BSPOL 1312 International Relations: Neo-Neo Debate

Course Information

• Course: BSPOL 1312 International Relations
• Academic Year: 2024/2025
• Class: 5 - The Neo-Neo Debate
• Lecturer: Dr. Valentina Brogna (replacing Prof. Amandine Orsini)

The Great Debates

• Idealists vs. realists (1930-1950): I, II, III
• Traditionalists vs. behavioralists (1940-1960): I, II, III
• Classical theories vs. Marxist theories and transnationalism (1970-1990): IV, V
• Positivists vs. post-positivists (1990-2012): VI

Starter: The Behavioralist Turn

• This session is a starting point for exploring the behavioralist perspective in international relations theory.

The Traditional and Behavioral Approach

• The traditional approach relies on judgment and observation, viewing international relations as a complex field influenced by philosophy, history, and laws.
• It views generalized statements about international relations as tentative and inconclusive.
• The behavioral approach focuses on identifying recurring patterns and using operational concepts with measurable empirical reference.
• It emphasizes precise data gathering, measurement, and presentation.

The Prisoner's Dilemma

• A game theory concept illustrating the difficulty of cooperation in an anarchic system.
• The optimal outcome for individuals is often not the best overall outcome.

Neo-Realism

• The study of international relations focuses on the structure of the system and relative power distribution (external to the actors).

The Cold War

• A period of political, strategic, military, and ideological opposition between two antagonistic blocs (US-led and USSR-led).
• The two superpowers did not directly engage in conflict but had opposing global ideological and strategic interests.
• Stages: Containment (1945-1953), Peaceful Coexistence (1956-1961), Acute Crises (1961-1962), Détente (1962-1975), Tense Observation (1979-1985), End of the Cold War (1985-1991).

Neo-Realist Theory: Kenneth Waltz

• Proponent of neo-realism.
• Key works include Man, the State, and War (1959) and Theory of International Politics (1979).
• Third-image theory: War is caused by features of the international system (anarchy).

A "Third-Image" Theory

• Waltz's theory, examining the international system as a cause of war.
• It argues that the anarchic nature of the international system, without a global sovereign, leads to constant power competition and potential conflict.

The Balance of Power

• Waltz's billiard-ball model: States interact like billiard balls in an anarchic system; the constant pursuit of security and survival often leads to a balance of power.

States and Power Differentials

• States vary in their capabilities, with great powers having more influence on international system changes.
• Power differentials between states significantly shape international relations.
• Change occurs when great powers rise and fall, shifting the balance of power.

Multipolar/Bipolar Systems

• Bipolar systems (e.g., Cold War) are more stable and peaceful than multipolar systems.
• Reasons include fewer great power conflicts, deterrence, and lower miscalculation risks.

Offensive Realism: John J. Mearsheimer

• Mearsheimer argues that anarchy leads to maximum levels of power competition.
• States seek regional hegemony and continuous power accumulation to ensure survival and status.
• "Great powers are always searching for opportunities to gain power over their rivals, with hegemony as their final goal."

Tragedy of Great Power Politics (Mearsheimer)

• Cooperation exists, but it's hard to achieve and sustain.
• Institutions are arenas for power relations, not necessarily for cooperation.

Neo-Liberal Institutionalism

• International regimes promote cooperation through absolute gains.
• Institutions facilitate cooperation based on shared interests and mutual benefits; cooperation is a positive-sum game.

Information Sharing

• International institutions are important for information sharing to facilitate cooperation in world politics, but barriers can exist.

Reputation

• International institutions help build reputations for cooperation and trustworthiness, encouraging states to cooperate.

Imitation

• Imitation among actors (states) is an important mechanism through which international institutions can help cooperation.

Charter of the United Nations Article 1

• Outlines the role of the UN in maintaining peace and security (absolute gains).

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

• The NPT promotes norms and principles discouraging nuclear proliferation, creating a framework for behavior in a dangerous domain.
• Successes include the limited number of nuclear weapons states, and the prevention of major conflicts.

Neo-liberal Institutionalism (summary)

• International regimes are vital for global cooperation.
• Cooperation stems from absolute gains.

Neo-Neo Debate Synthesis

• Keohane and Grieco posit that cooperation is easier in the economic realm, where absolute gains predominate, but harder in strategic domains, where relative gains are more critical.

Baldwin 1993 (Extract)

• Neo-realism and neo-liberalism are discussed as theories to understand the contemporary international debate.

Keohane vs. Grieco

• Keohane (positive-sum cooperation) vs. Grieco (zero-sum cooperation).
• The debate highlights competing perspectives on the incentives and nature of cooperation among states.

Neo-realists vs. Neo-liberal Institutionalists

• Neo-realism emphasises states' concern with security, relative gains, power, and conflict as inherent to the anarchic system.
• Neo-liberalism emphasizes collective gains, the value of cooperation, and the importance of international institutions in facilitating cooperation.