Realist Theories PDF

Realist Theories CHAPTER TWO International Relations 10/e Goldstein and Pevehouse Pearson Education, Inc. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse...

Realist Theories CHAPTER TWO International Relations 10/e Goldstein and Pevehouse Pearson Education, Inc. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Realism Theoretical framework that has held a central position in the study of IR Based on the principle of dominance (concept that has been proven) - International relations is best understood in terms of power. The exercise of power by states toward each other is sometimes called realpolitik, or just power politics. (when country uses power against another state during International Realsim) Realism: Looks at IR through the eyes of power and dominance show strength © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Can cooperate with one and other without Use Power, strength, care about power (opposite of Realism) diplomacy yourself and your state (dominance) negotiation (in the interest of the whole world (identity, reciprocity) ex: cop28 Un thing, providing services help people Power, strength Leaders will benefit their own country (can’t Care about in be trusted) either eat or you’ll be eaten ‫ إيثاري‬selfless country ex: Covid In the benefit + interest of state (ex: Scandina Why state behave the Russa Ukrane war) way they do in IR Behav Evaluating and way pros and cos person being reasonable ex: NATO One global happy community, How they see internationl Chaos , Ukrane not signing because it’ll hope for the best, come together relation everyday is effect economy and solve the world problem danger, competitors © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Power Power is an important concept in international relations, and for realism in particular. It is notoriously difficult to define and measure. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse Defining Power Often defined as “the ability to get another actor to do what it would not otherwise have done” or “to affect others more than others affect you” doesn’t always mean using force, maybe have something against you, The Power of a state depends on its capabilities (things hey use) which is the ability or potential to influence others. State power is a mix of many factors/things. - Natural resources, industrial capacity (Economy), moral legitimacy (values ethical way), military preparedness, and popular support of government (have respect so others outside will respect you) © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse Defining Power Capabilities can be based on material elements. (see and measure it) - Economic development (advanced developed country infrastructure ‫)ثروة‬, populations size (everyone wants to calloborate, have power don’t want to mess it up with the state), armed forces, territory, natural resources (oil, gold, gas), other tangible capabilities (that adds to the state’s power) The best single indicator of a state’s material power may be its gross domestic product (GDP).(value of goods & services in a year) - Combines overall size, technological level, and wealth. Capabilities can also be thought of in nonmaterial terms. - The power of ideas (soft power) promoting human rights, help - National will (Japan, atomic bombs devastated but still standing, survive the wrost), diplomatic skill (negotiating, host expo uae), popular support for government loyal (legitimacy), and so forth  © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse Elements of Power Long-term elements of power: (it takes time to get it & develop) - Total GDP, population, territory (expand state), geography (climate rain destiny ‫) ما نقدر نغيره‬, and natural resources - Less tangible long-term elements of power include: can’t measure give them power political culture (long belief, culture, values, norms, and customs connected to politics and how these developed over time) ex: USA built political culture is every 4 years election & democracy/ Scandinavian no corruption, UAE is stability, patriotism (nationalism, willing to do whatever loyal citizens they always come together to fight problems and celebrate good ex: UAE loyal citizens) , education of the population (ex: Singapore no natural resources but the brain and level of education, China, Japan), and strength of the scientific and technological base. (ex: Ex: USA advanced tech) - Credibility of its commitments (reputation for keeping word) delivers what it suppose to do, reliable - Ability of one state’s culture (soft power, celebrities do whatever, Indian culture is powerful) and values to consistently shape the thinking of other states (power of ideas) (ex: ex: Norway says the truth what they stand for, human rights, consistent and respected, like when they said issreal is teerorrist and don’t care if they pulled out the embassy)  Anarchy and Sovereignty Realists believe that there is a fundamental difference between domestic and international systems. - Within states (domestic) every country has its own government and maintain stability., both democratic and autocratic governments enforce rules on societies and have a monopoly (only they have power) on the use of force. - Internationally, there is no central government that has similar abilities. (more chaos no stability no one government, multiple) The international system is characterized by anarchy. - States are sovereign actors in an anarchic system: each government has the right, in principle, to do whatever it wants in its own territory. