Realism in International Relations

Realism

A practical reaction to Idealism in international relations, seen as a more realistic approach after the post-WWI era.

Idealism

An approach or worldview in international relations, largely seen as a failed idea after World War I.

Thucydides

An ancient Greek historian whose work, 'Peloponnesian War,' is considered a historical root of Realism.

State of Nature (Hobbes)

A concept from Thomas Hobbes where the absence of central authority leads to an inevitable 'state of war'.

Realpolitik (Bismarck)

A pragmatic and often ruthless approach to politics, associated with Otto von Bismarck.

The Twenty Years Crisis (E.H. Carr)

Considered the first work to explicitly use and define 'Realism' as a term in international relations.

Politics Among Nations (Hans Morgenthau)

A foundational text published in 1946, defining the initial robust theory of international relations based on Realism.

Classical Realism

An early form of Realism where power is seen both as an end and a means, driven by states' natural lust for power and acceptance of international anarchy.

Power (Classical Realism)

For classical realists, power is considered both an end in itself and a means to achieve other goals.

Anarchy (IR)

The absence of a central, overarching authority in the international system, leading to a competitive environment.

Relative Power

The power of one state measured in comparison to other states, forming the basis of the balance of power.

Measures of Power (Realists)

Material capabilities, military strength, and economic capacity used to assess a state's power.

Balance of Power

A key determinant in international politics, where states seek to maintain an equilibrium of power to prevent any single state from dominating.

Security Dilemma

A situation where an increase in one state's security (e.g., military build-up) is perceived as a threat by another state, leading to an arms race and diminished security for all.

Uncertainty (Security Dilemma)

The lack of reliable information about other states' intentions, which fuels the security dilemma.

Self-help (Realism)

The principle that states must rely on their own capabilities and resources for survival in an anarchic international system.

Distribution of Power (Realism)

The arrangement of material capabilities among states, considered the independent variable that shapes international politics for realists.

Zero-Sum Power

The concept that in international relations, the gain of power by one state necessarily means a loss of power for another.

Neorealism (Structural Realism)

A theory developed by Kenneth Waltz, focusing on the systemic level of analysis where the structure of the international system (polarity) is the key variable.

Kenneth Waltz

The author of 'Theory of International Politics' (1979) and the founder of Neorealism.

Polarity

The number of major powers (poles) in the international system, which determines its configuration (e.g., unipolar, bipolar, multipolar).

Bipolarity

An international system characterized by two dominant poles of power, often considered the most stable configuration by neorealists like Waltz.

State Preferences (Neorealism)

In neorealism, state preferences are fixed, with all states primarily seeking security.

Power (Neorealism)

For neorealists, power is a means to achieve security, rather than an end in itself.

Units of the System (Neorealism)

States; rational unitary actors operating under conditions of anarchy.

Preferences of the Units (Neorealism)

The primary goal of states within the system, which is security.

Ordering Principle of the System (Neorealism)

The distribution of material capabilities, or the balance of power, which ranks states within the system.

Balancing Behavior

States forming alliances against a stronger, potentially threatening power to maintain a balance of power.

Bandwagoning

States aligning with the stronger, threatening power rather than opposing it, often to gain benefits or avoid hostility.

Balance of Threat (Walt)

A concept suggesting that states balance or bandwagon based on the level of perceived threat, which in turn is based on material measures.

Relative Gains (Realism)

The idea that states prioritize their gains relative to other states, even if it means foregoing absolute gains, making cooperation difficult.

Absolute Gains (Liberalism)

The liberal idea that states focus on their total increase in wealth or power, regardless of what other states gain.

Power Transition Theories

Realist theories used to explain long-term changes in the international system, such as the rise and fall of great powers and hegemons.

Hegemony

The dominance of one state (a hegemon) in the international system, often associated with stability or decline in power transition theories.

Faux Realism (Legro and Moravcsik)

A critique arguing that some analyses claiming to be realist fail to use power-based independent variables, instead relying on unit-level or non-material explanations.

Prisoner's Dilemma (Realism)

A game theory scenario illustrating why rational, self-interested actors might choose to defect rather than cooperate, driven by uncertainty and the pursuit of relative gain.

Defection Strategy (Realism in PD)

In the Prisoner's Dilemma, the choice by a state not to cooperate, motivated by the pursuit of relative gain and minimizing risk in an anarchic system.

Nash Equilibrium (PD)

In the Prisoner's Dilemma, the outcome (typically 'defect-defect' for realists) where no