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International Relations Theory - Realism
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Summation of Realist thought in international relations.
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Summary Walzer Article: The Moral Standing of States
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Key Terms:Anarchy: absence of a world government
The state: most important actor
Self-help system
Absolute vs relative gains: realists believe in relative gains
Balancing
Band-wagoning
Relative gains
Key assumptions
States are the primary actors, and they always want more power
Anarchy is the permissive cause of war: anarchy permits it to happen, not cause it to happen
Order is more important than justice. This is a debate. The prefer a system where there is balance or
predictability over a system where you might counter an injustice like a repressive regime. For
realists, it’s dangerous to pursue justice in the international system as it can be destabilising and
produce unnecessary conflict.
General Realist thought
Realists cast a difference between domestic society and international relations. In domestic society,
there are institutions set up to protect individuals, e.g. Police, however, on an international scale,
there is no equivalent.
• The international system is anarchical, meaning there is no world government
• There is no order or higher authority to answer to. No state is formally superior to another, so
they are all formally equal.
• There is also no place for ethics: no one state is required or obligated to show any other state
compassion/loyalty as it is a distraction from their true duties of protecting their own state.
Self-help system
• There is no ethical objection to war, however there is a practical consideration that needs to
be undertaken before such measures are taken.
Realism is divided into two main grounds:
• Classical realism - the traditional form of realism
• Neo-realism - also known as structural realism, has dominated the post second world war
order.
Classical Realism
▪ Thucydides was a key thinker for realism - ancient Greek historian
▪ He wrote 'The History of the Peloponnesian War' - a war between Athens and Sparta
▪ Through this, he brought a key concept to light in the Melian dialogue
▪ This key concept is known as the security dilemma
▪ As a realist’s state, you start building up your armed forces. The aim is to get more
power, achieved by growing the military. This is useful for gaining land and taking over
neighbouring territories, offers security, etc.
▪ The problem comes when rival states see other states grow their military and expand,
they in turn feel threatened and build up their armed forces; so, by strengthening your
security, you encourage your rivals to follow suit.
▪ Realism encourages states to gain more power and develop their military, but this
provokes competitors making it un-useful for everyone
▪ Machiavelli
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