REALISM

International
Relationship
Theory
DANNY KUNTO WIBISONO
202022055
  Realism is considered the most dominant school of thought in
International relations;
 It is the exercise of power by states towards each and other and is
also know as “power politics” or “real politic”
 All Realist share a belief that states are unitary rational actors that
What is are motivated by the desire for military power and security rather
than ideal or ethics;
Realism?  Realists view human nature as selfish, conflictual and competitive
and believe that states are inherently aggressive (offensive
realism) and obsessed with security (defensive realism);
 Realism values order and does not welcome change (it is status
quo oriented);
  The theory of the realism in IR has ben developed throughout the
History of history by famous political philosophers such as Thucydides (460-
400 BC), Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes and E.H. Carr;
Realism
  Historian and military general on Old Greek;
 In his book “History of the Peloponnesian War”, he mentioned that
the main reason for Athena and Sparta War;

Thucydides  This war happened because Fear, Honor and Self-Interest;

 This war was the growth of Athenian power and the fear this
(460 – 400 SM) caused in Sparta (Security Dilemma);
 Dialogue between Anthenian dan Melian (Melian Dialogue)
mentioned “The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what
they must);
  Diplomate from Florence, Italy;
 Famous with “dirty game politic theory”, “Ends justify means”
 His popular books is The Prince. Represent of real situation :
chaos, murder, conspiracy, jealousy, betrayal, split, violence and
that time like normal situation;
Niccolo  Main point of The Prince : human nature, morale and how to be a
leader;
Machiavelli  Human nature talked about ambition, evil if any chance;
(1469 – 1527)  Leadership with virtue but make all people fear, immorality
political even with “dirty game”
 Contra theory with Cicero that a leader must have balance
between fear and wan to love by people:
 Illegal or not, dirty or clean, the important things is how to get
goals
  Edward Hallet Carr, British
 Trinity College, Cambridge
 Historian, Diplomate and Journalist
 Studied in Soviet History (1917-1929)
E.H. Carr  The Twenty Years’ Crisis
 “Interwar idealist” and Utopian of dialectical opposition;
 In his book, he introduced a critical and cynical concept, realism
and placed emphasis on the acceptance of facts and the analysis
of their causes and consequences;
  Morgenthau is know for systemizing classical realism. One of his
most famous works include “Politics among nations” which
became the standard text book and continued to be reprinted
after his deadth;
 Morgenthau presented a theory of international politics which is
Hans J. based on the following six points :
 IR is governed by laws that have their roots in human nature;
Morgenthau  State have particular interest, i.e. to maximize power
 Interest of states are permanets;
 State are the only actors in IR;
 There is no universal code of ethicts or morality;
 Politics is autonomous. It has its own rules and principles which are
different from ethics and morality;
  Same direction with Machiavelli about human nature theory;
 Hobbes said that human always selfish, fight, power interest, evil,
cruel;
 State of nature of human life always about conflict, big
competition to get the power and like wolf for each others (homo
Thomas homini lupus);
 Nature of human : insecurity and fearness, ambition and
Hobbes (1588 competition and respect and glory;
– 1679)  Hobbes think that all unconditional situation because in the
absence of authority to manage nature of human and he said need
Leviathan (symbol of “monster” for its people on myth story);
 His book, Leviathan talked about the power of King grow up and
became bigger and make trader and landlord became on
dangerous situation;
Basic  International Actor;

assumptions of  The nature of the goal of the state

 Characteristic of International structure;
Realism
 Classical
Neorealism
Branches of Realism
Realism
Defensive Offensive
Realism Realism
 Classical Defensive Offensive
Neorealism
Realism Realism Realsm
• A • A theory • Those who • Those who
conservative developed by argue that argue that
theory that Kenneth state are states are
Branches of considers
state the only
Waltz in
which states
security
maximizers
power
maximizers
Realism actors and
give impact to
seek to
survive within
military an anarchical
power and system,
maximization international
of power structure
 STATISM
 Statism : the centrepiece of realism. This involves two claims.
First, fot the theorist, the state is the pre-eminent actor and all
other actor in world politics are of lesser significance. Second,
state “sovereignty” signifies the existence of an independent
The three “S” political community, one that has juridical authority over its
territory;
of Realism  Key criticsm : statism is flawed on both empirical (challenges to
state power from “above” and “below”) and normative grounds
(the inability of sovereign states to respond to collective global
problems such as famine, environtmental degradation, and
human righ abuses)
 SURVIVAL
 Survival : the primary objective of all states is survival, this is the
The three “S” supreme national interest to which all political leaders must
adhere;
of Realism  Key criticism : are there no limit to what actions a state can take in
the name of necessity?
 SELF-HELP
 Self-help : no other state or institution can be relied upon to
guarantee your survival;
 Key criticsm : self-help is not an inevitable consequence of the
The three ”S” absence of a world government; it is a logic that states have
of Realism selected. Moreover, there are historical and comtemporary
examples where states have preferred collective security systems,
or forms or regional security communities, in preference to sel—
help.
 Realism
• States are the only actors at
international level;
• State rational actors and aim for
their own self-interest/relative
gain
• Realists believe in maximizing
Realism vs military power in order to achieve
peace and security
Libelarism • Realists believe in the concept of
armament, i.e. states should have
arms and weapon for self-security
• According to realists international
system is anarchic in nature
Liberalism
• State are not the only actors.
Other actors e.g. individuals, IO’s.
MNOs also play an important
role;
• State are not rational actors. They
aim for absolute gain;
• Liberalism believe that security
can be achieved by cooperation,
mutual gaining, applying
moral/ethical principles;
• Liberalism believe in the concept
of disarmament for self-security
i.e. cooperation
• According to liberalist
international system is
community based;
 Realism Liberalism
• Sovereignty • Freedom
• Military power • Human Rights
• Geography • Development
Realism vs • Natural Resource • Cooperation
Libelarism • Industrial capacity • Education
• Population • Environment
• Diplomacy • Democracy
• Government • Disarmament
Strength • Self-determination
 The theory of Realism is criticized on the following point :
 Does not talk about change and is status quo oriented;
 It gives a lot of importance to military power and ignores other
forces e.g. ethic, economic power;
 Considers states as the only actor and does not recognize other
Criticism importance actors;
 Talks about IR in terms of maximizing power, non-cooperation and
wars;
 Focuses on already constructed realities and does not think
critically.
 Despite the opinion of its critics, realism is the most dominant
theory used to explain the nature of the International Relations. It is
widely accepted because:
 It gives a more realistic and practical approach as compared to
liberalism to understand IR;
Conclusion  It give complete description and explanation of international
events unlike liberalism which is restricted to only morals and
ethics;
 It helps in prediction human natures and behaviour which helps in
predicting possible outcomes of cooperation among states;