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Understanding Global Understanding Global PoliticsPolitics

Lecture 3: Classical RealismLecture 3: Classical Realism

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What is realist about realism?What is realist about realism?

Avoids the Avoids the ‘‘hopeless utopianismhopeless utopianism’’ of idealismof idealism

Based on empirical analysis of Based on empirical analysis of the human condition and the the human condition and the way the world worksway the world works

Some aspects of behaviour are Some aspects of behaviour are universal and eternal.universal and eternal.

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Sun TzuSun Tzu The Art of WarThe Art of War (written (written in the 6th century BC)in the 6th century BC) One of the oldest and most One of the oldest and most successful books on military successful books on military strategy in the worldstrategy in the world National interests should be National interests should be the top prioritythe top priority There is no place for ethics in There is no place for ethics in inter-state relationsinter-state relations Statesmen who pay too much Statesmen who pay too much attention to ethical principles attention to ethical principles

would do so at their perilwould do so at their peril

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Thucydides (471-400 B.C.)Thucydides (471-400 B.C.)

The first Western writer in the The first Western writer in the realist tradition.realist tradition.

The Peloponnesian WarThe Peloponnesian War (between Athens and Sparta in (between Athens and Sparta in the fifth century B.C.).the fifth century B.C.).

A study of the struggle for A study of the struggle for military and political power.military and political power.

The cause of the War—fear, a The cause of the War—fear, a dominant characteristic and a dominant characteristic and a motivating factor for arms races motivating factor for arms races and war itself.and war itself.

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NiccolNiccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)ò Machiavelli (1469-1527) The PrinceThe Prince Power, balance of power, Power, balance of power,

formation of alliances, and formation of alliances, and causes of conflictscauses of conflicts

The end—security of the The end—security of the state—is understood to state—is understood to justify any means necessary justify any means necessary to achieve the endto achieve the end

The world as it is, not the The world as it is, not the world as it should be—ethics world as it should be—ethics and politics are separatedand politics are separated

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Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

The LeviathanThe Leviathan (1660) (1660)

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/hobbes/leviathan-contents.html

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Hobbes and his ideasHobbes and his ideas

A creature of his time: Concerned with A creature of his time: Concerned with nature of political power, basis of nature of political power, basis of order, and origin of state.order, and origin of state.

‘‘State of nature’ which was ‘nasty, State of nature’ which was ‘nasty, brutish and short’brutish and short’

Mutual vulnerability and self-Mutual vulnerability and self-preservation mean setting up of preservation mean setting up of sovereign body.sovereign body.

But only in domestic context: an But only in domestic context: an international Leviathan is impossible. international Leviathan is impossible.

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E.H. CarrE.H. Carr

The Twenty Years’ CrisisThe Twenty Years’ Crisis (1939) (1939)

Events of 1930s demonstrate Events of 1930s demonstrate fragility of international institutions and fragility of international institutions and the underlying struggle for power.the underlying struggle for power.

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Main assumptionsMain assumptions

SovereignSovereign states are key actors— states are key actors—unitary and rationalunitary and rational

States are motivated by self-interest States are motivated by self-interest (drive for power and survival)(drive for power and survival)

Main problem = anarchy (lack of Main problem = anarchy (lack of central sovereign authority to central sovereign authority to regulate state relations)regulate state relations)

Therefore, conflict is an ever-present Therefore, conflict is an ever-present reality of international relations.reality of international relations.

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Therefore …Therefore … The history of global relations is a The history of global relations is a

struggle for power: struggle for power: ‘‘every state for every state for itselfitself’’..

This means leaders have little freedom This means leaders have little freedom to organise the world and solve its to organise the world and solve its problems.problems.

Respect for law is only achieved if it is Respect for law is only achieved if it is reinforced by the threat of force.reinforced by the threat of force.

Conflict is inevitable, so must be Conflict is inevitable, so must be strong in face of aggression; strong in face of aggression; preparation for war is the main preparation for war is the main concern of states.concern of states.

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Classical RealismClassical Realism

… … is an attempt to understand the world is an attempt to understand the world from the point of view of from the point of view of statesman/diplomat forced to operate in statesman/diplomat forced to operate in dangerous and uncertain world.dangerous and uncertain world.

… … provides a guide to action based on provides a guide to action based on realpolitik (realpolitik (power and power politics power and power politics among statesamong states)) in the interests of the in the interests of the preservation of nation-states.preservation of nation-states.

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CriticismsCriticisms

Too simpleToo simple Fails to allow for possibility of Fails to allow for possibility of

changechange Centrality of stateCentrality of state No room for co-operationNo room for co-operation RationalityRationality