THI - Week II Realism

8/2/2019 THI - Week II Realism

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Teori Hubungan InternasionalSOH201

Realism(week 2)

Vinsensio Dugis

SOH201-@Vinsensio Dugis 1


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Structure of presentation Essence

General view

Basic philosophical assumptions on human nature

Historical origins & basic values Key points

Classical realism

Neoclassical realism

Contemporary realism Strategic realism Neorealism

General explanation of international relations (politics)

Positions on major themes



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Essence

A school or a tradition of thought(perspective) explaining internationalpolitics (relations) in terms of power, anexplanation of which is based on its basicphilosophical assumptions of human being.

Realism = political realism, realpolitik,power politics



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General view

Complex & rich tradition of thought Grounded in a long tradition of thought Tend to treat political power as separate from,

and predominant over, morality, ideology, andother social and economic aspects of life.

Developed in reaction to a liberal tradition of

thought that Realist called Idealism claims tobe realistic in comparison with the utopians ofidealism

Rapidly developed after the 2nd WW



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Basic philosophical assumptions on

human nature Selfish, individualistic, and tend to behave in a self-

interested manner

1. The state centric assumption:

State is the most important actor, and just like human being,behave in a self-interested manner.

2. The unitary rational-actor assumption:

State acts as rational individuals in pursuing national interests;rational pursuit of self-interest.

3. The anarchy assumption:

International system is lacking of government/anarchy, thereforestates act in an anarchy context



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Basic philosophical assumptions on

human natureIssues Realism

Human nature Selfish, individualistic, behave in a self-interested manner

Most important actor State (the state-centric assumption)

State behavior Like human being, behave in a self-interested manner

Causes of state

behavior

Act as rational individuals in pursuing

national interests; rational pursuit of self-interest (the unitary rational-actorassumption)

Nature of internationalsystem

Lacking government/Anarchy; states act inan anarchy context (the anarchyassumption)

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Historical origins & basic values Sun Tzu (warring states period):

In facing armed & dangerous neighbor states, moralreasoning was not very useful to the sate rulers.

It is advised that in order to advance interests & protectsurvival, rulers better use power.

Thucydides: the strong do what they have the power to do and the

weak accept what they have to accept

Machiavelli;: In order to stay in power, princes were urged to

concentrate on expedients actions and usemanipulative power maneuvers.



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Historical origins & basic values (cont) Hobbes:

When government is absent and people seek their ownself-interests, then it is free for all to exist

The state of nature or state of war. Clausewitz:

war is a continuation of politics by other means.

Morgenthau:

International politics is governed by objective,universal laws based on national interests defined aspower.

No nation had God on its side, then all nations had tobase their actions on prudence and practicality



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Historical origins & basic values (cont)(Jackson & Sorensen, 1999: 76)

Thucydides Machiavelli Hobbes

Political fate Political agility Political will

Necessity & security Opportunity &security

Security dilemma

Political survival Political survival Political survival

Safety Civic virtue Peace & felicity



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Historical origins & basic values (cont)

Commonness (Jackson & Sorensen, 1999: 76)1. Insecurity & conflict are permanent human conditions

that needs to be addressed & dealt with.2. Keys to address & deal with problem of security can be

found and identifies in a body of political knowledgeor wisdom.

3. There is no final escape from the human condition(security & conflict) = no final or permanent solutionsfor the problems of politics.



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Key Points Sovereign states are the key actors in international relations

States are motivated by a drive for power and pursuit of thenational interest

The central problem in international relations is thecondition of anarchy

Conflict is an ever-present reality of international relationsdue to aggressive intent of states combined with lack ofgovernment

Order can be maintained by shifting alliances among states

Intl institutions and law can only be effective if backedby force or effective sanctions



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Neoclassical Realism

Morgenthaus concept (In, Jackson & Sorensen, 1999: 79)

Human nature(basic condition) Political Situation(means & context) Political conduct(goals & values)

Animus dominandi Power politics Political ethics(prudence, etc.)

Self-interest Political power Human necessities

(security, etc.)

PoliticalCircumstances

National interest

Political skills Balance of power



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Neoclassical Realism (cont)

Morgenthaus six principles of political realism(In, Jackson & Sorensen, 1999: 79-80)

1. Self-centered, self-regarding, and self-interested arepermanent & unchanging nature of politics.

2. State leaders should act in accordance with the dictates ofpolitical wisdom, as politics is an autonomous sphere of

action, which cannot be reduced neither to economics norto morals.

