PS 205: Introduction to International Relations Classical Realism Winning hands "Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man...To this war of every man against every man, this also is consequent: that nothing can be unjust. The notion of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice. Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues." - Thomas Hobbes "War gives the right to the conquerors to impose any condition they please upon the vanquished." - Julius Caesar CLASSICAL REALISM Classical Realism Theory in Action: Realism Classical Realism Classical Realist Thinkers Thucydides Saint Augustine Niccolo Machiavelli Thomas Hobbes Reinhold Niebuhr Hans Morgenthau Classical Realism Core Assumption: Anarchy Anarchy - the absence of an authoritative hierarchy in the international system The absence of a world government Implications of Anarchy. There is no help in the international system. No 911 to call. Requires each state to be self-reliant. States must increase their own power. 1. 2. War and conquest Balancing The anarchic system constrains state behavior. Thomas Hobbes Developed the idea of international anarchy Classical Realism Core Assumption: Human Nature Humans are egoistic, selfish, power seeking, and fearful. Human nature is the problem. This condition is either natural or religious in nature. Human nature is the cause of war. Saint Augustine, Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes Classical Realism Core Assumption: Primacy of States States are the primary actors in the international system. International Institutions, Norms, Laws, Organizations, and other actors may get involved, but their impact is marginal. Does this hold true today? Classical Realism Core Assumption: Unitary Actors States are unitary. They speak and act as one voice. Subnational actors do not seek to undermine the state. There is no internal division that is meaningful. Classical Realism Core Assumption: States are Rational States are rational actors. They consider the strengths and weaknesses of various policy options. They seek to forward the national interest. This does not mean they do not make mistakes, miscalculations, or bad decisions. Classical Realism Concept: Power Power is conceptualized in terms of material resources (money, tanks, etc). The growth of power is the most important goal of the state. Power can be increased by balancing either 1. 2. Internally (arms buildup) Externally (alliances) Classical Realism Criticisms If human nature is the cause, and it is constant, why is there ever peace? If human nature is bad, why do we ever see any good? Is it human nature alone, or other factors that lead to good or bad behavior? Primacy of states It has not (and is not) always true. Tribes, city-states, etc. Other groups have and continue to matter (non-state actors; IGOs; NGOs). Fails to look at normative issues. Classical Realism Thucydides Athenian general, historian, and philosopher. Contemporary of Plato. Fought in the Peloponnesian War and was exiled from Athens. Failed on one of his missions. Founder of classical realism. Wrote History of the Peloponnesian War. Witnessed the events or uses eyewitness testimony. Classical Realism History of the Peloponnesian War The Debate at Sparta and the Declaration of War Opens in Sparta, a council of war between Sparta and its allies, and an Athenian delegation “It has always been a rule that the weak should be subject to the strong” “the weak must give in to the strong” “no one can be blamed for looking to his own interest” Cause of war? The growth of Athenian power Classical Realism History of the Peloponnesian War The Melian Dialogue (answer these questions) Where does morality come into play? What is the standard of justice? Is there a limit to the seeking of power? How do states behave? What is the law of power? What happened to the Melians? Classical Realism Politics Among Nations How does Morgenthau begin? 1. Paragraph one focuses on Morgenthau’s view of theory and what he intends to accomplish with it. a. 2. 3. Theory must be empirical and logical Paragraph two contends with realism’s main theoretical adversary, liberalism (utopianism). Paragraph three begins to develop hos conception of “political realism” a. b. View human nature as it really is – not what we want it to be A world of interests and conflict What is his view of political science? What are his views on morals? Classical Realism Politics Among Nations Political science is based on objective laws. Politics is an autonomous endeavor (power defines politics) Allows the scholar understand behavior (even if simplified) This allows us to make good foreign policy decisions What is power? “Anything that established and maintains the control of man over man” Goal of states? Survival is the moral principle of states Prudence (weighing of options) the supreme virtue Classical Realism Morgenthau’s Six Principles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Human nature is the source of international politics (and anarchy). State interests are defined in terms of power. Interest is defined in a context of political and cultural meaning. Morals are inapplicable in state behavior. Prudence "the weighing of the consequences of alternative political actions" is the most important value in IR. Morals are not universal. Autonomy of the political science discipline.
