Realist and Liberalist Theories of World Politics
There are many political ideologies and theories in the world; these theories are used to
understand and engage with world politics effectively. Political theories and ideologies are
essential logic and fundamental explanation of why politics operates the way it does. There are
many political ideologies and theories, but some of the most important ones are Realism and
Liberalism. Realism as a theory emphasizes power, national interest, and the balance of power,
while Liberalism emphasizes cooperation, international institutions, and interdependence. These
two theoretical approaches provide a different lens for understanding the U.S. grand strategies
after World War II. In the upcoming paragraphs, this essay will Compare and contrast the key
concepts and propositions of realist and liberal theories of world politics and how they see U.S.
grand strategies after world war two.
Realism is a political theory that uses its own ideologies to engage and understand world
politics effectively. Classical Realism is a consecutive view of human nature, social life, and the
state; realists believe that the state is the critical unit of world politics. Realists believe in the
importance of power and the state in the international world. In Realism, the state pursues the
interest of power in terms of military, economics, and politics; it will do anything and everything
to be the only hegemony state in the international world. There are two forms of Realism;
offensive Realism and defensive Realism. Offensive Realism seeks hegemony, while defensive
Realism seeks the security of the state; security refers to 'the security of the state' understood as a
"territorial unit in which military power is monopolized by the sovereign polity" (PPTs, 27).
Some of the key propositions of realist theories in world politics are that the "States are the main
actors in international relations, States are rational actors that seek to maximize their power and
ensure their survival" (PPTS, 26). Realists also believe in an anarchic international system,
meaning there is no higher authority above the state level, or in a sense, a nation without a
government and or the state being the only one giving order and having control. Other key
proportions of Realism are "The balance of power is a key factor in maintaining stability in the
international system" and "Conflict is inevitable in international relations." (PPTS, 26). As can
be seen, realist theory revolves around the hegemony power of one state and its goals of doing
whatever is necessary to maximize its power and ensure the state's survival.
According to Realism, the U.S. grand strategy after World War II was driven by a desire
to maintain a dominant position in the international system. Many realists interpret the U.S.
grand strategies after world war two as a way of maintaining and achieving U.S. hegemony.
Realists state that the U.S. was able to achieve hegemony and the emergence of rival
superpowers by using military force, creating alliances, and pursuing economic and political
influence. Many realist theorists, such as Nicholas Spykman (1893-1943), who was the founder
of the classical realist school in American foreign policy, focused his work mainly on the risk of
U.S. isolationism (after world war two) in relation to the hemispheric defense of U.S. in a
geographical separation from Europe and Asia by oceans. He wrote books and spoke about
'America's Strategy In World Politics' (1942), in which he mentions how "America's Strategy in
World Politics was concerned with the critical dynamic of the balance of power and its impact on
U.S. foreign policy" (PPTS, 4). Spykman believed that a state could only survive and have
security by 'being a little stronger' than potential 'enemies.' He states in his America's Strategy in
World Politics, 1942, that "If they wish to survive, [states] must be willing to go to war to
preserve a balance against the growing hegemonic power of the period.". In this case, Spykman
is talking about the U.S.; if the U.S. wishes to be a hegemonic country, it has to be willing to go
to war in order to preserve a balance against any growing hegemonic power/state. Spykman also
mentions how the only thing that would hurt the American strategy of becoming a hegemonic
power is if there is "an alliance of Europe and Asia forms a counter-force to U.S. global power"
(PPTS,11). This is because Spykman believes that hemispheric defense is not a defense and that
the ocean has become a 'highway' for navies. The way to prevent this is through a conserving
balance of power in Asia and Europe by letting no hegemonic power emerge, using Asia's access
to critical resources, etc., to benefit the U.S., which is a form of offensive Realism. Another
strategy Spykman mentions to keep the U.S. as a hegemonic power is by leaving Germany
strong after world war two so that it will "be able to counter Russia's power, i.e., create a balance
between weaker foes, Germany and Russia." (PPTS, 15). Other realists, such as Barry Posen,
also believe that the U.S. should continue to dominate world politics by spreading the capitalist
market globally. Posen states that the U.S. "needs a new grand strategy of Restraint" (PPTS, 19),
meaning that the U.S. should prevent a powerful rival from 'upending' the global balance of
power, specifically a single hegemon in Eurasia since it could be potentially treen the U.S. As we
know it, the U.S.'s main goal after World War II was to be the only hegemonic power in terms of
politics, economy, and military within the international world. Realists understood the nature of
U.S. strategy as characterized by the use of military force, the creation of alliances, and the
pursuit of economic and political influence.
