3. CLASSICAL VS NEO-REALISM
• Classical realism ( Hans Morgenthau)
• Expalantion based on human nature
– Egoism (more focus on human nature
as cause of conflict )
• Neo-Realism ( Kenneth Waltz)
Explanation based on international system
Anarchic nature no central authority
( Emphasis on structure of international system)
4. INTERNATIONAL ANARCHY
• From 1970s onwards new thinking within the realist
tradition started to emerge which was critical to ‘Early’ or
‘Traditional’ realism
• Neorealist argue that international anarchy leads towards
tension,conflict,war for THREE reasons
1) Self Help because states have no anyone else to take care
of them.
2) Security Dilemma due to uncertainty and suspicion satates
have to ensure security, military capacity to deter others
attack.
3) Relative Gains states are concerned about improving
there condition relative to other states this increases
conflicts discourages cooperation.
6. STATECRAFT AND THE NATIONAL
INTEREST
• The key guide to statecraft in realist tradition is concern about the
National Intrest. State policy should be focus on national intrest,
wellbing of citizens.
• Six principles of political realism by Hans Morganthau
• 1)Politics is governed by objective laws which have their roots in
human nature.
• 2)The key to understanding international politics is concept of interest
defined in term of power.
• 3)The forms and nature of state will vary but concept of interest
reamins consistant.
• 4)No universally set of moral principles,the political ethics is different.
• 5)The political sphere is autonomous,the key question in international
politics ‘How does this policy affect the power of nation?’
• 6)Universal moral principle not guide states behaviour but rely on
moral significance of political action.
7. POLARITY , STABILITY AND THE
BALANCE OF POWER
• Neo realist in common with classical realist believes that
conflict can be contained by the balance of power.
According to them there is a general bias in the
international system in favour of balance rather than
inbalance.
• Neo realist believes that bipolar system associated with
satbility reduce chances of both while multipolar system
leads to instability and greater chances of war.
1. Offensive realist— State should maximize power as much
as posible for surviving under anarchy. ’power maximizers’
2. Defensive realist – States should do
balance/bandwagoing against the threating states.
‘security maximizers’.
8. STATE EGOISM AND CONFLICT
• Machiavelli and Hobbes -- Both these thinkers presents a
negative model of changeless human nature
(arrogant,voilent,passimistic and non rational).
1. International system as ‘state of nature’– There is no
world government.Intrenational arena is dangerous and
uncertain,stability always be exception.
2. State centric—Realist view states as coherent and cohesive
units and consider state as most important actors on world
stage.
3. Human egoism determines state egoism—The states are
composed and lead by people who are inherently
selfish,greedy,power seeking so state behaviour is also
inspired by the same.Human egoism leads to unending
conflict amongst individuals and state egoism leads
competition and rivalry in international politics.
