Plan for Today:

Understanding Classical
Realism and Neorealism
1. Introducing history and
distinctive concepts of
classical realism.
2. Introducing neorealist
principles.

Classical or Traditional Realism

1. Ancient roots Thucydides.
Realist Athenians vs. utopian
Melians.
Strong always win over the weak.
Lesson: tragedy befalls those who
rely on hope, justice, and supposed
friends.

Classical or Traditional Realism

2. Classical realism (20th Century).
1. E.H. Carr The Twenty Years
Crisis.
Critique of liberal utopianism
dominant after WWI.
Response to failure of League of
Nations and collective security.
Creators of League: if you believe in
something enough, it will come true.

Classical or Traditional Realism

1. E.H. Carr The Twenty Years Crisis
(continued).
In reality, nations selfish concerns
dominate.
Aggressive actions by states are fully
rational and natural.

Classical or Traditional Realism

1. E.H. Carr The Twenty Years Crisis
(continued).
Need to analyze politics objectively as
it is, not as it should be.
Clash among national interests
inevitable.
Only way to minimize war is balance of
power among states.

Classical or Traditional Realism

2. Hans Morgenthau Politics Among
Nations (1948).
1. First attempt at realist textbook.
2. Trying to create science of
international politics.
3. Level of analysis: More emphasis on
human nature than structure of system
itself.

Classical or Traditional Realism

Morgenthaus 6 principles of political
realism:
1. Politics governed by objective laws with
roots in human nature.
2. Interest defined as power.
3. Forms of state power will vary with time
and place, but interest defined as power
will remain constant.

Classical or Traditional Realism

Morgenthaus 6 principles of political
realism:
4. Political action has moral consequences,
but morality cannot guide action.
5. There is no universally agreed set of
moral principles.
6. Political sphere is autonomous from
legal, moral, or economic spheres.
Politics deals with power.

Conclusion: What principles

do classical realists share?
1. Must look at world as it is, not as it
ought to be.
2. Interest of states and leaders is power.
3. Ambition for power comes more from
human nature than structure of system.
4. Moral claims or arguments about justice
have no place in foreign policy.
5. These principles are permanent aspects
of international politics.

Neorealism Waltz, Theory of

International Politics (1979)
Principles of neorealism:
1. To explain international system,
must create system-level theory.
1. Units of system (states)
functionally similar.
2. International politics different
from domestic politics.

Neorealism Waltz, Theory of

International Politics (1979)
Principles of neorealism:
2. Anarchy central defining aspect of
system. Consequences:
1. Self-help cannot rely on others.
2. Uncertainty attack always
possible.
Anarchic system drive for power
to attain security.

Neorealism Waltz, Theory of

International Politics (1979)
Principles of neorealism:
Consequences of anarchy lead to:
1. Drive for power to attain security.
No assumptions about human nature
necessary.

2. States behaving similarly under

similar constraints.

Neorealism Waltz, Theory of

International Politics (1979)
Principles of neorealism:
3. Search for power has limits
states really seek security.
1. Excessive power grab can prompt
security dilemma.

Neorealism Waltz, Theory of

International Politics (1979)
Principles of neorealism:
4. Alliance behaviour:
1. States will always balance rather
than bandwagon in alliances.
2. Bipolar systems more stable than
multipolar systems.