Realists see the world as it is

Basic assumptions of realism Groupism; group cohesion to survive, nation

state and nationalism, anarchic social settings

Egoism; self-interest, corrupted human nature

Power-centrism: inequalities of power, power is used to coerce (incentives, deterrent threats and punishments)

Thucydides, Machiavelli, E.H. Carr, H. Morgenthau, K. Waltz

Realist foreign Policy- Power driven, most powerful groups/actors

Where the power is? What the group interest are? Power relationships in clashing interest! Specific realist theories: Balance of power,

security dilemma, anarchy

Classical realism: H. Morhentahu, T. Hobbes, Machivelli

draw pessimistic view about human being which is mainly described as corrupted and immoral

Defensive realism: Jack Snyder had little interest for military conquest, they

believe that it is costly to manage all territorial conquest because expansion is over expanding and costly

difficulty of conquest, state’s capacity to strike back, nuclear weapons

finding way to defend yourself without threatening others-be defensive

Offensive realism: J. Marsheimer based on the assumption of the seeking for

survival of states status quo against revisionist states such as Hitler Germany.

It is not clear that when one states will desire to dominate rest of the world so it is important to be offensive and attack first to take advantage (pre-emptive strike)

Uncertainty increases insecurity in anarchic environment-be powerful to survive

Neo-realism: two assumptions anarchic international system states in international system concern

about survival Beyond state-centric world view, K. Waltz

introduce third image (systemic level of analysis within inherently anarchic international system)

Neoclassical realism: Combination of classical realism and neo-

realism Claims that changes and behaviors of states

in the international system can be explained by systemic variables

Balance of power: alliances Balance of threat: states will balance

against threat Hegemonic stability theory: powerful

state dominate to whole international system to end anarchy by establishing hierarchy

Power transition theory: dominant state seeks to remain in power but it is challenged by other states when they become stronger (war is likely/preventive war to stop threats)

During 1900s diplomats use balance of power, security dilemma and defensive realism to analyze specific period or situation

George Kennan, the US ambassador to Soviet Union wrote memoranda to inform Washington to adopt “containment policy” in 1946. He describes Soviet Union as a threat to global balance of power and U.S.

1970s Nixon and Kissinger-reorientation U.S foreign policy

decline of U.S and rise of Soviet Union, Asia and European countries (alliance, changing, balance of power, power transition theory), main argument is U.S spend time and resources to contain Soviet Union and rivals take advantage of this (China) and they propose ‘détente’