POLS 261 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Bruce Russett, Neoclassical Realism, Offensive Realism
6 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Realism: focuses on power, security and state interests. Unit of analysis: states and how governments behave in international politics. The state"s primary motive for action is increasing power position within the international system. International system: anarchic (absence of a global government that could dictate the actions of states). States are sovereign and can ignore the propositions of others. War is an inevitable aspect of global politics. States will always selfishly pursue their power motives. Studies the longer periods of war and peace. All realists agree on these principles, though there are different variations of realists: Classical (morgenthau): human nature results in power politics. Defensive/structural realism: states are security maximizers (waltz) Offensive realism: states are power maximizers (mearsheimer) Neoclassical realism (lobell): in addition to looking at military/state/economic power and its distribution, they bring in foreign policy variables. Liberalism: emphasis on international cooperation and mutual benefits. Optimistic assumptions, ir is not necessarily zero sum.
