Transcript Lecture 4 Powerpoint presentation

LG514: International Relations Theory
Lecture 4: Carr, Morgenthau & the
Birth of Realism
Ken McDonagh
School of Law and
Government
Overview:
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Realism as Critique: Carr and Niebuhr
From Critique to Theory: Morgenthau
Why Realism?
The Cold War as Realism in Practice
Realism today: The Return of Tragedy in
power politics
Realism as Critique
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Reinhold Niebuhr Moral man and Immoral
Society (1932)
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Although men could be good, Liberals had
massively overestimated mans propensity to
goodness
‘Good’ always in conflict with sinful, acquisitive
and aggressive drives
Parallels with Morgenthau’s arguments
Realism as Critique: Carr and the
Twenty Years Crisis
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Published in 1939
Devastating critique of Liberal Internationalism
Coins the term ‘Utopianism’ to refer to Liberals
Central argument rested on the critique of the
‘Harmony of Interests’
International Politics about the control of and
competition for scarce resources
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“International order’ and ‘international solidarity’ will always
be slogans of those who feel strong enough to impose them
on others” (P80)
Carr and the Limitations of
Realism
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“The impossibility of being a consistent and
thorough-going realist is one of the most certain and
most curious lessons of political science” (Carr,
1939, P84)
Four essential ingredients of effective political action
excluded by Realism:
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A finite goal
An emotional appeal
A right of moral judgement
A ground for action
Hans J Morgenthau Politics
Among Nations 1948
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Two key differences to Carr:
The source of conflict in IR was not scarcity
but sin (human nature)
Systematised realist thought
Highly influential in post-WWII Realist
thought
6 principals of Political Realism
Principles of Political Realism
“Political Realism believes that politics, like
society in general, is governed by objective
laws that have their roots in human nature”
(P4)
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Scientific view
Based on facts
Unchanging/timeless
Principles of Political Realism
“The main signpost…is the concept of interest
defined in terms of power”(p4)
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Emphasis on rational action defined in terms of prudence
and success
“Realism assumes that…interest defined as power
is…universally valid, but…[its meaning is ]
not…fixed once and for all” (p7)
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In other words how states pursue interests may change
overtime
Context is important
Principles of Political Realism
“Political Realism is aware of the moral significance of
political action. It is also aware of the ineluctable
tension between the moral command and the
requirements of successful political action” (p9)
“Political Realism refuses to identify the moral
aspirations of a particular nation with the moral laws
that govern the universe” (p10)
“How does this policy affect the power of the nation?”
(p10)
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Sole criterion for judgement is political
The Three S’s
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States
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Self-help
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The state is the pre-eminent actor
Sovereignty is the defining feature of States
No other state or institution can be relied upon
Cooperation is possible but it is limited and unstable
Survival
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The primary objective of all states is to survive
All political decisions need to be judged on their outcomes
Realism and Morality
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“Certain things are not being done on moral grounds, even
though, it would be expedient to do them” (Morgenthau 1948 p
237)
To see the evil dimension of politics was the first step in acting
morally
Likewise Carr argued: “If…it is utopian to ignore the element of
power, it is an unreal kind of Realism which ignores the element
of morality in any world order…an international order cannot be
based on power alone” (p216 1981)
Realism as a starting point rather than an end was a feature of
early realist thought
Tragic approach to politics “Broadly the realist stresses the
constraints in life; the utopian stresses the opportunities”
(Nicholson 1998 p65)
Why Realism? – The Cold War
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“A new theory is called into being by the
failure of an old theory…Realism seemed to
offer a more coherent and accurate account
of the world than the liberal ideas it critiqued”
(Brown & Ainley p27)
The outbreak of WWII & the start of the Cold
War
Realism in Action
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The Truman Doctrine
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George Kennan and the Moscow Telgram (1947)
Containment – preventing the spread of Communism
Korean War 1950
Henry Kissinger & Détente
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National Security Advisor to Nixon
Sought ‘Balance of power’
Criticised ‘ideological’ approaches to International Politics
But did he cross the bounds of morality?
Realism in Action
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The Arms Race
Use of the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
USSR followed in 1949
MAD
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Mutually Assured Destruction
Based on ‘second strike’ capabilities
Led to arms control talks during détente
Raised tensions under Reagan – Star Wars and the 2nd
Cold War
Realism Today
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One Realism, or many?
From the 1960’s onwards much of Realism takes a
scientific/behaviouralist approach to the study of
international politics
For some the End of the Cold War presents
challenges to the realist view
For others 9/11 and the events that followed revived
interest in modern Realism
“Realism must be a part of the analytical toolkit of
every serious student of international relations. But if
it is our only tool…our vision of international relations
will be sadly impoverished” Donnelly, P54