Realism in International Relations

Realism

• Focuses on state sovereignty and national interest
• Views international relations as an anarchic system where states must rely on self-help for survival
• Key concepts:
  • Security dilemma: when one state's pursuit of security leads to insecurity in another state
  • Balance of power: the principle of maintaining a balance of military power among states to prevent any one state from dominating others
  • Human nature: realists believe humans are inherently selfish and power-seeking
• Notable realists:
  • Thomas Hobbes
  • Carl von Clausewitz
  • Hans Morgenthau
  • Kenneth Waltz

Liberalism

• Emphasizes the importance of international institutions, cooperation, and interdependence
• Views international relations as a system where states can work together to achieve common goals
• Key concepts:
  • International institutions: organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union that promote cooperation and reduce conflict
  • Interdependence: the idea that states are linked through economic and cultural ties, making conflict less likely
  • Democratic peace theory: the idea that democratic states are less likely to go to war with each other
• Notable liberals:
  • Immanuel Kant
  • Woodrow Wilson
  • Joseph Nye
  • Robert Keohane

Constructivism

• Focuses on the role of ideas, norms, and identity in shaping international relations
• Views international relations as a social construct, where states and actors create and shape their own reality
• Key concepts:
  • Social constructivism: the idea that international relations are shaped by the interactions and shared understandings of states and actors
  • Identity: the idea that states and actors have distinct identities that influence their behavior
  • Norms: the shared expectations and standards of behavior that shape international relations
• Notable constructivists:
  • Alexander Wendt
  • Peter Katzenstein
  • Martha Finnemore
  • Kathryn Sikkink

Marxism

• Views international relations as a system of class struggle and economic exploitation
• Emphasizes the role of capitalism and imperialism in shaping international relations
• Key concepts:
  • Class struggle: the idea that international relations are shaped by the struggle between different social classes
  • Economic exploitation: the idea that developed countries exploit developing countries for their own economic gain
  • Imperialism: the idea that developed countries use military power and economic coercion to maintain their dominance over developing countries
• Notable Marxists:
  • Karl Marx
  • Vladimir Lenin
  • Antonio Gramsci
  • Immanuel Wallerstein

Feminism

• Focuses on the role of gender and feminist perspectives in international relations
• Views international relations as a system that is shaped by and reinforces patriarchal norms and power structures
• Key concepts:
  • Gender: the social and cultural constructions of masculinity and femininity that shape international relations
  • Patriarchy: the system of male dominance that shapes international relations
  • Intersectionality: the idea that gender intersects with other forms of oppression, such as race and class, to shape international relations
• Notable feminists:
  • Jean Bethke Elshtain
  • Cynthia Enloe
  • J. Ann Tickner
  • Spike Peterson

Realism

• Focuses on state sovereignty and national interest, prioritizing self-preservation in an anarchic international system
• Security dilemma: a state's pursuit of security leads to insecurity in another state, creating a cycle of insecurity
• Balance of power: maintaining a balance of military power among states prevents any one state from dominating others
• Human nature: realists believe humans are inherently selfish and power-seeking, driving state behavior

Liberalism

• Emphasizes cooperation and interdependence through international institutions, reducing conflict and promoting collective goals
• International institutions: organizations like the UN and EU promote cooperation and reduce conflict
• Interdependence: economic and cultural ties link states, making conflict less likely
• Democratic peace theory: democratic states are less likely to go to war with each other, promoting peace

Constructivism

• Focuses on the role of ideas, norms, and identity in shaping international relations, where states create and shape their own reality
• Social constructivism: international relations are shaped by interactions and shared understandings among states and actors
• Identity: distinct identities influence state and actor behavior
• Norms: shared expectations and standards shape international relations

Marxism

• Views international relations as a system of class struggle and economic exploitation, driven by capitalism and imperialism
• Class struggle: the struggle between different social classes shapes international relations
• Economic exploitation: developed countries exploit developing countries for economic gain
• Imperialism: developed countries use military power and economic coercion to maintain dominance

Feminism

• Focuses on the role of gender and feminist perspectives in international relations, highlighting patriarchal norms and power structures
• Gender: social and cultural constructions of masculinity and femininity shape international relations
• Patriarchy: the system of male dominance shapes international relations
• Intersectionality: gender intersects with other forms of oppression, such as race and class, to shape international relations