Realism

Realism

1. Origins

   • Athens, sparta war
   • WWII, Cold war

2. Assumptions

   • Common sense
   • struggle for power
   • states main actors
   • self help system
   • humans selfish
   • security
   • own interests

3. Morgenthau

   • Classical from
   • politics among nations
   • politics has objective laws
   • no state has moral claim

4. Under Pressure

   • IR theory is dynamic
   • Warming of cold war
   • Notion of essential human nature

5. Waltz

   • identify systematic causes
   • demand and supply
   • international system is anarchic
   • states concerned with survival
   • struggle for power inherent
   • conflict is normal

6. Defensive

   • Offensive
     • overwhelming power best
       • sceptical about balancing
       • action record is good
   • balancing between states
     • cost of conquest

7. Concerns

   • how state operates as actor
   • cooperation or international law?
   • how to avoid war
   • bargaining
   • focus on military