3. Self-interest is a basic fact of the human condition politics is the arena of expressing interests.



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Neoclassical Realism (cont )

Morgenthaus (cont.)4. Ethics of international relations is political or situational

ethics. The responsible leader should strive not to do thebest but, rather, to do the best that circumstances on thatparticular day permit. This circumscribed situation ofpolitical choice is the normative heart of realist ethics.

5. Opposing idea on imposing ideology on other nations as

it would create instability.6. Statecraft is a sober & uninspiring activity that involves a

profound awareness of human limitations & humanimperfections.



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Contemporary Realism:

Strategic Realism & NeorealismContemporary Realism

Product of the behavioralist revolution & the quest for apositivist social science of IR.

Seek to provide empirical analysis of world politics Differs from Classical & Neoclassical in terms of attitudes

of seeing the role of values in the study of internationalpolitics.

Whereas classical & neoclassical regards values as

important (normative analysis), contemporary realismmoves from it as their proponents regard it subjective &unscientific



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Strategic Realism

Thomas Schelling; Focus on foreign policy decision-making (diplomatic & military

issues) State leader obliged to think strategically (instrumentally) in

order to be successful in decision-making on diplomatic &military issues.

Seek to provide analytical tools for strategic thought Decision-making on diplomatic and military issues is a

rational-instrumental activity, therefore it needs the applicationof logical analysis tools called game theory in order to get anunderstanding of it.

Central concept is threat (danger of nuclear threat) Concerns more with the best way to employ power intelligently

in order to be able to do a desired decision, avoiding from fear(threat/nuclear threat).



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Strategic Realism (cont )

Comparison of Classical-Neoclassical & Strategic Realism(Jackson & Sorensen, 1999: 84)

Machiavellis

Renaissance statecraft

Schellings

Nuclear statecraft

Mode Instrumental realism Strategic realism

Means Strength & cunning Intelligence, nerve & risk-taking

Opportunities & luck Logic & art of coercion

Goals Security & survival Security & survival

Values Civic virtue Value neutral; non-prescriptive



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NeorealismKenneth N. Waltz (In, Jackson Sorensen, 1999: 84-87): Depart from previous realisms by ignoring their normative

concerns, but trying to provide a scientific IR

A basic feature of international relations is thedecentralized structure of anarchy between states statesare alike in all basic functional respects

States that are crucially important in determining changesin the structure of the international system are the greatpowers.

Employs the concept of anarchy & focus exclusively onstates

Focuses on the central feature of anarchical state system=power politics

Security & survival are fundamental concerns of stateSOH201-@Vinsensio Dugis 18


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Neorealism (cont )Kenneth N. Waltz (In, Jackson& Sorensen, 1999: 84-87): The major problems of great powers are war The major task of international relations among the great

powers is that of peace & security No discussion on human nature but that of structure of the

system State leaders are prisoners of the structure of the system

(anarchy)

Foreign policy decision-making is not independent fromthe structure of international system (anarchy) Leaders decision on foreign policy constrained by and

therefore shaped by international structure this is calledas mechanical image of state leaders.



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Neorealism (cont )

Waltzs neorealist theory structure & outcomes (In, Jackson &Sorensen, 1999: 86)

International Structure

(state units & relations)

International outcomes

(effects of state competition)

International anarchy Balance of power

States as like units International recurrence &

repetition

Unequal state capability International conflict, war

Great power relations International change



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General explanation of international

politics

Variables Realism

Actor (s) / Analytic Unit (s) State

View of Actor (s) UnitaryBehavioral Dynamic State is rational actor constantly seeking to maximize

its own national aims via foreign policy

Main Issues National Security

Processes Competition for National Interests

Outcomes Limited order in an Anarchic Society

Structure of Intl System State Centric Inter-state system

Fundamental PrinciplesCharacterizing Intl System

Anarchy; Competition for Political Power & Influence

Distribution of Power & Influence(The Relative Status of MainActors)

Fragmented, unequal distribution of power amongstates



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Positions on major themes

(Steans, Pettiford, Diez, 2005; 49-74)

Major Issues Realism

The state & Power States ability to change behavior/dominate

Conflict and Violence an ever-present reality of internationalrelations

Peace and Security The balance of power is a mechanism whichoperates to prevent the dominance of anyone state in international system (civicpacem parabelum)

Institutions & World Order Secondary Concern

Inequality & Justice Emphasize the principle of sovereignty,which bestows exclusive jurisdiction over aterritory and people



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THI - Week II Realism

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