Realism in International Relations: Balance of Power, Neorealism, and Neoclassical Realism

A set of practice flashcards covering core Realist theories (Classical Realism, Neorealism, Neoclassical Realism), key concepts (anarchy, security dilemma, BoP, polarity), major figures (Morgenthau, Waltz, Mearsheimer), and related concepts (balancing, bandwagoning, hedging, power transitions).

What are the three main currents of the realist tradition (Balance of Power) discussed in the notes?

Classical realism, neorealism (structural realism), and neoclassical realism; there is also a group of realist authors who reject balance of power as the core mechanism (dominance/leadership theories).

Who are considered forerunners of realism?

Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Hobbes are cited as early thinkers whose work reflects power and interests in international relations.

How does Donnelly define realism?

Realism emphasizes constraints on politics imposed by human nature and the absence of an international government; power and interests drive international relations, and politics is largely a realm of power and interests.

What is realpolitik in the context of IR theory?

A practice focused on power, often for short-term gains, with less regard for long-term values or ideals; power analyses can inform such practice.

Why do realists reject idealistic approaches to IR?

Because realists prioritize power and interests, viewing ideas and ideals as secondary and seeing international organizations, law, and morality as outcomes of power struggles.

What is raison d’état in realism?

The reason of state; the core task of the state is to ensure national security and the safety of its citizens.

How does Hobbes’ Leviathan relate to realism?

Hobbes’ state of nature analogy suggests a lack of an overarching authority, leading to anarchy and the justification for strong centralized power to maintain order; this informs the realist view of international relations as anarchic.

Define the security dilemma.

As states seek more security, their actions (militarization, alliances) decrease the security of other states, causing a cycle of insecurity and potential conflict.

What is the Balance of Power (BoP) in realism?

The tendency for power to be distributed in a way that creates an equilibrium among great powers; power balancing leads to stability in an anarchic system.

What does polarity mean in realist theory?

The number of great powers in the international system (bipolar, multipolar, unipolar); polarity shapes system structure and stability.

Power in realism: how is it defined according to Dahl and Weber?

Power is a relationship in which A can get B to do something B would not otherwise do; it is about compulsory power transmitted through direct relations.

What is the difference between power resources and power capabilities in realism?

Power resources are often tangible assets like GDP and military assets; power capabilities are the measurable, hard sources of power (economic and military), though some theorists also consider non-material factors.

What are Morgenthau’s animus dominandi and its relevance?

Animus dominandi refers to the lust for power driving human behavior, foundational to Morgenthau’s realist view of power politics.

State Morgenthau’s six principles of political realism (briefly).

1) Politics obey objective laws rooted in human nature; 2) Interest defined as power; 3) States driven by their interests; 4) Tension between moral principles and political action; 5) The state’s interests are not universal moral laws; 6) Political realism is autonomous as a discipline.

What is the distinction between ethics of conviction and ethics of responsibility?

Ethics of conviction (Gesinnungsethik) is principled morality; ethics of responsibility (Verantwortungsethik) weighs consequences in policy choices.

How does Morgenthau view morality in international politics?

Morality matters but must be evaluated for feasibility and consequences; ideology should not override power considerations (e.g., critique of Vietnam War).

What kinds of states does Morgenthau distinguish, and why is this distinction important?

Status quo states (seek to maintain power balance) and imperialist/offensive states (seek to change the balance in their favor); this distinction helps explain behavior in realism.

What is Morgenthau’s view on the role of ideology in foreign policy?

Ideologies are often propaganda concealing states’ interests; power considerations are primary.

What distinguishes neorealism (Waltz) from Morgenthau’s classical realism?

Neorealism emphasizes systemic factors (anarchy, self-help, distribution of power) over the distinctive characteristics of states or leaders; it seeks a scientific, law-like theory.

What are the three levels of analysis in Waltz’s framework?

Individual, state, and international system; neorealists focus on the systemic (third) level.

Describe the neorealist view of anarchy and the self-help system.

The international system is anarchic with no higher authority; states must ensure their own survival, acting in a self-help environment.

What is the ‘billiard balls’ analogy in neorealism?

States are like billiard balls—externally similar in the system; what matters is their interactions, not their internal characteristics.

What is Jervis’ contribution to the security dilemma?

He elaborated that the security dilemma arises from anarchy and that the intensity depends on the clarity of the offense-defense distinction and policy perceptions.

Explain Worlds 1–4 in Jervis’ framework.

Four world scenarios: World 1 – offense has the advantage and security dilemma; World 2 – no security dilemma but security concerns exist; World 3 – no security dilemma but aggression possible; World 4 – completely safe.

What is the difference between offensive and defensive realism in Mearsheimer vs. Waltz?

Mearsheimer (offensive realism) argues states seek to maximize power due to distrust; Waltz (defensive realism) argues states seek security and balance, avoiding excessive power accumulation.

What are Mearsheimer’s five bedrock assumptions of offensive realism?

(1) Anarchy exists; (2) Great powers have offensive military capabilities; (3) Uncertain of others’ intentions; (4) Survival is the primary goal; (5) Great powers are rational actors.

What does Mearsheimer say about military vs economic power?

Military power is the primary, most important form of power; economic power is latent and foundational for building military power.

What is ‘power maximalization’ vs ‘security maximalization’ in offensive realism?

Power maximalization seeks as much power as possible; security maximalization aims to maximize security, sometimes by limiting aggression (though offense often prevails in practice).

What is ‘regional hegemony’ and ‘stopping waters’ in Mearsheimer’s theory?

Great powers seek regional hegemony to maximize security; global hegemony is deemed impossible; 'stopping waters' refers to preventing another hegemon from emerging in a different region.

What is neoclassical realism and how does it differ from neorealism?

Neoclassical realism retains systemic assumptions (anarchy, power, polarity) but adds unit-level factors: state characteristics, leaders, domestic politics, and perception; these influence foreign policy and sometimes polarity.

What is hedging as a strategy in realism?

A middle position between balancing and bandwagoning; smaller states hedge to protect their interests without choosing sides.

What are hard balancing and soft balancing?

Hard balancing is military build-up and formal alliances; soft balancing uses non-military means (diplomacy, economic measures, institutions) to counter a powerful state.

What is inclusive vs exclusive institutional balancing?

Inclusive balancing uses international institutions to bind power; exclusive balancing excludes the dominant power from those institutions.

What is ‘bandwagoning for profit’?

Alliances or alignments with a rising/strong power to gain favorable terms or borders, sometimes for tangible rewards.

What is power transition theory (PTT) and its core indicators?

PTT explains war risk when a challenger’s power approaches the dominant power; indicators include population size, GDP per capita (economic power), and political capacity.

How does PTT measure power?

Power = population size x GDP per capita; political capacity (ability to govern) is also crucial for long-term influence.

What do transition theorists say about why wars occur between great powers?

Wars tend to occur when the rising challenger becomes sufficiently powerful to challenge the dominant power and is dissatisfied with the existing order.

How do post-Cold War debates blur lines between BoP and dominance theories?

Many scholars blend BoP and dominance perspectives, noting the continued relevance of power distribution while acknowledging new actors (e.g., China) and institutional factors.

What is the ‘unipolar stability theory’ and who is associated with it?

The claim that a unipolar order (one dominant power) can be stable; associated with some unipolarists within the realist tradition (e.g., Layne).