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse Anarchy and Sovereignty Is world government the only solution? Impossibile due to huge differences Despite anarchy (chaos), the international system is far from chaotic. we’re bound to have differences but not that bad because we have: - International organizations and agreements do exist. - The great majority of state interactions closely adhere to norms of behavior. (still there’s interactions between Still, the absence of a “world police force” to punish states if they break an agreement makes enforcement of international agreements difficult. (yes we have some act of world gov like international organization like UN still hard to implement punishments) ex- North Korea and its nuclear facilities (dictator kill anyone who challenges him so no one can arrest him)  Anarchy and Sovereignty Respect for the territorial integrity of all states (all country promise not to interfere into another country & respect it), within recognized borders, is an important principle of IR. In practice, most states have a harder and harder time warding off (preventing) interference in their affairs. - Human rights abuses (country like Iran, Syria, use their sovereignty ‫ سيادة‬as excuse but no longer have it in this case obviously other countries will interfere and act) - Election monitoring (like us in manipulating votes the competitor can invite UN to check and have referee) Impact of information revolution and globalization is challenging the existing territorial system/information economies. (technology advancements: gov don’t want revolution like China banned social media) Adv: dectators are afraid and gov don’t have sovereignty because of technology ) people have ways to record connect. Diplomatic norms govern the manner in which states interact with one another (e.g., embassies, spying). Ex: diplomatic immunity embassy in foreign country they don’t answer to local state, and country accept this so it breaks the sovereignty. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  The Security Dilemma Anarchy (chaos) produces uncertainty about other states and their intentions. (these anarchy creates doubts among all countries about their intentions) This can produce a security dilemma (problem/mystery) between states. Arrives because of anarchy chaos - Actions taken to ensure the first actor’s security threaten the security of one or more other actors. (this will lead to panic and other country will do the same, reaction taken by country A to improve security that will lead country B to do the same) - Arms races, conflict spirals (ex: India & Pakistan this buil a nuclear weapon those do same, due to lack of trust) - Negative consequence of anarchy in the international system (anarchy leads to mistrust therefore conflict spiral and build arm race (compition to build weapons) © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Balance of Power Refers to the general concept of one or more states’ power being used to balance that of another state or group of states (one or more country come together become one and try to balance one strong country) ex: ‫ درع الجزيرة‬Dura aljazerah KSA, UAE, Qatar all gcc come together to fight Iran, good when you’re begin threatened. Balance of power can refer to: - Any ratio of power capabilities between states or alliances - Only a relatively equal ratio of power - Alternatively, it can refer to the process by which counterbalancing coalitions have repeatedly formed in history to prevent one state from conquering an entire region. ‫ماله داعي‬ © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse Balance of Power Theory of balance of power - Counterbalancing occurs regularly and maintains stability of the international system. ( countries come together to balance one country but this one country bring more countries to join it to balance the power, bully come for partners to challenge) - Stability does not necessarily imply peace but, rather, the basic maintenance of the international system by means of recurring wars that adjust power relations. Alliance building is a key form of balancing. (partnerships) - Quicker (to gather people to join you), cheaper, and more effective than building one’s own capabilities States sometimes bandwagon (join them, if can’t beat you win, then become their friends) instead of balance. (ex: KSA helped Bahrain in war so Bahrain become their friends because they saved them, USA helped Kuwait in Sadam Husain, Kuwait become friends with USA) Ex: USA defeated Japan and bombed them but Japan gave up and want to be friends and US protect Japan and become their bodyguard no one can fight Japan) USA gets dominant power - West Europe and Japan side with the U.S. post-WWII.  Great Powers and Middle Powers What is a great power? - Defined generally as states that can be defeated militarily only by another great power. (country with Strong military and economic power and only can be defeated by another great power) - Great powers also tend to share a global outlook based on national interests far from their home territories. (country’s national interest is global not just reginal) - Generally have the world’s strongest military forces and the strongest economies Today: U.S., China, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, and Britain U.S. is the most powerful state among this group and may be considered the world’s only superpower. China is challenging the U.S. however; it has the world’s largest population, rapid economic growth, and a large military, with a credible nuclear arsenal. USA have a lot of alliance even if China challenge still US is far away. Which would you prefer US dominant or China dominant? Culturally china, because Us is not that liberal they just show us tell us that but they impose their opinion. