Transcript Three Normative traditions

Three Normative
traditions
Why states act, how they act
and whether change is needed
and/or feasible
How they reason
Realist: Empirical observations
(inductive)
 Liberal: A rational design exists
(deductive)
 Revolutionist: diagnostic and
prescriptive (imperative)

Human nature and
progress
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Realist: human nature is evil, rogues prey
on fools, conflict and violence are inevitable.
Liberal: There is an underlying design of
moral good (moral law). Human nature is
blank/good, progress inevitable.
Revolutionist: only the ‘doctrine’ is good.
Hard vs. soft solutions
Nature of International
Politics
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Realist: a state of nature, no common
sovereign, anarchy, war of all against all.
Liberal: An international society exists (a
social contract for states) but needs more
law and institutions.
Revolutionist: all politics is one: the
brotherhood of man, solidarity by example
or by force.
Power and National
Interest
Realist: Politics is utility. Morality
derives from power. A state only
pursues self-interest.
 Liberal: Power must be transformed
into legitimate authority. Justice must
limit self-interest.
 Revolutionist: (hard) end justifies
means, (soft) power is never a means.

The state
Realist: state is the final form of
political organization.
 Liberal: international society to limit or
transcend the state.
 Revolutionist: state is a false unit,
universal oneness is the goal.

War and Peace
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Realist: war is inevitable, peace is the
laboratory of war. War is the extension of
the pursuit of interest.
Liberal: peace is the norm, war a violation.
Only ‘just war’ to restore peace.
Revolutionist: (hard) war is the agent of
change, the doctrine, not peace is the
goal.(soft) pacifism and non-resistance.
Balance of Power and
Diplomacy
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Realist: States seek a positive Balance of
Power. diplomacy is the intelligent
application of power.
Liberal: BoP is a key institution to distribute
power evenly. Diplomacy reconciles national
interest
Revolutionist: one world republic, rejects
BoP ‘game.’ Open conferences, no secret
diplomacy
International Law and
Organization

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Realist: law does not bind states: rebus sic
stantibus. No organization is legitimate that
replaces the state.
Liberal: Law precedes states: Pacta sunt
Servanda. Organization must ‘hem in’ the
state.
Revolutionist: the doctrine is law. IL is
ideology of the Status Quo. Organization is
civitas maxima
Politics and Morality
Realist: IP is governed not by rights
but by interests, by Raison d’ etat.
(non-moral)
 Liberal: Statesmen are trustees to
seek interest tempered by justice.
 Revolutionist: (soft) denial of self
interest to bring about good.

Conclusion
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Realist: “…and every man did that which
was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)
Liberal: “The great task is to discover what
[governments] ought to prescribe, for no
prescription is valid against the conscience
of mankind.” (Lord Acton)
Revolutionist: “Philosophers have only
interpreted the world in various ways: the
point, however, is to change it.” (Karl Marx).