22 Questions
What is the primary focus of realist analysis in international relations?
States and their military spending
According to Waltz, what is the primary cause of war?
The anarchic structure of the international system
What is the key feature of international relations that contributes to insecurity, according to realists?
Anarchy
What triggered the popularity of neorealism in the late 1970s and early 1980s?
A rise in international insecurity and the new Cold War
What is the primary concern of states in the realist perspective?
Maintaining national security
What is the implication of an anarchic international system, according to realists?
States must rely on self-help for security
What is the primary reason why states are considered the most important actors in international relations, according to realists?
They possess the monopoly of legitimate force to resolve conflicts.
What is the assumption about states in realist theory?
States are unitary actors that face the outside world as an integrated unit.
What is the role of non-state actors, such as international organizations and multinational corporations, in realist theory?
They are acknowledged, but of secondary importance to states.
What is the consequence of political differences within a state, according to realist theory?
The state will ultimately resolve its internal differences and speak with one voice.
What is the primary goal of states in realist theory?
To maintain national security and protect their interests.
What is the consequence of a state's lack of power in realist theory?
The state will be vulnerable to the influence of other states.
What is the assumption about the international system in realist theory?
The international system is anarchic, with no central authority.
What is the role of state power in realist theory?
State power is used to maintain national security and protect state interests.
What is the primary assumption of the second assumption of realism?
That states have sufficient autonomy from their national societies
What is the fundamental feature of the international system according to realists?
Anarchy and lack of centralized authority
What is the primary goal of states in the international system, according to realists?
To maximize their national security and power
What do realists assume about the behavior of states in the international system?
That they will behave in a standard manner, driven by their power and interests
What is the implication of the anarchy of the international system, according to realists?
That states will be self-help agents, relying on their own power and resources
What is the primary characteristic of the rational actor model of states, according to realists?
That states are goal-oriented and make cost-benefit analyses
What is the relationship between national security and other international relations issues, according to realists?
That national security tops the list of international relations issues
What is the assumption of realists about the ability of states to make informed decisions?
That states have limited information and knowledge, but are still able to make rational decisions
Study Notes
Realism
- Realism focuses on states as the primary actors in international relations.
- Non-state actors like MNCs, banks, international terrorist organizations, and international organizations are excluded from the analysis.
- Realism responds to criticisms by arguing that arms race and military spending contribute to tension in the international system, which is fueled by states' monopoly on legitimate force.
Kenneth Waltz and Neorealism
- Waltz's work is a response to pluralism, emphasizing anarchy, distribution of power, and self-regarding states.
- Waltz's "Man, the State and War" (1959) proposes three "images" of realism:
- War caused by human nature
- War caused by the nature of states
- War arising from the anarchic structure of the international system
- Neorealism was popularized in 1979 and 1980 due to the rise of international insecurity and the Cold War.
Realism: Major Actors and Assumptions
- States are the principal actors and most important units of analysis.
- States possess the monopoly of legitimate force to resolve conflicts between individuals and groups within their territory and with other states.
- Non-state actors are acknowledged but considered secondary to states.
- State sovereignty and power condition and delimit the behavior of other actors.
Assumptions of Realism
First Assumption
- States are viewed as unitary actors, with the government speaking with one voice for the state as a whole.
- Political differences within the state are ultimately resolved.
Second Assumption
- States have sufficient autonomy from their national societies to recognize and pursue the interests of the nation as a whole.
- Decision-makers respond on behalf of the nation-state to the opportunities and dangers of the international system.
Third Assumption
- States are rational actors, goal-oriented, and cost-sensitive.
- States derive strategies to achieve their goals and make cost-benefit analyses of every alternative.
Fourth Assumption
- States coexist in a context of international anarchy, which refers to the absence of a centralized authority.
- Each state has to survive on its own and is a self-help agent.
- National security tops the list of international relations issues, with military and related political issues dominating world politics.
This quiz analyzes the role of states and non-state actors in international relations, excluding organizations and terrorist groups. It also explores the impact of military spending and arms races on global tensions and the socioeconomic gap between rich and poor societies.
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