Week 4 – Realism and liberalism (idealism)
• Realism and liberalism were the 2 original mainstream theories of IR – 1970/80s.
REALISM
• Developed post-WWII
• Followed idealism – realisation that League of Nations didn’t work
• Linked to thinkers such as:
o Thucydides
! Human nature = desire for power and self interest o Machiavelli
! Cynical view of human nature – states don’t need morals, just need to ensure survival
! State emanated from this o Thomas Hobbes
! Men seek power; life = constant fear of war and death; state = authority to provide security
o Jean-Jacques Rousseau
! Social contract
! State should reflect the general will of the people
! There is no higher power above states to settle disputes between states
• Recognise that IR is about power struggles and the necessity of security / survival o War is inevitable
! Links to sub-disciplines such as geopolitics
• State = key actor in IR
! Developed during Peace of Westphalia (1648) o Sovereignty = distinguishing trait
• Raison d’état (reason of the state)
o Fundamental principle of international conduct
o State must be rational and do what is necessary to ensure survival
• Sceptical of ‘universal moral principles’ – (e.g. those advocated by UN) – argue that states should not sacrifice own self-interest to promote these
• 3 main elements of realism:
1. Statism
" State = legitimate representation of the collective will of the people
" Gives state the legitimacy to exercise authority within its borders o States – have monopoly of force within a given territory o Have authority to make / enforce laws
! Social contract – exchange liberty for protection (Hobbes)
" Outside of the state model – anarchy exists – no order – no higher authority than the state
