Table of Contents
Realism and Neorealism
Introduction
Realism is one of the major theoretical traditions in International Relations. It emphasizes power, national interest, security, competition and the constraints created by an international system without a central world government.
Neorealism, also called Structural Realism, reformulates realism by placing particular emphasis on the structure of the international system and the distribution of capabilities among states.
Classical Realism
Realism: A broad approach to International Relations that emphasizes power, national interest, security and competition among states.
Classical Realism: A realist tradition that explains international politics partly through human nature, political ambition and the pursuit of power.
Political Realism: The approach that analyzes international politics primarily through power, interests and political realities rather than moral aspirations alone.
Important classical realist thinkers include:
- Thucydides
- Niccolò Machiavelli
- Thomas Hobbes
- Hans Morgenthau
- Reinhold Niebuhr
- E.H. Carr
Core Realist Concepts
Anarchy: The absence of a central authority above sovereign states in the international system.
Self-Help: The condition in which states ultimately remain responsible for their own security because no higher authority can reliably guarantee their survival.
National Interest: The objectives a state considers important for its security, sovereignty and prosperity.
Power Politics: International politics understood as competition over power and influence.
Security: Protection of the state, its territory, population and vital interests.
Survival: The continued existence and sovereignty of the state.
Relative Gains: Concern about how much one state gains compared with another, particularly when cooperation could alter the balance of power.
Security Dilemma: A situation in which measures taken by one state to increase its security can make other states feel less secure, encouraging competitive responses.
Morgenthau and Classical Realism
Hans Morgenthau emphasized the importance of national interest defined in terms of power.
His approach argued that international politics should be understood through political realities, prudence and the struggle for power.
Prudence: The consideration of consequences when determining foreign-policy action.
National Interest Defined in Terms of Power: A classical realist formulation emphasizing power as a central analytical tool for understanding state behaviour.
Neorealism
Neorealism: A theoretical approach that explains international politics primarily through the structure of the international system and the distribution of capabilities among states.
The theory is strongly associated with Kenneth Waltz.
Structural Realism: Another name for neorealism.
International Structure: The arrangement of states and the distribution of capabilities within the international system.
Systemic Constraint: The pressure created by the structure of the international system that limits the choices available to states.
Defensive Realism
Defensive Realism: A realist approach arguing that states generally seek sufficient power to ensure security rather than unlimited expansion.
Security Maximization: The pursuit of sufficient capabilities to protect the state.
Offensive Overexpansion: Excessive efforts to accumulate power that may provoke counterbalancing by other states.
Offensive Realism
Offensive Realism: A realist approach associated particularly with John Mearsheimer, arguing that the structure of international politics encourages great powers to seek as much power as possible because they cannot be certain of other states’ intentions.
Power Maximization: The pursuit of increasing relative power to improve security and strategic position.
Regional Hegemony: Predominant influence within a particular geographic region.
Buck-Passing: A strategy in which one state attempts to encourage another state to bear the primary burden of balancing a threatening power.
Classical Realism vs Neorealism
| Classical Realism | Neorealism |
|---|---|
| Emphasizes human nature and political ambition | Emphasizes international structure |
| Power is central | Distribution of capabilities is central |
| Morgenthau is a major thinker | Kenneth Waltz is a major thinker |
| Focuses on states and political leadership | Focuses strongly on systemic constraints |
| Prudence is important | Anarchy and polarity are central |
Realism and International Institutions
Realists generally recognize that international institutions can facilitate cooperation, but argue that their effectiveness is significantly influenced by state interests and the distribution of power.
From a realist perspective, states remain the primary actors because they possess sovereignty, military capabilities and the authority to make binding national decisions.
Realism and War
Realist explanations of war commonly emphasize:
- Security competition
- Power transitions
- Uncertainty about intentions
- Security dilemmas
- Rivalry among major powers
- Arms races
- Balance of power
- Competition for strategic advantage
Major Realist Thinkers
Thucydides: Often regarded as an early realist thinker because of his analysis of power, fear and strategic competition during the Peloponnesian War.
Machiavelli: Examined political power, state survival and the realities of political leadership.
Hobbes: Developed ideas concerning insecurity and the absence of a common authority.
E.H. Carr: Critiqued idealist approaches and emphasized power and political realities.
Hans Morgenthau: Developed an influential classical realist theory centered on national interest and power.
Kenneth Waltz: Developed structural realism or neorealism.
John Mearsheimer: Developed offensive realism.
Stephen Walt: Developed balance-of-threat theory, emphasizing perceived threats rather than power alone.
Key Distinctions
Realism vs Idealism: Realism emphasizes power, security and political constraints; idealist approaches place greater emphasis on law, cooperation, institutions and moral principles.
Classical Realism vs Neorealism: Classical realism emphasizes human nature and political ambition; neorealism emphasizes international structure.
Defensive vs Offensive Realism: Defensive realism emphasizes sufficient power for security; offensive realism emphasizes the strong incentives for major powers to maximize power.
Anarchy vs Chaos: Anarchy means the absence of a central authority; it does not necessarily mean complete disorder.
Power vs Security: Power is a means and capability; security is a condition or objective.
Key Terms at a Glance
Realism | Classical Realism | Political Realism | Neorealism | Structural Realism | Anarchy | Self-Help | National Interest | Power Politics | Relative Gains | Security Dilemma | Defensive Realism | Offensive Realism | Security Maximization | Power Maximization | Regional Hegemony | Buck-Passing | Balance of Power
Related Glossaries
International Relations Theories | Power in International Relations | Balance of Power | International Security | National Interest | Hegemony and Polarity | War and Conflict