Realism Variants: Neorealism, Structural Realism, Mercantilism (in IPE)

Thomas Hobbes English Civil War Chaos Fear People are rational Need gov’t The Leviathan ¤

State of Nature Social contract  create government

The International System

Hans Morganthau World Wars Politics Among Nations Lays out realist tenets

Realism Premise International relations dominated by states acting in self-interest Basic tenets 1.States are the primary actors 2.States are unitary, rational actors 3.Relations are zero-sum 4.Relations are power struggles 5.National interest drives relations

Realism Primary Actor(s) States Motivation for Relations Self-help in chaotic system View on Human Nature Pessimistic View of Int’l System States in chaotic, competitive system Ultimate goal in relations Stability, self-preservation

HOBBES In such condition as the state of nature there is no place for industry no culture of the earth no navigation nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea no commodious building no knowledge of the face of the earth no account of time, arts, letters, or society ¤

HOBBES …instead, there is, which is worst of all continual fear, and danger of violent death and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short ¤

“For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself.” 1)States are the primary actors 2)States are unitary, rational actors 3)Relations are zero-sum 4)Relations are power struggles 5)National interest drives relations

“And therefore if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies; and in the way to their end … endeavour to destroy or subdue one another.” 1)States are the primary actors 2)States are unitary, rational actors 3)Relations are zero-sum 4)Relations are power struggles 5)National interest drives relations

“Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man.” 1)States are the primary actors 2)States are unitary, rational actors 3)Relations are zero-sum 4)Relations are power struggles 5)National interest drives relations

“Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice.” 1)States are the primary actors 2)States are unitary, rational actors 3)Relations are zero-sum 4)Relations are power struggles 5)National interest drives relations