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realism - Coggle Diagram
realism
analyse the realist view of power
power is finite resource
power is zero sum gain
balance of power = almost impossible to achieve - only way to guarantee survival is to seek hegemony
states strive for power and the fulfilment of national interest
all states have the military capability which means all states have the ability to obtain power if they wish - depends on perceived benefits etc.
classical realism
- pursuit of power, power maximisers - states seek power in the anarchic international system
pursuit of power = relentless
'nasty, cruel, brutish and short' - power becomes one thing states should seek
examples of classical realist:
machiavelli, morgenthau and thucydides
neo-realism
- importance of security, priority is to protect yourself and survive, implies and element of self-help, pessimistic view of human nature
offensive neo-realist
security is still priority but security is achieved through power - not power for powers sake is power for security
examples of offensive realist
: clausewitz
defensive neo-realist
war threatens survival, self-help - seeking power through war is wrong as there has been a change NUCLEAR POWER guarantees anything but survival - creates security dilemma and arms race
examples of defensive neo-realist:
mearsheimer
military force accomplishes political ends
examples:
cold war - post ww2 till fall of soviet union 1945-1991 - competition between states emerges, arms race leading to security dilemma which polarised the world and clearly pit the east and the west against each other
competition for power
analyse the realist view of human nature
mans is not a social animal societies could not exist except by the power of the stare
humans are inherently selfish - states act as humans do
humans governed by the law of their own self interest - machiavelli
ends justify means - machiavelli
states cannot avoid human nature there is a natural law/consequence about how people act
'nasty, cruel, brutish and short' - hobbes
examples:
ethiopian dam
- control of water supply of other countries along the nile river - ethiopia's desire to prioritise it's own needs clearly demonstrates the inherently selfish nature of states
'political man is a naturally selfish creature and will always try to dominate and have power over others' - morgenthau
analyse the realist view of the nation state
most important/dominant actor within the international system
nation states = main actors
state = rational
waltz - sovereign states = key actors
ethiopian dam:
is rational for ethiopia to control water supply of that region as places them in a powerful position and continues to achieve national interest of nation
damming the nile because it is in their interests to do it - they are not cooperating with international bodies eg. EU and african union - acting of their own accord
states are sovereign
war on terror:
states , usa, acting of own accord and in pursuit of their own self interest with disregard for the other states and international community as a whole
self interest - revenge for attack on america during 9/11 - able to lie about their cause for invasion - act of their own accord as america is a sovereign nation, powerful enough to not require the support of the international community
analyse the realist view of international anarchy
global international (inherent) anarchy - because there are no rules and no enforcement of these rules self help is key concept
anarchic system impacts decisions of states
consequence of the anarchy that they seek power - all about human nature
all types of realism agree on the prevalence of anarchy
examples:
chinese spy in westminster - states able to act of their own accord no international enforcement/global police
ethiopian dam - ethiopia not acting in accord to international expectations or in co-operation with international organisations
saudi prince murdering turkish journalist: individuals in high power and states able to act of their on accord and not face consequences due to lack of international standardisation of laws, norms etc