CLASSICAL REALISM AND NEOREALISM

CLASSICAL REALISM AND NEOREALISM

BACKGROUND

• Born in 1904; died in 1980

• Well-educated

• Left for the United States due to World War II

• Early academic career recorded as unremarkable

• Gained recognition with the publication of "Politics Among Nations" in 1948

• Served as an advisor to various U.S. presidents

SYSTEMATIZING CARR – WHAT IS A THEORY?

• Carr does not develop a formal "theory of realism" despite having realist ideas

• Carr critiques "utopianism"

• Definition of a theory:

  • Avoids abstract principles

  • Judged on ability to organize information/facts and produce insights

  • A "successful" theory must pass both an empirical and a logical test:

  • Empirical test: Do interpretations and insights accurately reflect reality?

  • Logical test: Do the conclusions/predictions logically follow from the interpretations?

IDEALISM AND LIBERALISM VS (CLASSICAL) REALISM

• Carr does not make predictions or insights reliant on personal interpretations. Classical realism does possess these characteristics.

• Main disagreement between idealism, liberalism, and classical realism focuses on the conception of human nature, society, and politics:

  • Idealism argues:

  • Existence of universal and abstract principles independent of the world's imperfections

  • These principles can exist theoretically, without real-world emergence

  • Human beings are innately good and malleable

  • Classical Realism argues:

  • World politics is structured by particular and opposing interests

  • Politics is historically situated

  • International relations mainly work towards "realizing the lesser evil"

FIRST PRINCIPLE OF CLASSICAL REALISM: OBJECTIVE LAWS ROOTED IN HUMAN NATURE

• Politics contains "objective" laws and facts.

• These "objective" laws stem from a specific conception of human nature.

• Classical realists claim that humans are inherently selfish.

• Improvement in society and understanding of politics hinges on recognizing this selfish aspect of human nature.

SECOND PRINCIPLE OF CLASSICAL REALISM: INTEREST DEFINED AS POWER

• Interest as defined in classical realism equates power.

• Studying power distinguishes political studies from other academic fields.

• This definition imposes intellectual discipline by filtering what is important in international relations.

• It delineates the scope of analysis, enabling political analysis and theory generation.

• Focusing on power delivers superior insights compared to potential alternatives.

• Realists view motives as largely obscured, and ideologies often blur the lines between desires and actuality.

THIRD PRINCIPLE OF CLASSICAL REALISM: POWER AS AN OBJECTIVE CATEGORY WITH UNIVERSAL VALIDITY

• The universality of power does not mean it is fixed.

• Power encompasses anything that establishes and maintains domination, including physical and economic elements.

• Context-dependent definitions: The exact nature of power is not defined; it is context-sensitive.

• States and individuals can gain or lose power as circumstances evolve.

• A state or individual may be weak in one scenario while demonstrably strong in another.

• Universality of power posits that power structures socio-political relations consistently.

FOURTH PRINCIPLE OF CLASSICAL REALISM: SIGNIFICANCE OF MORALS

• Though ethics are crucial for classical realists, they differ from idealists.

• Classical realists recognize the tension between political outcomes and moral considerations.

• Certain actions may be deemed "morally good" yet yield negative outcomes.

• Classical realists oppose:

  • Actions pursued solely for achieving particular interests (amoral)

  • Morality pursued at all costs (this is considered to be apolitical and devoid of political consequences)

• The influence of morality in politics is always present, but its significance fluctuates according to power dynamics and contextual variables.

FIFTH PRINCIPLE OF CLASSICAL REALISM: MORALS ARE NOT UNIVERSAL

• The existence of morals does not equate to their universality.

• Morality is context-specific; no individual can claim it as their own.

• Attempts to universalize moral beliefs often reflect power dynamics rather than the validity of the moral arguments themselves.

SIXTH PRINCIPLE OF CLASSICAL REALISM: AUTONOMY OF THE POLITICAL SPHERE

• Idealism attempts to merge ethics with politics.

• Realism examines politics, defined as power, independently from other fields and refuses to prioritize power above all variables.

• This does not indicate that realists ignore external influences (such as economic, legal, or moral factors).

CARR VS MORGENTHAU

• Carr:

  • Classified as a proto-realist.

  • Primarily critiques "utopianism".

  • Lacks systematic approach.

  • Offers vague ideas regarding realism and refrains from predictions concerning political behavior.

  • Does not identify important units of analysis.

• Morgenthau:

  • Main figure of classical realism.

  • Defines realism systematically independent of other schools/fields.

  • Articulates six principles of classical realism emphasizing state and power.

  • Produces theories aimed at explaining events and predicting outcomes.

BACKGROUND OF MORGENTHAU

• Born in 1924; died in 2013.

• Well-educated.

• Served as a soldier in conflicts.

• Veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

• Academic work centered on the theme of war.

• Influenced by Carr and known for developing neorealism through key works:

  • "The Man, the State, and War" (1959)

  • "Theory of International Politics" (1979)

KEY ELEMENTS OF NEOREALISM

1. STRUCTURES/SYSTEMS:

   • Classical realism primarily examines inter-state relations, neglecting broader international relations.

   • Neorealism posits that all states function within a system/structure established by states, which consequently restricts state behavior.

2. SHIFT IN CAUSAL RELATIONS:

   • Classical realism follows a unidirectional causal arrow:

     • States act from their interests resulting in outcomes dependent on their power.

     • The sequence is state interest and relative power leading to outcomes.

   • In contrast, neorealism features a bidirectional causal arrow:

     • The structure/system is influenced by states but conversely also impacts state behavior.

     • Outcomes cannot solely be derived from power dynamics; interaction is critical (Structure ↔ State).

3. DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF POWER:

   • Classical realism views power as an end goal that is fundamentally universal.

   • Neorealism interprets power as a tool rather than a goal in itself:

     • Extreme levels of power (either excessive or minimal) can lead to negative outcomes.

     • The primary objective of states shifts to security instead of mere power.

     • Power is understood holistically, encompassing not only what a state can achieve but also its combined capabilities.

     • This holistic view generates distinct interpretations, understanding, and predictions for international relations.

4. UNIT LEVEL:

   • Classical realism typically emphasizes the anarchic nature of international interactions as the priority level of analysis.

   • Neorealism asserts that despite power disparities, states are functionally equal within the international system.

   • The structure/system enforces limitations on all international actors.

   • The relative importance of state versus structure/system in framing international behavior remains ambiguous.

COMPARISON OF CARR, MORGENTHAU, AND WALTZ

• Carr:

  • Functioned predominantly as a proto-realist.

  • Critiqued "utopianism", lacking systematic theory development.

  • Provides ambiguous notions of realism, without predictions or significant units of analysis.

• Morgenthau:

  • Establishes classical realism that does not rely on other theoretical backgrounds.

  • Engages in systematic theory formation, distinctly outlining six principles of classical realism, focusing on state and power dynamics.

  • Develops theories aimed at elucidating events and making predictions.

• Waltz:

  • Innovations in neorealism build upon classical realism.

  • Provides a systematic approach, defining four critical differences between classical realism and neorealism, with an emphasis on structure/system over mere power/state interactions.