Power Politics:Realism

Explains int relations in term of power. Exercise

of power by states toward each other is
sometimes called ‘realpolitik’ or ‘power politics’.
Realism developed in relation to a liberal tradition
called idealism.
Idealism emphasizes int law, morality and int
organizations rather than power alone as key
influence on international events.
Idealist think that human nature is basically good.
They see int system as based on community of
states with potential to work togather.
• Idealists were active in ww I & II. Placed hope
for peace in league of nations as a formal
structure community of nations.
• Hopes were dashed when structure proved
helpless to stop Germans, Italian japans
aggression in 1930’s.
• Realist blame idealists for looking world ought
to be instead of how it really is .
• After wwII realists set out to understand the
principles of power politics.
• Realism provided theoretical foundation for cold
war policies,Containment of USSR and
China.As the west did for Hitler.
• Thomas Hobbes discussed free-for-all that
exists when govt is absent and people seek
their self interest. Called it ‘state of nature or
state of war’. What we call 'law of jungle’.
• Hobbes favored a strong monarchy ,a
dominance approach to solve the collective
goods problems in domestic societies.
• Hans (post w w II) argued that int politics is
governed by objectives, universal laws based
on national interest as defined in terms of
power.
 Power politics in int system
• Power is often defined as the ability to get
another actor to do what it would not otherwise
have done.
• Actors are powerful to the extent that they
affect others more than others affect them.
• Acc to these definitions power is influence.
• We don’t know what other actor is doing.
• Power explains influence, and influence
measures power.Ability or potential to influence
others is power.
• Capabilities to measure influence depends
upon population, territory, military force. GDP
as an indicator which sums up all.
• Power also depends on nonmaterial elements.
• People can be mobilized and deployed.
Depends upon national will, Popular support of
govt
• Concept of soft power states that dominance is
not the only way to influence.
• Core principle of reciprocity and identity may
work.
 The international System
• States interact with ina set of long established
‘rules of game' governing what is considered a
state and how states treat each other.
• Anarchy and Sovereignty.
• Realist believe that int sys exists in state of
anarchy. A state which reflects lack of central
govt that can enforce rules.IN domestic society
states may deter citizens to obey laws,enforce
contracts and use their monopoly to enforce a
system of law.
• Democracies and dictatorship provide central
govt enforcements of a system of rules.
• Power of one state is countered by the power of
other state. States may rely on self help which
they supplement with allies and the
constraining power of international norms.
• Concept of world govt for solution to problems.
• Adequate order ,arrangements by int org and
agreements can be a substitute
• Despite anarchy int sys is far from chaotic.Most
states adhere to int norms .Norms change over
time slowly ,changed a little in recent centuries
• Sovereignty ..Most important norm.Govt’s right
to do what it wants in its territory. states are
autonomous and not answerable to any one)
• All states are equal in status if not in power .
• SOV also means that states should not
interfere in int affairs of other states.
• Lack of enforcement agency in case of
breakage of agreements makes int agreements
difficult.
• Human rights and self determination are
concerns for int community. Integration of all
economic markets and telecom help penetrate
ideas across the border..
• States are based on territory .Respect for int
integrity of all states with in recognized borders
in an important principle of IR.
• Territorial system of interstate system
developed when agrarian societies relied on
agriculture to generate wealth. Today's world of
trade and technology territory is not important.
• Accelerating revolution in IT may affect the
territorial state system in coming years.
• Norms of diplomacy to facilitate the interactions
b/w states have been developed. An embassy
is considered territory of home state.