Realism

Variants: Neorealism, Structural Realism, Mercantilism (in IPE)

Thomas Hobbes1588-1679

• English Civil War• Chaos• Fear• People are rational • Need gov’t• The Leviathan¤

State of Nature

Social contractcreate government

The International System

Hans Morganthau1904-1980

• World Wars• Politics Among Nations• Lays out realist tenets

Realism

Premise• International relations dominated by states acting

in self-interest

Basic tenets1. States are the primary actors2. States are unitary, rational actors3. Relations are zero-sum4. Relations are power struggles5. National interest drives relations

RealismPrimary Actor(s)• States

Motivation for Relations• Self-help in chaotic system

View on Human Nature• Pessimistic

View of Int’l System• States in chaotic, competitive system

Ultimate goal in relations• Stability, self-preservation

HOBBESIn such condition as the state of nature there is • no place for industry • no culture of the earth • no navigation• nor use of the commodities that may be imported

by sea • no commodious building • no knowledge of the face of the earth• no account of time, arts, letters, or society

¤

HOBBES…instead, there is, which is worst of all• continual fear, and danger of violent death• and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and

short ¤

“For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself.”

1) States are the primary actors2) States are unitary, rational actors3) Relations are zero-sum4) Relations are power struggles5) National interest drives relations

“And therefore if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies; and in the way to their end … endeavour to destroy or subdue one another.”

1) States are the primary actors2) States are unitary, rational actors3) Relations are zero-sum4) Relations are power struggles5) National interest drives relations

“Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man.”

1) States are the primary actors2) States are unitary, rational actors3) Relations are zero-sum4) Relations are power struggles5) National interest drives relations

“Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice.”

1) States are the primary actors2) States are unitary, rational actors3) Relations are zero-sum4) Relations are power struggles5) National interest drives relations

Liberalism

Variants: Neoliberalism, Idealism, Neoinstitutionalism

Jean Jacques Rousseau1712-1778

• Enlightenment• Social beings• Cooperation• Need gov’t• The Social Contract¤

Woodrow Wilson1856-1924

• World War I• Cooperation• 14 Point Plan• Ideas picked up in 1970s¤

Liberalism

Premise• International relations benefit from cooperation

among multiple actors

Basic tenets1. Multiple actors matter2. Relations can be positive sum3. Relations are based on more than just power

struggles4. Zero-sum relations benefit the wealthy

LiberalismPrimary Actor(s)• States, IGOs, NGOs, MNCs, leaders, etc.

Motivation for Relations• Cooperative, collaborative

View on Human Nature• Optimistic

View of Int’l System• Cooperation is beneficial to greatest number of people

Ultimate goal in relations• Cooperation for mutual benefits

Rousseau

“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.”

“But the social order is a sacred right which is the basis of all other rights. Nevertheless, this right does not come from nature, and must therefore be founded on conventions.”

1) Multiple actors matter2) Relations can be positive sum3) Relations are based on more than just power struggles4) Zero-sum relations benefit the wealthy

“Let us then admit that force does not create right, and that we are obliged to obey only legitimate powers .”

1) Multiple actors matter2) Relations can be positive sum3) Relations are based on more than just power struggles4) Zero-sum relations benefit the wealthy

“I suppose men to have reached the point at which the obstacles in the way of their preservation in the state of nature show their power of resistance to be greater than the resources at the disposal of each individual for his maintenance in that state.”

1) Multiple actors matter2) Relations can be positive sum3) Relations are based on more than just power struggles4) Zero-sum relations benefit the wealthy