Similar to Realism, Liberalism is a political theory that uses liberal ideologies to engage
and understand world politics effectively. Liberalism revolved around the idea of economic and
political understanding of the capital market; it also centered around individual methodology.
Liberalism emerged as a theory in the 1700s and 1800s when feudalism ended, and capitalism
began in England and Western Europe. Capitalism involves the privatization of peasant land by
landlords forced into market dependence and wage labor; Liberalism is the defender of
capitalism. Liberalism believes that "world politics is determined primarily by the domestic
character of states; liberal states are prosperous and peaceful, non-liberal states are not" (PPTS,
3). Liberalists also believe that Capitalism "is a fair and self-adjusting system of market
exchange relations between self-seeking individuals, buying and selling commodities for
personal consumption" (PPTS, 29). This is because Liberalism is a political theory that branches
off capitalism, so liberals support capitalism and have similar beliefs to capitalize on. Some of
the fundamental proposition in Liberalism is that "Individuals are key actors or market
economies and democratic state, Capitalism is theorized as equal, commodity exchange relations
between self-seeking individuals, all of whom benefit" (PPTS, 31), and that "value is determined
by supply and demand, …comparative cost or factors advantage in world trade" (PPTS, 31)and
limited power of the state. Liberals also believe in security but in terms of individualism.
Individuals are able "to own private property, exchange commodities in the market, vote for
political leadership, and hold rights against the state." (PPTS, 29). As can be seen, liberalists
believe in a limited state, free trade, and an emphasis on individualism.
According to Liberalism, the U.S. grand strategy after World War II was driven by a
desire/ importance of economic interdependence, responsibility to protect in terms of human
rights, genocides, civil war, etc., and having global institutions reinforce 'liberal zones of peace.'
Liberals believe an end to a unipolar moment is emerging, "The most striking feature of the
post-Cold War" (PPTS, 2). A unipolar moment "The unipolar moment means that with the close
of the century's three great Northern civil wars (World War I, World War II, and the Cold War),
an ideologically pacified North seeks security and order by aligning its foreign policy behind that
of the United States." (PPTS, 2). LIberlai believes that the U.S. unipolar moment is ending
because the U.S. is economically declining and other countries are rising. The U.S. has spent 6.4
trillion dollars on war from 2001-2020, lost thousands of American service members in a useless
war, and the economy is in decline. Political theorist Christopher Layne mentions how economic
problems are the 'root of U.S. decline,' and China is rising in its economy alone with military
modernization, something that disrupts the U.S. grand strategy after World War II of being the
sole power in international politics. Liberalists such as Brooks, Ikenberry, and Wolhforth believe
that "The U.S. should strive to remain the sole superpower, and at the same time incorporate
rising powers into the liberal international order… U.S. hegemony, and global peace and
prosperity, remain necessary compliments" (PPTS, 45). Overall From a liberal perspective, U.S.
grand strategy after World War II was driven by a desire to promote democracy, human rights
around the world, and economic interdependence.
While Realists and Liberal have different political theories and ways of viewing U.S.
grand strategy after World War II, they did have some similarities in how they view it and want
similar things. Both liberals and realists want the U.S. to strive to remain the sole superpower
with the expectation of incorporating rising powers (Liberalist only). They differ in their views
of the role of the state in politics; while a realist theory says that the internal character of a state
has no bearing on world politics, liberals say the opposite. In conclusion, Realists and Liberals
have different ideologies of understanding world politics and the nature of the U.S. grand
strategy after World War Two ,however, they want the same thing for it but slightly differently.
Reference
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Brooks, Stephen G. "Lean forward: in defense of American engagement." Foreign Affairs
Jan.-Feb. 2013. Biography in Context. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.
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