Realism in International Politics: Key Philosophers' Views, Papers of Political Science

Download Realism in International Politics: Key Philosophers' Views and more Papers Political Science in PDF only on Docsity! Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Daraga, Albay Academic Year 2020-2021 REALISM SUMMARY Political Philosophers and their Views 3/17/2021 ROMANILLOS, ROMMEL ROY E. AB Political Science - IIIB INTRODUCTION OF REALISM Realism is a theory with a general orientation and a philosophical disposition. It is a straightforward approach to the study and practice of International Politics or International Relations. It is the oldest and the most dominant school of thought after World War II which still has its relevance in the present international politics up to this date. It is defined as a belief that the world politics is a struggle for power and position under anarchy among self-interested states, with each of the competing states pursuing its own national interests disguised as moral concerns at its best. It has three (3) center points and these are the following: State, Power, and Self-Interest. Basically, it states that in order to increase their own power, all nations are working and those that have managed to horde power most efficiently will thrive, as the achievements of less powerful nations can easily be eclipsed by them. It believes that States as the actors does whatever is necessary in order to obtain power for the security of their national interests, may it be territorial, economic, political and etc. These may result to formation of alliances with others states or the self-help increase of military power and defense system to prevent other states from conquering them. Jean - Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) “It is easier to conquer than to administer. With enough leverage, a finger could overturn the world; but to support the world, one must have the shoulders of Hercules.” Rousseau‟s talk of the state‟s role in the international situation‟s description in his “The State of War” article is very much related with the statements of realists of recent times. He even said that the state can always grow larger for it will feel weak as long as there are others who are stronger than it. Its preservation and safety proves its necessity to make itself stronger than its neighbors. It can‟t boost, exercise, or foster its power except at its own expense, and even if it has no need to seek for provisions beyond its borders, it seeks diligently for new members to give itself a more unshakable position.” Classical Realism This type of realist approach adopts a pessimistic view that stresses more on the human nature‟s role in International Politics. It says that humans are self-interested and that they act out of fear or aggression and are not inherently benevolent. It further argues that it is in human nature where the power lies, as it is men who made the laws that govern politics. Likewise, it gives emphasis that International Politics is also a struggle for power which emanates from human nature. Edward Hallett Carr (1892 – 1982) “Change is certain, progress is not.” Carr”s famous book “The Twenty Years Crisis” (1939) lays this theory‟s foundation. It is a criticism of contemporary idealism unlike others‟ which discusses international relations theory. He thinks that in the case of politics that are inconsistent, the groups that are powerful talk about maintenance of domination and peace, similar with how the governing groups maintain peace, just as in the international field, the strong states talk about maintaining peace. Any state should boost its national strength and resist the power of the strong state through the balance of power. Hans J. Morgenthau (1904 – 1980) “International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power.” The finest book in the classical realist theory is Morgenthau‟s “Politics among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace”. He believes that the study of international relations will be made by means of the tradition of real-life events and by the application of meaningful law in a proper manner. Moreover, he said that the theory will be realistic, independent, insightful, and consistent with empirical reality. To supplement, he even gave the six principles of political realism. Neorealism This realism tries to focus on the structural feature of anarchy unlike its previous types in its effort to avoid the problem of human nature. It was pretty much created in order to overcome the criticism that started in the discourse of realism, due to its acknowledgement failure of the economics‟ significance in international relations and the changing role of the establishment of different non state actors in the context of changing economics. Kenneth N. Waltz (1924 - 2013) “War and the threat of war stimulate speculation upon the conditions of peace.” This theory came into significance in the late 1970s. Waltz in his “Theory of International Politics” (1979) states the basic idea of this theory. He says that the primary theories of conventional international relations, whether system theory or Marxist theory, are mainly theories themselves. They explain international relations in some element or a mixture of them. He further noted that the primary constitutive principle of international affairs is the absence of international authority and anarchy. The main goal of all states is to boost their power through military development and self-defense. Timeline of Realist Political Philosophers POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS TYPE TIME/PERIOD Chanakya Precursor B.C Thucydides Precursor B.C Niccolo Machiavelli Precursor 15th-16th Century Thomas Hobbes Precursor 17th Century Jean - Jacques Rousseau Precursor 18th Century Edward Hallett Carr Classical 20th Century Hans J. Morgenthau Classical 20th Century Kenneth N. Waltz Neorealism 20th-21st Century