Realism: Major Actors And Assumptions: Non-state Actors Like International Organizations (un), Multi-national
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Realism: Major Actors and Assumptions
Based on four key assumptions : 1.States are the principal actors and most important actors. States are the key unit of analysis. The study of IR is the study of relations among these units. Why? Because only the state, given its claim to sovereignty, possesses the monopoly of legitimate force to resolve conflicts between individuals and groups within its territory and also between itself and other states and international actors. Non-state actors like international organizations (UN), Multi-National Corporations, and transnational actors are acknowledged by realists, but they are of secondary importance. States are the dominant actors. Kenneth Waltz and Robert Gilpin argue that states are the ‘basic actors in the international system’ by arguing that ‘the behavior of other actors is conditioned and delimited by state decisions and state power.
Second Assumption of Realism
State is viewed as a unitary actor. For realists a country faces the outside world as an integrated unit. A common assumption among realists is that political differences within the state are ultimately resolved, namely the government speaks with one voice for the state as a whole. On any particular issue, realists assume that state as a unitary actor has one policy. Of course there may be exceptions, but realists support the argument that state is an integrated actor. For instance, when a foreign ministry expresses policies different from ministry of defense, action is taken to bring these alternative positions to a common position. If the issue is not so much important, alternative views can remain, but if it is important, higher authorities will intervene to prevent alternative views.
Second Assumption of Realism
States have sufficient autonomy from their national societies to recognize and pursue the interests of the nation as a whole, not just those of particular powerful groups and they may devise goals and strategies that run counter to the preferences of important parts of society. Decision-makers respond on behalf of the nation state to the opportunities and dangers engendered by the international system.
Third Assumption of Realism
State is a rational actor. States are goal oriented and their goals are consistent. Also, states are assumed to derive strategies to achieve their goals and they are cost sensitive. States make cost-benefit analysis of every alternative, they evaluate alternatives and select the ones that maximizes their benefits. Thus, states can change their strategies in the face of changes in external constraints and opportunities. Realists are aware of the limit of this claim: Practically, governmental decision- makers may not have all the information and knowledge they will need for achieving their objectives.
State as a Rational Actor
As states are rational and define their interest in terms of their power, realists assume that all states behave in a standard manner. Based on the rationality assumption, international sistem is composed of states that have the same patterns of behavior.
Fourth Assumption of Realism
the context of action: the anarchy States coexist in a context of international anarchy which refers to the absence of a centralized authority to protect states from one another, each state has to survive on its own. Thus, states are by definition self-help agents. They assume that within the hierarchy of international relations issues, national security tops the list. For them, military and related political issues dominate world politics.
The History of the European States Illustrates the Balance of Power
18th Century: Principal states were Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia which often changed sides to preserve the balance Napoleonic France (1789-1815) attempted to destroy the European balance and establish French hegemony only to be defeated by a European coalition The Concert of Europe (1815-1914) maintained peace through flexible and overlapping alliances to ensure a balance of power as a deterrent to war
Realist Description of IR
Interstate politics is a permanent bargaining game over the distribution of power, thus it describes world politics as a state of war, and a struggle for power and is generally pessimistic about the prospects for eliminating conflict and war. Best description for world politics is a state of war, the constant possibility of war, because the nature of humanity or the structure of international order allows wars to occur. The outcome of an interstate bargaining is determined by the power of states at their disposal. Control over material resources in world politics lies at the core of realism. For them, material resources determine state behavior. They define IR as relations between states. Individuals, NGOs, IOs are less important.
Thucydides (471-400 BC)
Greek historian. He is considered as the founding father of realism. Focused on the competitions and conflicts between Greek city-states. In Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC) , he analyzes the war between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BC. He dealt with the nature of war and why it continually recurs. For him, the past was the guide for the future. His work is a study of the struggle for military and political power. He emphasizes the limited room for manoeuvre available to statesmen.
Thucydides’s Explanation of War
Why did war occur between Athens and Sparta? For him, the reason was the fear associated with a shift in the balance of power. Although fear may lead to war, power and capabilities relative to others determine the outcome. Sparta was afraid of losing its pre-eminent role in the Hellenic world thus took counter measures to build up its military strength: Balance of power mentality. When leaders perceive that balance of power is shifting to their disfavour, they try to change the situation due to suspicion, fear, distrust they feel for their rivals. The Peloponnesian War reshaped the Ancient Greek world. Athens, the strongest city-state in Greece prior to the war's beginning lost its power, while Sparta became the leading power of Greece.
