Realism - IR

Realism

Authors: Albert Cristian Maties Vanessa Marconcini

Ética e Relações Internacionais

31/10/2023

“Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

Thucydides

Index

07. Morgenthau

10. Conclusions

01. Introduction

04. Hobbes

11. Bibliography

02. Thucydides

08. Neorealism

05. Classical Realism

09. Waltz

03. Machiavelli

06. E.H. Carr

01. Introduction

One of the general theories in International Relations. It is usually contrasted with Idealism or Liberalism.

Realism

Realism had changed as the years go by. Founding fathers: Thucydides, Machiavelli and Hobbes We can distinguish between Classical Realism and Neorealism, which has replaced the first one with a more scientific approach to study International Relations.

01. Main features of Realism

Ethical norms

States

Realists are skeptical regarding the relevance of ethical norms in International Relations, among States

Realists consider States as the principal actors in International Relations

Human nature

States' interests

Realists consider human beings egoistic and self-interested

States' actions are influeced by their interests. For realists, States are concerned with their own security

Anarchy

International Relations are a self-help system in which there is not a superior entity to regulate interactions

02. Thucydides

Thucydides was the greatest of ancient Greek historians and author of the History of the Peloponnesian War, about the struggle between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BC.

1. Peloponnesian War

3. It is utopian to ignore the reality of power in international relations, but it is equally blind to rely on power alone

His work was the first recorded political and moral analysis of a nation’s war policies. Thucydides' analysis systematically blocks taking a "just war" approach to the origins of the Peloponnesian War.

Saw politics as involving in moral questions, and the power as a crucial element that can also be guided by the norms of justice

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4. The integrity of the community

2. For him realism competes with ethical concern in an irresolvable tension.

Is not simply a matter of balancing material interests; the attainment of moral community is intrinsically valuable, a measure of high civilization.

Morality can be perfected within the tight bounds of a well-crafted community, but can never extend farther, at least to any meaningful degree

03. Machiavelli

Machiavelli was born in the 15th century in Italy. The. main idea in politics was that politics itself should be virtuous and the methods of warfare should be subordinated to ethical standards. Machiavelli defines himself as a political innovator:

1. Critique of classical Western political thought as unrealistic
2. Separation of ethics from politics
3. He replaces the ancient virtue with virtù
4. Ragione di Stato and morality in politics
5. Concept of double ethics

04.

Hobbes

State of Nature

International Relations

He derives his notion of the state of war from his views of both human nature and the condition in which individuals exist. Since in the state of nature there is no government and everyone enjoys equal status, every individual has a right to everything; that is, there are no constraints on an individual’s behavior.

His approach to international relations is prudential and pacific: sovereign states, like individuals, should be disposed towards peace which is commended by reason. International rules will often prove ineffective in restraining the struggle for power. States will interpret them to their own advantage. International relations will always tend to be a precarious affair. This grim view of global politics lies at the core of Hobbes’s realism.

05. Classical Realism

Idealist perspective

The Classical Realism of the 20th Century was born in response to the liberalist, or idealist, perspective after the First World War

Important Authors

• John H. Herz
• Hans Morgenthau
• George Kennan
• Raymond Aron
• E. H. Carr

06. E. H. Carr

Critique to the idealist position

1. "Morality can only be relative, not universal"

3. The way to obrain peace is to satisfy the unsatisfied powers, making concessions

There are neither universal values nor universal interests

Policy of appeasement

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2. Doctrine of the harmony of interests vs the reality of conflict of interests

4. Human beings need universally aknowledged norms and values

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07. Morgenthau

He developed realism into a comprehensive international relations theory. He places selfishness and power-lust at the center of his picture of human existence.

Morgenthau systematizes realism in international relations on the basis of six principles

Objective laws

Relationship between realism and ethics

Realism is based on objective laws that have their roots in unchanging human nature

Tension between morality and the requirements of successful political action

Prudence

Autonomy of politics

All state actors must be looked at solely as political entities pursuing their respective interests defined in terms of power.

Political leaders think and act in terms of interest defined as power.

Interest

Autonomous sphere

Defined as power is a universally valid category

Politics cannot be subordinated to ethics

Neorealism

08.

Neorealism was an attempt to develop a more scientific and methodologically rigorous approach explain International Relations.The International Relations discipline has been divided into two main strands:- Traditional or non-positivist: normative questions, history, philosophy, and law - Scientific or positivist: descriptive approach

09. Kenneth Waltz

Structural realism or neorealism

• Avoid discussions on human nature

• Theory on International Relations analogous to microeconomics

• Not applied to domestic politics

Anarchy: principle of the international system States: units of the international system Security: fundamental interest of each state Insecurity and unequal gains

10. Conclusions

Classical Realism

Was a theory aimed at supporting diplomatic practice and providing a guide to be followed by those seeking to understand and deal with potential threats.

1. Realism is more than a static theory

• It depends on the actual historical and political conditions.

2. Useful cautionary role

• It warns us against progressivism, moralism, legalism, and other orientations that lose touch with the reality of self-interest and power.

3. Ideology

• By remaining stuck in a state-centric and excessively simplified “paradigm” such as neorealism and by denying the possibility of any progress in interstate relations

"States in the world are like individuals in the state of nature. They are neither perfectly good nor are they controlled by law."

Kenneth Waltz

11.

Bibliography

Political Realism in International Relations

Classical Realism

• Korab-Karpowicz, W. Julian, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2017/entries/realism-intl-relations/>

• Steven Ford, Chapter 4 in "Traditions of International Ethics, by T. Nardin and D. R. Mapel

Thanksfor your attention

Albert Cristian Maties Vanessa Marconcini

Melian Dialogue

Peloponnesian war is an exploration of the place of ethics in international politics. The “Melian Dialogue”, presents the classic debate between the idealist and realist views: Can international politics be based on a moral order derived from the principles of justice, or will it forever remain the arena of conflicting national interests and power?

• Melians trust in alliances.
• Athenians overestimate their strength and in the end lose the war.
• Spartans persue they own interests and declaim about justice only when is to their advantage

Politicians

Politicians use the language of justice to cloak the particular interests of their own countries. Policies are not based on universal norms, independent of iterests of the parties involved, as the idealists affirm.

Power

• The world is torn apart by the interests of different groups
• Order is based on power
• Morality is a product of power
• International moral norms are imposed on countries by other dominant nations