theories of ir somu

8/9/2019 Theories of IR Somu

1/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 1

Theories of International

Relations


2/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 2

Theories of IR

Realism

Liberalism


3/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 3

Realism

One of the key theories in the filed of IR

Portrays waras the one of the main

feature of the international system Waris considered to be an output of the

struggle for balance of power within the

state system


4/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 4

Ideas and Assumptions

A pessimistic view of human

nature

A conviction that IR are

necessarily conflictual and

that international conflicts

are ultimately resolved by

war

High regard for the national

securityand survival


5/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 5


6/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 6

Key elements

There are three key elements to realism

as accepted by a variety of different

school of thought Statism

Survival

Self Help


7/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 7

Statism

The state is seen to be the main actor in

the international system

The state is the sovereign body with themonopoly of legitimate use of physical

force in a given territory (Max Weber)


8/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 8

Survival

States must survive to ensure they reach

all other goals

These may include conquest orindependence


9/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 9

Self Help

Each state actor must ensure their own

survival

Security must be gathered through ownmeans.

A state cannot dependant on others.


10/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 10

Anarchic System

Realists believe that international system

is one of anarchy

States each consider themselves to behighest authority and do not recognize any

higher power


11/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 11

Classical Realism

Balance of power

Creates an equilibrium between states

Lack of this balance creates a vacuum inwhich states try to take the power against

other states

All politics is a struggle for power that is

inseparable from social life

(Morgenthau)


12/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 12

Greek Historian Thucydides

Man is a Political Animal(Aristotle)

Political animals are highly

unequal in their powers andcapabilities to dominate andto defend themselves.

All states, large and small,

must adapt to that givenreality of unequal powerand conduct themselvesaccordingly.


13/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 13

Niccolo Machiavelli

Supreme political value

is National Freedom

Main responsibility of

rulers is always to seek

the advantages to

defend the interests of

their state and thus

ensure its survival.


14/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 14

Power and Deception


15/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 15

Thomas Hobbes

Man's natural state is

anarchic competition.

In his self-interest,

man forms peacefulsocieties via the

social contract,

without which life

would be 'nasty,brutish, and short'.


16/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 16

Morgenthau-Neoclassical Realist

Politics is rooted in a

permanent and

unchanging human

nature which is basicallyself-centered,

self-regarding and

self-interested.


17/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 17

Morgenthaus Concept of Realism

Human Nature(basic condition)

Political Situation(means and context)

Political Conduct(goals & values)

Animus

dominandi

Power politics Political ethics

Self-interest Political power Human

necessities

(security etc)

Political

circumstances

National interest

Political skills Balance of

Power


18/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 18

Waltz & Neorealism

States are alike in all

basic functional respects

States differ significantly

in capabilities;

International change

occurs when great

powers rise and fall and

balance of power shifts

accordingly


19/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 19

To what extent does Realism

naturalize war Classical Realism

Structural Realism

(1) defensive realism and (2) offensive Realism


20/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 20

Classical Realism

The balance of Power Creates an equilibrium between states

A lack of this balance creates vacuum in which

states try to take the power against other states


21/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 21

Structural Realism

Defensive Realism Argues that states are constantly

concerned about the state of the balance

of power

Sates therefore compete amongst

themselves to gain power and ensure that

they do not loose what power they have


22/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 22

Offensive Realism

Argues that states are encouraged to fight

with each other in the pursuit of hegemony

This intensifies competition betweenstates as to who is an overall position of

power.

States should try to gain as much power

as possible


23/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 23

Realism Naturalize War?

Realism naturalizes warto a certain extent,mostly through its theories on the balance ofpower and what happens when this balance is

upset. Theories on state power ad sovereignty

encourage competition between states, with thepossibility of emerging conflicts making warseem a natural course.

War is seen as a way to gain power, somethingthat it is natural for states to want


24/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 24

Ronald Reagan

Peace through

Strength


25/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 25

Bill Clinton

.. assert a new more

liberal vision for our

role in the world


26/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 26

George W Bush

We will build our

defenses beyond

challenge lest

weakness invitechallenge


27/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 27

Kautilya

The possession of

Power in greater

degree makes a King

superior to another; ina lesser degree,

inferior; and in equal

degree, equal. Hence

a King shall alwaysendeavor to augment

his own Power


28/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 28

Manmohan Singh

Pakistanneed to

curb terrorism if the

peace process

between the twocountries is to make

progress ..


29/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 29

Criticism

Limited Content - Realism focuses on

national and international security, and

on international conflict;

It ignores ordiscounts the more

frequent types of international

interaction that are cooperative in

nature.


30/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 30

Criticism

Partly Valid Assumptions- Modern IR is

characterized by both state andnon-

state actors;

There are bi-directional influences of

domestic and international politics;

States areneither unitary, nor

universally rational actors;


31/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 31

Criticism

States are guided by complex

concerns many of which do not

concern power;

Anarchy describes only the realm of

international security but not other

aspects of world politics


32/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 32

Criticism

Complexity - Realism oversimplifies

reality.

Modern international politics is morecomplex and multilayered than what

realist theory would have us expect.


33/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 33

Criticism

Interdependence - International relations are

characterized by complex interdependence;

relations within one state have majoreffects

on other states. No stateregardless of its powercan

uniquely shape all events in the international

system.

Andno state is completely insensitive towhats going on in its environment.


34/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 34

Criticism

Empirical Criticism. Political realism

failed in predicting majorevents and

processes in world politics.

In fact, most of the hypotheses derived

from this paradigm have been refuted

by empirical research.


35/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 35

Conclusion

The very essence of Realism is a struggle

for coercive military power to ensure both

survival and conservation of national

interests

This affects international relations, as seen

in terms of balance of power


36/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 36

Conclusion

This promotes war as the most basic and

natural interstate interaction

However, many real-life situations are

such that war-waging is dangerous on

both short and long terms to national

interest, thus enabling some kind ofuneasy peace


37/37

4/17/2010 11:06 AM 37

Balance of Power

A condition in which the distribution of

military and political forces among nations

means no one state is sufficiently strong to

dominate all the others.

It may be global, regional or local in scope

Back

theories of ir somu

Documents