Based on four key assumptions : 1.States are the principal actors and most important actors. States are the key unit of analysis. The study of IR is the study of relations among these units. Why? Because only the state, given its claim to sovereignty, possesses the monopoly of legitimate force to resolve conflicts between individuals and groups within its territory and also between itself and other states and international actors. Non-state actors like international organizations (UN), Multi-National Corporations, and transnational actors are acknowledged by realists, but they are of secondary importance. States are the dominant actors. Kenneth Waltz and Robert Gilpin argue that states are the ‘basic actors in the international system’ by arguing that ‘the behavior of other actors is conditioned and delimited by state decisions and state power.
Second Assumption of Realism
State is viewed as a unitary actor. For realists a country faces the outside world as an integrated unit. A common assumption among realists is that political differences within the state are ultimately resolved, namely the government speaks with one voice for the state as a whole. On any particular issue, realists assume that state as a unitary actor has one policy. Of course there may be exceptions, but realists support the argument that state is an integrated actor. For instance, when a foreign ministry expresses policies different from ministry of defense, action is taken to bring these alternative positions to a common position. If the issue is not so much important, alternative views can remain, but if it is important, higher authorities will intervene to prevent alternative views.
Second Assumption of Realism
States have sufficient autonomy from their national societies to recognize and pursue the interests of the nation as a whole, not just those of particular powerful groups and they may devise goals and strategies that run counter to the preferences of important parts of society. Decision-makers respond on behalf of the nation state to the opportunities and dangers engendered by the international system.
Third Assumption of Realism
State is a rational actor. States are goal oriented and their goals are consistent. Also, states are assumed to derive strategies to achieve their goals and they are cost sensitive. States make cost-benefit analysis of every alternative, they evaluate alternatives and select the ones that maximizes their benefits. Thus, states can change their strategies in the face of changes in external constraints and opportunities. Realists are aware of the limit of this claim: Practically, governmental decision- makers may not have all the information and knowledge they will need for achieving their objectives.
State as a Rational Actor
As states are rational and define their interest in terms of their power, realists assume that all states behave in a standard manner. Based on the rationality assumption, international sistem is composed of states that have the same patterns of behavior.
Fourth Assumption of Realism
the context of action: the anarchy States coexist in a context of international anarchy which refers to the absence of a centralized authority to protect states from one another, each state has to survive on its own. Thus, states are by definition self-help agents. They assume that within the hierarchy of international relations issues, national security tops the list. For them, military and related political issues dominate world politics.
The History of the European States Illustrates the Balance of Power
18th Century: Principal states were Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia which often changed sides to preserve the balance Napoleonic France (1789-1815) attempted to destroy the European balance and establish French hegemony only to be defeated by a European coalition The Concert of Europe (1815-1914) maintained peace through flexible and overlapping alliances to ensure a balance of power as a deterrent to war
Realist Description of IR
Interstate politics is a permanent bargaining game over the distribution of power, thus it describes world politics as a state of war, and a struggle for power and is generally pessimistic about the prospects for eliminating conflict and war. Best description for world politics is a state of war, the constant possibility of war, because the nature of humanity or the structure of international order allows wars to occur. The outcome of an interstate bargaining is determined by the power of states at their disposal. Control over material resources in world politics lies at the core of realism. For them, material resources determine state behavior. They define IR as relations between states. Individuals, NGOs, IOs are less important.
Thucydides (471-400 BC)
Greek historian. He is considered as the founding father of realism. Focused on the competitions and conflicts between Greek city-states. In Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC) , he analyzes the war between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BC. He dealt with the nature of war and why it continually recurs. For him, the past was the guide for the future. His work is a study of the struggle for military and political power. He emphasizes the limited room for manoeuvre available to statesmen.
Thucydides’s Explanation of War
Why did war occur between Athens and Sparta? For him, the reason was the fear associated with a shift in the balance of power. Although fear may lead to war, power and capabilities relative to others determine the outcome. Sparta was afraid of losing its pre-eminent role in the Hellenic world thus took counter measures to build up its military strength: Balance of power mentality. When leaders perceive that balance of power is shifting to their disfavour, they try to change the situation due to suspicion, fear, distrust they feel for their rivals. The Peloponnesian War reshaped the Ancient Greek world. Athens, the strongest city-state in Greece prior to the war's beginning lost its power, while Sparta became the leading power of Greece.
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