Intro to World Politics Exam 1

Assumption for Classical Realism

1. state centrism (most powerful actors)

2. rationality (state behavior based on rational calculation)

3. Power (states seek to maximize power because power=freedom)

Problems with Classical Realism

1. lack of empirical evidence for a negative human nature (impossible to prove or falsify)

2. Human nature arguments are overly reductionist

3. lacked predictive capability

Thucydides

Realism

History of the Peloponnesian War

• International politics is driven by systemic structural pressure (and anxiety)

  • shift in power → inevitable conflict (growth of A → fear in S)

• Melia Dialogue- appeals to morality are useless if not backed by raw power

Machiavelli

Realism

The Prince

• people aren’t inherently good; rulers who are trying to be good bring ruin

• follow morality so as long as it’s within a state’s interests

  • Fortuna (luck, fate) vs. Virtú (strength, ruthlessness)

Hobbes

Realism

The Leviathon

• In anarchy, states exists within a state of nature

  • Humans are driven towards power, resources are scarce, exist in anarchy → permanent state of nature

  • “war of all against all”→ perpetual potential for conflict

• “war” always exists because states always prepare to go head to head

Assumption of Neo-Realism

• anarchy (states provide for their own security)

• unit functional homogeneity

• variable distribution of power

Problems with Neo-Realism

• democracies rarely fight wars with one another

• non-state actors are increasingly important

• cooperation is increasingly institutionalized

John Locke

• Tabula Rasa (humans are born as blank slates) and not hardwired into an international hierarchy → natural rights, social contract, etc.

• If conflict is learned, international systems can be shaped by international law (states can “learn” and be influenced to not go to war)

• Property is produced by labor and trade (not fixed land), so one’s gain isn’t necessarily another’s loss.

  • More profitable and less risky to cooperate and trade

Assumptions of Liberalism

• state centrism (but other actors matter)

• internal characterisitcs of states influence international outcomes

  • man only corrupted by a bad gov

  • republics → fewer bad consequences

• power considerations vary by state (or kind of state)

Conditions of Collective Security

1. military power is diffused among states

2. universal membership

3. definitions are agreed upon in advance (what is an “act of aggression”)

4. States are committed even if Balance of Power isn’t favorable

Assumptions of Neo-Liberalism

1. anarchy (effects vary)

2. Unit functional homogeneity (regime types are functionally different)

3. Variable distribution of capability (regime types respond to power differently)

4. Information of environment

Balance of Power Theory

• States seek their own preservation (at most seek dominance of a system (hegemony)

  • seek to maximize their share of relative capability

• can’t afford to be moral

Bandwagoning

lesser ally reaps benefits from an alliance with the more powerful actor

Classical Realism

Human nature is the primary driver of international politics

Neo-Realism

anarchy is the primary predictor of international events (NOT human nature)

Classical Liberalism

Global order, peace, and prosperity naturally emerge through voluntary economic exchange, international law, and open societies

Idealism

Flaws in international politics are the result of fixable flaws in the international system (fixed through economic interdependence and international institutions)

International Institution

Persistent and interconnected set of rules that give roles, constrain activity, and shape expectations

What did the Information Revolution do?

Diffuse power away from states towards non-state actors

What did Globalization do?

• Compress distances globally and decrease the cost of exerting power globally

• Also, brought politically “backwater" places to the forefront of the world stage.

What was the biggest problem with Liberalism?

It was disproved by WWII

Problems with Neo-Liberalism

• democratic peace rests on weak grounds

• US unipolarity is an anomaly

• non-state actors are influenced by traditional states.

• international institutions may serve the will of states