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REALISM AND LIBERALISM

Dr. NGUYEN Cat-Ngoc,

Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

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Essentials of Realism Statism: state, sovereignty, power, capabilities,

hegemonic stability theory.

Survival:

Self-help: security dilemma,

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Statism State is the main actor and sovereignty is its

distinguish trait.

Sovereignty: state has supreme authority to make andenforce laws.

Domestically: state provides security to its citizens

Internationally: many threats and dangers to states

survival because of anarchy - no central authority tobind all countries.

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Realism Competition: zero-sume game

Politics is a struggle for power

Power is control over the minds and actions of the others.

Power is a relational and relative concept.

Kenneth Waltz: capabilities: strength in population, territory,resources, economic capability, military strength, politicalstability and competence, state ability to control or influence its

environment. Critics: exclusive focus on state power; state is the only actor,

collective response to global issues.

Hegemonic stability theory

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Survival In international politics, the pre-eminent goal is

survival.

Ultimate concern of states is security. Survival is a condition for attaining all other goals.

Defensive realists (Waltz and Grieco): security isstates principal interest and only seek the requisite

amount of power to ensure their own survival. Not seek more power if it damages security.

Existence of Status quo powers lessens powercompetition.

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Realism Offensive realists (Mearsheimer): the ultimate goal of

all states is to achieve a hegemonic position on theinternational system. States desire more power and arewilling to change the existing distribution of power (ifthey can + even if it undermines their security).

Revisionist states and aspiring hegemons are alwayswilling to take risks with the goal of increasing theirposition in the international system.

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Henry Kissinger: a nations survival is its first andultimate responsibility; it cannot be compromised orput to risk.

Critics: no limits to states actions in the name ofnecessity?

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Self-help International structure: no higher authority to prevent and

counter the use of force.

Security is only achieved through self-help: in an anarchic

structure self-help is necessarily the principle of action. Security dilemma: In pursuing ones own security, the state will

automatically fuel the insecurity of other states.

How can states solve security dilemma>

Balance of power Critics: not inevitable consequence of the system, but the game

states chose to play. Examples of collective security or regionalintegration.

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Liberalism Liberty of the individual

From the 18th century onwards, Liberalism has strong

impact on the world politics. Liberal internationalism

Idealism

Liberal institutionalism

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Liberal internationalism Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham:

Natural order has been corrupted by undemocraticstate leaders and out-dated policies such as balance ofpower.

Contact between peoples of the world: commerce,travel a more pacific form of international relations.

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Idealism Importance of constructing an international order.

Freedom of states is part of the problem of internationalrelations, not solutions/

How to promote peace and build a better world. Role of international organizations: rules and norms.

I.O facilitate peaceful change, disarmament, arbitration andenforcement (when necessary).

League of Nations (1920): collective security system failed to

prevent the WW II. United Nations (1945): membership was near universal + great

powers were able to enforce any enforcement action from takingplace which might be contrary to their interests.

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Liberal institutionalism In the 1940s, turned to international organisations

Integration in Europe.

New challenges to realism. Focus on transnational corporations, NGOs, new

patterns of interaction: interdependence, integration.