Week 4 - Realism II Flashcards
(12 cards)
Herz 1951: The Security Dilemma
Structural situation - states improve their own security relative to others by accumulating power resources
Other states are unsure if these are defensive or offensive actions and are forced to secure themselves
Neorealism
Theory developed from Waltz - Theory of International Politics, criticized the traditional realist focus on human nature
→ highlights that the fundamental structure of the international system guides state behaviour
The centre goal of states is survival
Mearsheimer on The Tragedy of Great Power Politics
States always try to maximize their security against rivals but only the hegemonic position gets this security
RLE: Waltz on Iran’s Nuclear Position
Iran possess nuclear weapons for their own security, not to improve offensive capabilities
RLE: Mearshimer on the Ukraine Crisis
Believes that the West is at fault since they could not accept the need for security by Russia, he found it unsurprising that Russia went to war in 2022
Criticisms of Neorealism
The security dilemma neglects the crucial factor of perception (Booth and Wheeler, 2008)
Failure to anticipate the end of the Cold War with the fall of the USSR
Worldview originates in and perpetuates Western History experiences
Ignores developments within states and ideological shifts
The assumption of rationality is too simplistic
Multipolar vs bipolar world stability
Multipolar:
Flexibility of arrangement (one country can change their main ally)
Dangers are diffused, responsibilities are unclear and vital interests are obscured
Miscalculation (worst case scenario)
Bipolar:
A loss of one is a gain for the other
Take RLE - the Cold War - the US and USSR controlled each others actions throughout the war (communists in Greece = Truman Doctrine, tightening Soviet Control = the Marshall Plan then Cominform)
Overreaction is the lesser of evils
RLE - NATO
Manifestation of the bipolar distribution of power in Europe during the Cold War (American tool to manage the USSR)
Liberal Institutionalism (Mearshimer)
Theory is based on the idea that cheating is the main inhibitor of international cooperation (prisoner’s dilemma)
Develops rules for international institutions: increase amount of transactions (states must protect their reputation) issue linkage = greater interdependence, reducing transaction costs
However, this theory only focuses on cooperation and ignores relative gains
RLE - Martin on the EC
Lisa Martin argues that there were reduced transaction costs between the EC during the Falkland Wars, allowing Britain to succeed
Mearsheimer - little was at stake during these transactions
Collective Security (Meashimer)
Wilsonian approach that challenges realist views on the state
Critique - no explanation on how to achieve trust, historical enmity, transforms local conflicts into international
Critical Theory
Genuine peace system, doesn’t develop the ideal state just challenges assumptions made
