Three perspectives on international politics IR theories: Realism

 Ali G at the UN: here.here  Events of the day/week Digital Camera: gallery (spelling correct?)gallery Gaza, elections in Serbia, Kenya, etc. Issues from last week: Israel, European integration  BBC documentariesdocumentaries  Levels of Analysis  Prisoners’ Dilemma  Theories of IR Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Levels of Analysis International Domestic/National Individual Third Image: Qualities of the international system Third Image: Qualities of the international system Second Image: Qualities of the domestic political system Second Image: Qualities of the domestic political system First Image: Qualities of state leadership First Image: Qualities of state leadership

Who, what, why, and how? RealismInstitutionalismConstructivism What is the organizing principle? AnarchyInterdependenceNorms/ideas Who are the main actors? States States/IGOs/NGOs What are their main goals? Survival/power (protect domestic population) Economic gain and cooperation (maximize domestic well-being) Solving global problems (maximize everyone’s well- being) What are the core capabilities? MilitaryTechnologic and economic Knowledge Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Main internationalist views (third image) Neo-realismInstitutionalismSociological institutionalism (constructivism) Organizing principle of the international system Anarchy (zero-sum game: one wins what the other looses; competition for survival) Interdependence (all can win from cooperation, some economic competition) Institutions, Rules and Norms (all can win from cooperation, no competition) Peace results from Balance of Power and Deterrence International cooperation among states NGO activism; bottom-up mobilization Intellectual history Machiavelli, Hobbes Smith, Ricardo, Hume, Kant Kant

Understanding the Prisoners’ Dilemma International politics: a unique sphere of social interactions among states:  absence of higher authority  Main actors (states) are functionally similar Realism: Anarchy drives states to arm themselves and face a perpetual PD.  Security Dilemma explained, Nau, p. 23 Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

How to overcome the PD Two suggestions:  Liberalism: Accept the basic assumption of PD/realism and show how states can use international institutions to overcome it.  Constructivism/Idealism/Identity: Dispute the underlying assumptions of PD and realism. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

A realist perspective: Security dilemma Anarchy > Insecurity > Self-defense > Deterrence > Conflict > more anarchy Define anarchy: “a state of lawlessness and disorder”, Nau, p. 20 Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Anarchy and Power What matters 1. The system and its principles (anarchy) 2. The units and their capabilities Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

1. Principles of the system Domestic Hierarchy Centralized decision- making Monopoly of violence/enforcement Division of labor, dissimilar units International Anarchy No rules or enforcers Means of violence dispersed Similar units competing for the same goods Best case: balance of power Worst case: War Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

The Security Dilemma Anarchy is the ordering principle of international politics. Anarchy creates insecurity among units (states). Under anarchy, states strive for security defined as independence and functional integrity. States can either increase their security by maximizing autonomy or influence. Dilemma: Each state’s natural efforts to increase security translates into a security threat to others. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Anarchy and Power: Neorealism Conflict Anarchy States Power Strife for power The Security Dilemma The International System Focus on security (survival) Insecurity Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Hans Peter Schmitz

Security strategies/realism Internal balancing:  Defensive military build-up External balancing:  Forging short term military alliances Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Balance of power Unipolar system: post-Cold War Bipolar system: Cold War Multipolar system: prior to WWI and WWII From a realist perspective, which system is more likely to produce peace?, Nau, p Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

The core assumptions What realists and liberals share: States are the main players. States are rational and unitary actors. States seek security and material gains. Anarchy is the main obstacle to cooperation. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Weaknesses of realism Neorealism can’t account for cooperation among states. Military power can’t solve many of today’s problems (climate change, refugee flows). European integration makes no sense. Non-state actors become more and more visible in global affairs. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Solving the Prisoners’ Dilemma: Liberalism Cooperation under anarchy (Nau, p. 17) :  Communication  Common problems/goals  Technological change  Strategies: ‘tit-for-tat’ and reciprocity/creation of international institutions Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

A liberal perspective: interdependence Shared problems > interdependence > cooperation > institutions > peace and security Define interdependence: “a reciprocal relationship between independent entities” Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Security strategies/liberalism Create international institutions  Build trust among states Use trade to spread democracy and wealth  Trade creates more interdependence and makes war less likely Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Role of institutions International institutions are instrumental in facilitating cooperation by:  Lowering transaction costs and providing an arena for cooperation.  Providing information and transparency.  distributing the costs of cooperation evenly.  monitoring compliance with agreements.  providing impartial adjudication. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Role of trade: comparative advantage If country A is relatively better at making wine, then it makes sense to put more resources into wine production, and to export some of the wine to pay for imports. Country A does not have to be the best in producing wine (absolute advantage), but only relatively better than others in order to gain from trade. The gains follow from specializing in those goods which, at world prices, the country is relatively stronger at producing. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Contesting the Prisoners’ Dilemma: Identity Neither anarchy nor interdependence…..  Identity  Beliefs  Norms  Strategies: socialization and persuasion Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Constructed reality Anarchy is neither destiny (realism), nor a disincentive to cooperation (institutionalism). “ Anarchy is what states make of it.” Alexander Wendt Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Doing what is “right” States are neither in a perpetual state of war (realism), nor do they only cooperate for their own profit (liberalism). Most states follow most international rules most of the time (Theodor Meron). Norms work without enforcement (realism) and sometimes even without economic incentives and self-interest (liberal institutionalism). Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

A constructivist perspective: norms and identity Shared norms> socialization through IGOs and NGOs > common identity > interests > global policies (world government) Define norms: “collectively shared understandings of appropriate behavior” Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Definitions Norms: Collectively shared understandings of appropriate behavior. Institutions: Sets of rules which stipulate how to cooperate/compete. Organizations: Institutions endowed with autonomy and actor qualities. Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

Why norms matter Realism  Fear of penalty/coercion by someone else; passive resistance likely (obedience) Liberal instiutionalism  In my best interest, compliance is a means; (autonomous compliance) Idealism/Constructivism  Internalized, compliance is an end in itself; (habit- driven conformity) Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz

IR theories and institutions Realism  Instruments of powerful states Liberalism  Arenas for inter-state cooperation Idealism/Constructivism  Actors independent of states Wednesday, January 23, 2008Hans Peter Schmitz