POLS 1402 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Human Nature, Offensive Realism, Hegemonic Stability Theory
13 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Realism in general: international politics viewed as unchanging struggle among self- interested states for power and security. Classical realist focus on human nature-unscientific: human nature not unique to international politics which must be the domain pf ir theory. Difference between realist thought and neorealist theory: latter based on contemporary standards of social science, neo-positivist/empiricist conception of science. Waltz"s theory of international politics: for waltz, international system defined by two features- 1 constants, 1 changing. This is the ordering principle of international system. Polarity- number of great powers in a given international system. This is the structure of international system: international systems are therefore not to be defined by their united. Internal constitution of states does not fit into waltz" theory- domestics politics, ideology, and social relations more generally are bracketed out. Instead, states are assumed to be functionally identical. States are sovereign: neo-realism is not a theory of foreign policy or state behavior.
