Plan for Today:Understanding Classical Realism and Neorealism

1. Introducing history and distinctive concepts of classical realism.

2. Introducing neorealist principles.

Classical or Traditional Realism

1. Ancient roots – Thucydides. Realist Athenians vs. utopian

Melians. Strong always win over the weak. Lesson: tragedy befalls those who

rely on hope, justice, and supposed friends.

Classical or Traditional Realism

2. Classical realism (20th Century).1. E.H. Carr – The Twenty Years’

Crisis. Critique of liberal “utopianism”

dominant after WWI. Response to failure of League of

Nations and collective security. Creators of League: if you believe in

something enough, it will come true.

Classical or Traditional Realism

1. E.H. Carr – The Twenty Years’ Crisis (continued). In reality, nations’ selfish concerns

dominate. Aggressive actions by states are fully

rational and natural.

Classical or Traditional Realism

1. E.H. Carr – The Twenty Years’ Crisis (continued). Need to analyze politics objectively as

it is, not as it should be. Clash among national interests

inevitable.• Only way to minimize war is balance of

power among states.

Classical or Traditional Realism

2. Hans Morgenthau – Politics Among Nations (1948).1. First attempt at realist textbook.2. Trying to create “science” of

international politics.3. Level of analysis: More emphasis on

human nature than structure of system itself.

Classical or Traditional Realism

Morgenthau’s 6 principles of political realism:1. Politics governed by objective laws with

roots in human nature.2. Interest defined as power.3. Forms of state power will vary with time

and place, but interest defined as power will remain constant.

Classical or Traditional Realism

Morgenthau’s 6 principles of political realism:4. Political action has moral consequences,

but morality cannot guide action. 5. There is no universally agreed set of

moral principles.6. Political sphere is autonomous from

legal, moral, or economic spheres. Politics deals with power.

Conclusion: What principles do classical realists share?

1. Must look at world as it is, not as it ought to be.

2. Interest of states and leaders is power.3. Ambition for power comes more from

human nature than structure of system. 4. Moral claims or arguments about justice

have no place in foreign policy. 5. These principles are permanent aspects

of international politics.

Neorealism – Waltz, Theory of International Politics (1979)

Principles of neorealism:1. To explain international system,

must create system-level theory.1. Units of system (states)

functionally similar.2. International politics different

from domestic politics.

Neorealism – Waltz, Theory of International Politics (1979)

Principles of neorealism:2. Anarchy central defining aspect of

system. Consequences:1. Self-help – cannot rely on others.2. Uncertainty – attack always

possible. Anarchic system drive for power

to attain security.

Neorealism – Waltz, Theory of International Politics (1979)

Principles of neorealism: Consequences of anarchy lead to:

1. Drive for power to attain security. No assumptions about human nature

necessary.

2. States behaving similarly under similar constraints.

Neorealism – Waltz, Theory of International Politics (1979)

Principles of neorealism:3. Search for power has limits – states

really seek security.1. Excessive power grab can prompt

security dilemma.

Neorealism – Waltz, Theory of International Politics (1979)

Principles of neorealism:4. Alliance behaviour:

1. States will always balance rather than bandwagon in alliances.

2.Bipolar systems more stable than multipolar systems.