and the world public opinion

Question 23

Tensions within the theory

Answer 23

• objective laws vs. normative prescriptions
• theoretical aspirations vs consideration of a multitude of factors (Complexity in Morgenthau’s theory: includes international law, ethics and power dinamics
  Waltz: good theory should be parcimonious, only focus on selected foci)
• conflict is overdetermined (they arise from attributes of persons, states and the international system)

Question 24

What causes an arms race?

Answer 24

the security dilemma (term coined by John Herz)

Question 25

solutions for the security dilemma

Answer 25

- arms control between states (not disarmament) - international institutions - transparency and confidence building measures -> other solutions would entail interdependencies which are not accepted by Realists

Question 26

Realist distinction between tragedy and evil (as causes of war)

Answer 26

- tragedy -> Neorealist - evil -> Classical Realism

Question 27

Key feature of Realism

Answer 27

Structure

Question 28

Main thinkers

Answer 28

Morgenthau