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Lectures Theories of International Relations
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Lectures International RelationsLecture 1 Classical Realism 26-01-2021
Unequal structure
Ex. How a t-shirt from H&M is produced/sold
Could also be seen as increasing “world” culture → eating alike, dressing increasingly alike
Building block of theories:
- Actors:
o Social actors: mostly corporate actors (states, io’s, ngo’s) but also increasingly
individuals
o What interest do the actors have and how do they realize them? Do they follow a
rationalistic and instrumental logic? Or do they follow a logic of appropriateness and
align their actions with societal norms and rules?
o How do the identities of the actors inform their interests?
o Are interests static or can they change?
- Structures:
1
, o Social structures: determine relations between elements within a system →
normative structures (rules and norms about behavior or membership of a system),
resource-based structures (constrain or empower actors)
o Degree to which actors and structures are presumed to interact, we can distinguish
between voluntarist and deterministic theories
- Processes:
o Patterns of social interaction (cooperation, conflict, dependency, peace, etc.)
o Processes transform behavior into social interaction
o Mechanisms of social interaction: strategic or normative
- Dynamics:
o Feedback mechanisms of social interaction on structures, actors and processes
(reproduction/reinforcement or change)
o Dynamic mechanisms: ex. reinforcement, evolution or cycles
Lecture 2 Classical Realism 01-02-2021
Reading questions Morgenthau:
1. Morgenthau is situating himself in a discussion with whom? Formulate the six principles of
political realism in your own words and try to link each principle to a current or historical
event.
1) Politics is governed by objective laws from human nature → rational choice theory?
2) Interest is power
3) the meaning and content of what interest and power is, can change over time → power
can be seen as knowledge or it can be seen as prestige or it can be material
4) realism is aware of the moral significance of political action → “the state has no right to let
its moral disapprobation of the infringement of liberty get in the way of successful political
action” in the case of COVID infringement of liberty was successful policy
5) moral aspirations may not be universal/shared by others → moral justifications for
lockdown policies (freedom or preserving human life)
6) focus on the autonomy of the political realm → separate from moralistic approaches such
as ethics
2. Which two patterns does Morgenthau identify in the struggle for power in international
politics?
Nations trying to maximize their power at all times versus keeping a balance and preserving
the autonomy and existence of (smaller) states
There is a paradox of aiming for a balance on the one hand and an actual aim of
predominance on the other hand
3. According to Morgenthau, what are the two big problems as to the functioning of the
balance of power (BoP) since 1648? Blz 254
“Yet universal dominion by anyone state was prevented only at the price of warfare, which
from 1648 to 1815 was virtually continuous and in the twentieth century has twice engulfed
practically the whole world. And the two periods of stability, one starting in 1648, the other in
1815, were preceded by the wholesale elimination of small states and were interspersed.
starting with the destruction of Poland, by a great number of isolated acts of a similar
nature.” → the balance of power has only prevented world domination of one country
through war (1) and through eliminating small states (2)
2
,Part 1
Why does Morgenthau call his theory ‘realism’? → describing real international politics, looking at
the world as it is (not idealist), more pessimistic. This is the way the world is. Describe it as
realistically as we can → historic processes as they actually take place (history is conflict driven), the
way human nature actually is (it is power driven)
Background:
- Oldest school of thought in international relations
- Dominant school of thought in post WW2 era
- Theory to which other theories reacted (structural realism, neo-liberal institutionalism, social
constructivism)
- Roots: Thukydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes (state of nature)
With whom does Morgenthau situate himself? (opposing views) → liberalism / idealism
Idealism/liberalism did not prevent WW2 from happening, so realism concluded that their notions
were wrong. So realism started with the assumption that we live in an imperfect world.
• Conflict of interests
• Moral principles can never fully be realized because of the quest for power
• What can be achieved is the balancing of power/interests through checks and
balances
• We have to look to history, that should inform our thinking. We can learn from
history. We can see how politics really is.
• Politics is a struggle for power, temporary peace.
First principle of political realism:
- Politics is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature
3
, - Which laws? → human nature is the quest for power, we strive for power. And so do state
leaders. This is how human interaction is based. By realizing this we can develop a rational
theory.
- Distinguish between politics on one hand and truth/opinion on other hand. We need to
capture politics, quest for power. This is different from truth and opinion, so not what we
want to see or our opinion about politics. We need to see it for what it is.
Second principle:
- Interest is defined in terms of power
- Interest of human being is power, that is what they want
- This is the distinguishing nature of politics (makes it distinct from other spheres). Politics has
its own laws.
- Why rational theory of international politics? → to avoid two fallacies: 1. Concern with
motives (leave out our own motives, to improve politics, make it different than it is) 2.
Concern with ideological preferences (what morals should it be based on)→ this is not our
task as theorists, it needs to be rational and realist → amoral theory of politics (not immoral)
Third principle:
- Interest defined as power is an objective category that is universally valid
- It is not ideas that dominate actions, but interest/power
- But the exact meaning of power is not fixed (territorial, material, etc.)
- What is constant is that power is in the interest of states
- Power comprises everything that establishes and maintains the control of man over man
Fourth principle:
- The only moral rule is prudence = weighing the consequences of alternative political actions
= supreme virtue of politics
- To act in the interest of power
- There is always a tension between the moral command and the requirements of successful
political action
- Official duty as politician= act in national interest (pursue power) NOT personal wish =
behave according to moral values
Fifth principle:
- It is exactly the concept of interest defined in terms of power that saves us from both moral
excess and political folly.
- We may find this hard/immoral (to thrive for power as your only national interest) but this is
what politics is about. If we do not do so, then we will fail, the states will get hurt.
- It is not for us as theorists to judge
Sixth principle:
- Intellectually, the political realist maintains the autonomy of the political sphere
4
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