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Great Powers and Middle Powers Middle powers - Rank somewhat below the great powers - Some are large but not highly industrialized. - Others may be small with specialized capabilities. - May have aspirations for regional dominance - Examples: midsized countries such as Canada, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, South Korea, and Australia, or larger or influential countries in the global South such as India, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Power Distribution Polarity refers to the number of independent power centers in the system. (different centers of powers in the world) ( the number of independent great powers in Internation relations at any given point in time doing their own thing no alliances) how many great powers in IR doing their thing - Multipolar system: Has five or six centers of power, which are not grouped into alliances (in this era) (e.g., late-19th century Europe) germans against French, spain, Portugal for dominant (colonialisom ‫)استعمار‬ - Tripolar system: Has three centers of power (e.g., China, the U.S., and U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union created by Russia 57 countries in 1970s) - Bipolar system: Has two centers of power (e.g., U.S. and U.S.S.R. for most of Cold War) after WWll Soviet union collapsed gorgeia all countries left and - Unipolar system: Has a single center of power around which all others revolve (hegemony) Today (e.g., U.S. in 1990s) © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Power Transition Theory Power transition theory - Holds that the largest wars result from challenges to the top position in the status hierarchy, when a rising power is surpassing or threatening to surpass the most powerful state. (When country number 2 try to challenge country number 1 for dominance) 2 major things will happen: war happens - Challengers that feel locked out by the old rules may try to change them. - If a challenger does not start a war to displace the top power, the latter may provoke a “preventive” war to stop the rise of the challenger before it becomes too great a threat. Are the U.S. and China headed toward a power transition? © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Hegemony Hegemony is one state’s holding a preponderance of power in the international system. (Hegemon: country so powerful that dictates and sets the rules for all International Relations for everyone in politics and economis trade) This allows it to single-handedly dominate the rules and arrangements by which international political and economic relations are conducted. Hegemonic stability theory (says that IR is very stable when you have one powerful dominant to set rules for everyone to follow to reduce anarachy by their currency be worldwide in trade, like world government) - Holds that hegemony provides some order similar to a central government in the international system: reducing anarchy, deterring aggression, promoting free trade, and providing a hard currency that can be used as a world standard. U.S. hegemony: A complex phenomenon (among Americans don’t like their leaders to save the world, because it’s the American money used) always hated, if they interfere or not sill resented by the world. If you’re benefiting form USA dominance you’ll love us, if not hate it. - Isolationist tendencies (don’t want to engage with the world too much) at home, resentment abroad © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Alliances An alliance is a coalition of states that coordinate their actions to accomplish some end. (form partnerships to achieve common goal, for security goals ex: Dura aljazerah,, Neto) - Most are formalized in written treaties. (have to be offials sign) - Concern a common threat and related issues of international - Endure across a range of issues and a period of time security (alliences are created to deal to changing threats in the future) © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Purposes of Alliances Augmenting their members’ power (increase member power like better together like balance power) - By pooling capabilities, two or more states can exert greater leverage in their bargaining with other states. - For smaller states, alliances can be their most important power element. - Most form in response to a perceived threat. Burden sharing between alliance members (all share same problem) Alliance cohesion (there’s always common enemy, always in harmony trust, loyal) - The ease with which the members hold together an alliance. Tends to be high when national interests converge and when cooperation within the alliance becomes institutionalized and habitual. © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Strategy and Statecraft Statecraft: The art of managing state affairs and effectively maneuvering in a world of power politics among sovereign states. (skill that’s needed by a country or leaders in order to achieve what they want internationally) Strategy: What kinds of capabilities to develop, given limited resources, in order to maximize international influence? (a plan using available &b right tools and capabilities what you have to achieve national interest) - Example: China’s diplomatic and military strategy of preventing Taiwanese independence (China using diplomatic skills to prevent Taiwan to be a legitimate country, they have leverage saying to other countries if you support Taiwan I will not do any business no trade cut all relations, obviously not going to choose Kia over Rols Royce) © 2012 Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse  Strategy and Statecraft There are several strategies available to states. Deterrence ‫( ردع‬to Stop or else I will invasion, punishment, war, when country use their capabilities) - Uses a threat to punish another actor if it takes a certain negative action Compellence ‫( إلزام‬use force to take action) ‫ القذافي‬،‫صدام حسين‬ - Refers to the use of force to make another actor take some action (rather than refrain from taking an action) Escalation and arms races (competition over weapons) (things get out of hand and becomes worse) ex: India & Pakistan, Iran & Isreal (worst enemies of each other) - A reciprocal process in which two (or more) states build up military capabilities in response to Joshua © 2012 each S.other Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse