1. Power Politics CHAPTER TWO Dr. Clayton Thyne
PS : World Politics
Spring 2009
Goldstein & Pevehouse, International Relations, 8/e
Student notes version

2. Realism Central position in the study of IR
Foundation is the principle of dominance.
3-part framework: 3.

3. Realism
Realism developed in reaction to a liberal tradition that realists called ____________________.
Idealism:
Since WWII, realists have blamed idealists for looking too much at how the world ______________rather than _________________________.

4. Realism Realist tradition Sun Tzu: Thucydides:
Machiavelli (around 16th century):
Thomas Hobbes (17th century):
Hans Morgenthau:

5. Defining and Estimating Power
A central concept, but difficult to measure
Power (theoretical definition):
Power (empirical definition):
Material elements (tangible capabilities):
Nonmaterial elements (intangible capabilities):
Power can only explain so much. Real-world IR depends on many other elements, including ________________________.
Relational concept: Relative power is…

6. Estimating Power
The logic of power suggests:
However…

7. Elements of Power State power is a mix of many ingredients.
Long-term elements of power:
Tangible:
In/less tangible:
Short-term elements of power:
Trade-offs among possible capabilities always exist.
Fungible:
Realists: _____________________ is the most important element of national power

8. Elements of Power Tanks versus Gold Geopolitics Morality
Operation Just Cause 1989 (Panama)
Operation Promote Liberty 1990 (Panama)
Operation Desert Shield (SW Asia)
Operation Desert Storm 1991 (SW Asia)
Operation Provide Comfort 1991 ("Kurdistan")
Operation Uphold Democracy 1994 (Haiti)
Operation Sea Signal 1995 (Cuba)
Operation Joint Guard (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Operation Joint Forge (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo)
Operations Noble Eagle / Enduring Freedom (USA / Afghanistan)
Operation Iraqi Freedom I, II & III present (Kuwait / Iraq)

9. The International System
States interact within a set of long-established “rules of the game” governing what is considered a state and how states treat each other.
Together these rules shape the international system.

10. Anarchy and Sovereignty
Anarchy (def):
Sovereignty (def):
Lack of a “world police” to punish states if they break an agreement  _________________________________________
In practice, most states have a harder and harder time warding off interference in their affairs.
Security dilemma:

11. Anarchy, Sovereignty and the “Bush Doctrine”

12. Balance of Power (BOP) Def: BOP theory: BOP and US dominance:
Russia, China & France seem to be balancing against US power
World support of US foreign policy is very low

14. Great Powers and Middle Powers
Great powers (def):
Get the most attention from IR scholars because they exert the most influence
Generally have the world’s strongest military forces and the strongest economies
Until the past century, the club was exclusively…
Today’s great powers include:
_____________________: the world’s only superpower
_____________________: the world’s largest population, rapid economic growth, large military, credible nuclear arsenal

16. Great Powers and Middle Powers
Rank somewhat below the great powers
Some are large but not highly industrialized
Others may be small with specialized capabilities
Examples:
midsized countries:
Larger or influential countries in the global South:

17. Power Distribution
The concept of the distribution of power among states in the international system
Neorealism, or structural realism
Explains patterns of international events in terms of the _____________________________________ rather than the ___________________________________.

18. Power Distribution
Polarity refers to the __________________________________________.
Multipolar system:
Bipolar system:
Unipolar system:
Power transition theory

19. Figure 2.3

20. Hegemony Hegemony (def):
The hegemon can dominate the rules and arrangements by which international political and economic relations are conducted
Instances:
___________________ in the 19th century following defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars
___________________ after WWII after defeat of Japan/Germany and exhaustion of USSR, France, UK and China
___________________ after the end of the Cold War

21. Hegemony Hegemonic stability theory
For the hegemon to provide stability, it must:
Ambivalence of U.S. hegemony
Internationalist (e.g., ____________________) versus isolationist moods (________________________)
Unilateralism versus multilateralism

22. The Great-Power System, 1500-2000
Treaty of Westphalia, 1648
Rules of state relations
Originated in Europe in the 16th century
Key to this system was…

23. Figure 2.4

24. Purposes of Alliances Alliance (def):
Most are formalized in ________________________
Endure across a range of issues and a period of time
Purposes of alliances:
Pooling capabilities …
For smaller states, alliances can be their most important power element.
Most form in response to a ________________________.
Dilemmas:

25. NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization Biggest issue for NATO is …
1 of the 2 most important alliances
Encompasses Western Europe and North America
Founded in 1949 to oppose and deter Soviet power in Europe
Countered by the Warsaw Pact (1955); disbanded in 1991
Article 5:
Includes ½ of world’s GDP
First use of force by NATO was in Bosnia in 1994 in support of the UN.
Biggest issue for NATO is …

26. Figure 2.5

27. Other Alliances U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty Other U.S. alliances:
2nd of 2 most important treaties
A _____________________________alliance
U.S. maintains nearly 50,000 troops in Japan.
Japan pays the U.S. several billion dollars annually to offset about half the cost of maintaining these troops.
Created in 1951 against the potential Soviet threat to Japan.
Asymmetrical : …
Other U.S. alliances:
De facto alliances:

29. Figure 2.6

30. Strategy: Statecraft
Statecraft (def):
Key aspect of strategy:

31. Strategy: Statecraft Deterrence (def): Compellence (def):
Arms race (def):

32. Rationality Most realists assume that… Two implications for IR:
States and other international actors can _____________________ and ____________________their interests
2. Actors are able to perform _______________________ – calculating the costs incurred by a possible action and the benefits it is likely to bring.

33. The Prisoner’s Dilemma
2 rational actors, A and B
Preferences for A:
Defect while B cooperates
Cooperate while B cooperates
Defect while B defects
Cooperate while B defects
Preferences for B: the same as A
B’s decision
Cooperate
Defect
A’s decision
A=3 ; B=3
A=1 ; B=4
A=4 ; B=1
A=2 ; B=2

34. The Prisoner’s Dilemma
India/Pakistan nuke example: Should each state build nukes?
2 rational actors, India (A) and Pakistan (B)
Preferences for India:
Build nukes while Pakistan doesn’t
Neither side builds nukes
Both sides build nukes
Don’t build nukes while Pakistan does
Preferences for Pakistan: the same as India
Pakistan’s decision
Cooperate
Defect
India’s decision
A=3 ; B=3
A=1 ; B=4
A=4 ; B=1
A=2 ; B=2