Transcript The Realist Paradigm- Hans Morgenthau

The Realist Paradigm- Hans
Morgenthau
Six principles of political realism
(Mongenthau, Politics Among Nations)
 The tenets of Realism
- The notion of state
- The international system
 States’ foreign policy formation
-Patterns of foreign policy
-Relative power capability base
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Six principles of political realism
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Politics is governed by objectives laws; IR theory is a
rational theory that reflects these laws
Politics is an autonomous sphere, independent of
economics and personal morality
International politics is about national interests
though these interests reflect the political and
cultural context within which foreign policy is
formulated
The political ethics is different from the universal
moral principles
Particular nations cannot impose their national
aspirations on other nations
Pessimistic knowledge of human nature is in the
centre of international politics
The tenets of Realism-the
notion of state
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The notion of state defined through power:
states are about pursuit and maximisation of
power: acquiring it, increasing it, projecting it
National interest: acquisition of power;
objective national interest in terms of
optimization of political influence of a country
in the international political environment
The tenets of Realism-the
notion of international system
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Self-help system: refers to the ultimate
dependence of state on its own
resources to promote its interests and
protect itself
Anarchy
Zero-sum competition
Balance of power
States’ foreign policy
formation
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Rationale of state foreign policy: to advance state’s interests and
survival
Patterns of foreign policy:
Status quo
Imperialist
Prestige
Relative power capability base:
Resource base: capital and industrial base; military capability;
population size and education level; natural resource base;
technological base; internal market capacity; transstate resources
Mobilisation base: domestic control system and political regime;
nationalist predisposition of the community
Superordinate actors on international stage: foreign policy makers as
rational problem-solvers