Realism (General)
What are some historical thinkers associated with realism?
Answer: Thucydides, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes.
What are some Enlightenment authors/philosophers associated with liberalism?
John Locke, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill.
Who are authors associated with Classical Realism?
Hans Morgenthau and E.H. Carr.
Who are authors associated with Structural Realism (Neorealism)?
Kenneth Waltz.
Who are authors associated with Neoliberal Institutionalism?
Robert Keohane and Robert Axelrod.
According to realists, how is the international order structured?
Answer: Anarchy.
According to liberals, how is the international order structured?
Anarchy.
At what level of analysis does Classical Realism work?
Level 1 (the individual), focused on human nature.
At what level of analysis does Structural Realism work?
Level 3 (the international system). The anarchic structure of the system explains state behavior.
What is the “Shadow of the Future”?
The expectation that states will interact again, which gives them an incentive to cooperate now to protect future benefits.
Who is the main actor in international politics for realists?
The state.
Who are the main actors in international politics for liberals?
States, along with international organizations, firms, NGOs, and individuals.
How do Classical Realists describe human nature?
Humans are naturally driven to seek power and have the potential for evil.
Do neorealists claim that humans are evil?
No. Neorealism does not operate at Level 1.
What are “transaction costs”?
The costs of negotiating, monitoring, and enforcing agreements.
What is the core variable for realists?
Power, usually understood as military and material capabilities.
Do liberals think anarchy produces only conflict?
No. Cooperation is possible despite anarchy.
According to Classical Realists, why is power the most important variable?
Because humans seek power and can be evil, states, which are run by humans, must also focus on power to protect themselves.
According to neorealists, why do states seek power?
Anarchy means there is no central authority, or “world police,” to protect states. This creates a “self-help system” in which states must rely on their own power to be secure.
How do institutions reduce transaction costs?
They provide standing rules, information, and monitoring, so states don’t have to build agreements from scratch each time.
What does “anarchy” mean in IR theory?
The absence of a world government capable of enforcing rules. It means no central authority above sovereign states, not chaos.
For liberals, is power the most important variable for explaining international politics?
No. Institutions, domestic politics, mutual gains, and shared interests also explain state behavior.
According to Classical Realists, does morality in international law reflect universal values?
Not, it reflects the interests of the most powerful states.
According to neorealists, why is cooperation so difficult?
Anarchy means there is no authority to enforce agreements, so states fear being cheated and cannot be sure of others’ intentions.
Define an institution.
The rules, norms, and procedures that structure behavior among actors, whether formal (a constitution) or informal (tipping).