Neo-neo debate

Robert Keohane and Lisa Martin- “for better or for worse

institutional theory is a half-sibling of neo-realism”
Neo-Realism (Keohane & Martin, 1995, cited in Lamy, 2005, p.215).

and Neo- The debate between neorealism and neoliberal

liberalism in institutionalism has dominated IR debate for decades.

IR The two schools of thought have differed over views of the

international system
 Neo-neo paradigms have been important to defining
Neo-Realism policymaking and the research within international relations
(Lamy, 2005, p.207).

and Neo- The debate is characterized by their disagreement over

specific issues such as:
liberalism in The nature and consequences of anarchy, international

IR
cooperation, relative versus absolute gains, intentions
versus capabilities, institutions and regimes, and priority of
state goals.
 Neorealism aims to resemble a more scientific framework
which retains recognizable Realist features such as power
and conflict.
Kenneth Waltz looked at the actions and interactions
between states in the system.
Neorealism looks to separate the internal factors of the
international political systems from the external.
Neo-neo Neorealists were seen to focus on security measures
Neoliberal Institutionalism maintains that ‘in an
interdependent world, states will seek efficiency in
managing collective problems presented by international
anarchy’ (Kay, 2006: 62).
Neoliberal institutionalists are believed to have placed
greater emphasis upon environmental and economic
issues, with a specific focus on the latter
 Neo-realism discounts human nature as a meaningful variable

Neo-neo Neo-liberals breaks with the ideas

Systemic structure, which defines international politics ( Waltz
Debate 1990: 30).
Neorealism follows a deductive as opposed to an inductive
approach (1990: 30)
Neo-neo
Interdependence, particularly economic interdependence, is
now an important feature of world politics (Nye and Keohane)
They argue that states are dominant actors in international
relations
Globalization represents an increase in interconnectedness
and linkages
This mutual interdependence between states positively
affects behavioural patterns and changes the way states
cooperate
Neo-realism- power, self interest, zero-sum game
Neo-neo
Neo-Liberal- how a state benefits overall as opposed to
how a state will benefit in comparison to others

Focus on relative gains is misguided as economic

interdependence ensures that neither side can effectively
exploit the economic relationship and take advantage of
the other politically.

Relative gains is destructive

 Neoliberals and neorealists are two views of the same
approach.

Neo-neo Both assume similar positions regarding the international

system

States are main actors, they act rationally, and international

anarchy shapes their behaviour.