Realism in Security Studies: An Overview

CHAPTER 1: REALISMS CHAPTER 1: REALISMS Realism has long been the dominant approach to International Relations theory in general and to Security Studies in particular. Realism is often seen as synonymous with traditional approaches to security studies. In fact, there are various strands of the realist tradition, and while the general focus is on states and the likelihood of war between them, these strands have different perspectives on the origins of national interests and the possibility of avoiding armed conflict. For realist approaches, the distribution of material power between states in the international system is the key driver of world politics. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

THE SHARED COMMITMENTS OF REALISM THE SHARED COMMITMENTS OF REALISM States, and in particular great powers, are the most important actors in world politics and should be the focus of security studies. The nature of relations between states has not and will not change. Regardless of whether the origin of state behaviour is human nature or the anarchic international system, realists share a pessimistic view of world politics. Power, defined in terms of relative, mainly material capabilities, is the central concept in the realist tradition. Other than neorealists, realists agree that their theories should serve as a guidebook for foreign policy decision-makers, although they don t all offer the same advice. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

TRADITIONAL REALISM 1: CLASSICAL REALISM TRADITIONAL REALISM 1: CLASSICAL REALISM Classical realists believe the desire for power is rooted in the flawed nature of humanity. States can make rational decisions about when to pursue their interests, mindful of the international balance of power. Wars are explained primarily by aggressive leaders or domestic political systems that give greedy parochial groups the opportunity to pursue self-serving expansionist foreign policies when it s rational to do so. Key thinkers include: EH Carr, Reinhold Neibuhr, Hans Morgenthau. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

TRADITIONAL REALISM 2: NEOREALISM TRADITIONAL REALISM 2: NEOREALISM For neorealists, international anarchy (the absence of an authority higher than states) rather than human nature is the key feature of the international system, making armed conflict inevitable. States are functionally similar: they all focus on providing their own survival and security in an anarchic system. The distribution of power in the international system is the key determinant of how states behave and when conflict is likely to occur. Some power distributions are more/less stable than others: multipolarity is considered more unstable, bipolarity and unipolarity more stable. Key thinker: Kenneth Waltz. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

CONTEMPORARY REALISM (1) DEFENSIVE & OFFENSIVE STRUCTURAL CONTEMPORARY REALISM (1) DEFENSIVE & OFFENSIVE STRUCTURAL REALISM REALISM Defensive Structural Realism Shares neorealism s minimal assumptions about state motivations. Offensive Structural realism Generally also agrees with much of neorealism (the centrality of anarchy, the importance of power). Key differences? Rational choice guides state action. Interpreting the offence-defence balance is crucial. States will generally support the status quo. But because states can never be certain about the intentions of others, they will constantly seek to maximize power at the expense of others, whom they fear. Ultimately, defensive structural realists see a world made up of states that seek an appropriate amount of power and signal to their peers that they intend no harm. As states build power, they will use armed force to achieve hegemony, making conflict (particularly between great powers) inevitable. Key thinkers: Charles Glaser, Stephen Walt. Key thinker: John Mearsheimer. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

CONTEMPORARY REALISM (2) CONTEMPORARY REALISM (2) POWER TRANSITION & NEOCLASSICAL REALISM POWER TRANSITION & NEOCLASSICAL REALISM Power Transition Realism Argue that war between major powers is least likely when the international system is dominated by a single state and when there is an absence of rising challenges (e.g., post-Cold War). Neoclassical Realism Argue that what states do depends in large part on influences at the domestic level of analysis. The distribution of power in the international system matters in terms of state behaviour, but domestic variables determine how this distribution is understood and how states respond to it. As power becomes more evenly matched, war over system leadership is likely, either because a hegemon launches a preventative war or a rising challenger tries to topple the system leader. Public opinion, regime type, interest groups, perceptions are all important drivers of state behaviour. World history is about the rise and fall of great powers. Key thinkers: Gideon Rose, William Wohlforth. Key thinkers: Robert Gilpin, AFK Organski. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

THE RISE OF CHINA (1) THE RISE OF CHINA (1) DEFENSIVE VS OFFENSIVE REALISM DEFENSIVE VS OFFENSIVE REALISM Offensive Realism If China s economy continues to grow, we ll see intensive security competition and insecurity. Defensive Realism Because the international system is relatively benign, and aggressive behaviour can trigger balancing coalitions, rational states may be less likely to consider aggression. China s rise will likely be accompanied by assurance and rational restraint to avoid conflict. If China s power continues to grow, it will seek to assert greater control in Asia and look to force the US from the region. Threatened countries will join the US in balancing against China, creating more instability and competition. As a rational actor, China may acknowledge the benefits of the existing order rather than risk trying to overturn it. Conclusion: China s rise makes war with the US more likely. Conclusion: China s rise doesn t mean that war with the US is inevitable. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

THE RISE OF CHINA (2) THE RISE OF CHINA (2) POWER TRANSITION & NEOCLASSICAL REALISM POWER TRANSITION & NEOCLASSICAL REALISM Power Transition Realism Share a deep pessimism about a rising China and prospects for international cooperation. Neoclassical Realism Because of the range of (domestic) variables it covers, neoclassical realism is less parsimonious than other variants and doesn t tend of develop predictions of world politics. The combination of a rising challenger (China) and a declining hegemon (US) constitutes a perfect storm for power transition realism, which would expect war if China continues to grow relative to the US. Several factors might prevent armed conflict, like alliance politics or nuclear weapons. Therefore, ultimately, China s rise could produce nearly any outcome. Power trends alone won t determine outcomes; these will be interpreted through domestic level factors in key states. Perceptions of China s rise within the US could ultimately be the crucial factor in determining the likelihood of confrontation. Ultimately, however, a rising China is viewed as making war with the US quite likely. Ultimately, interpreting the rise of China is complicated! Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

CONCLUSION CONCLUSION As a research tradition, realism captures the idea of world politics as a world of states, and the study of security as the concern with national security and the threat and use of force. For all realists, (material) power is all important for states in determining the stability of the international system and the likelihood of war within it. Realists are generally pessimistic about world politics and the likelihood of armed conflict. Whether because of anarchy or human nature, they view war as an inevitable feature of world politics. Despite their similarities, different variants of realism offer different explanations of state behaviour and the likelihood of interstate war. Realism continues to occupy a central place in both accounts of security and international relations, and in the practice of world politics. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

ESSAY / EXAM QUESTIONS ESSAY / EXAM QUESTIONS Classical realism and variants of structural realism explain interstate war with different emphases on dispositional factors (human nature) and situational ones (the security dilemma). Which of these sources of armed conflict do you find more convincing and why? Defensive realism posits that the world is a relatively safe place. Do you agree with defensive realism s assessment of the state of international relations? If defensive realists are right, why do wars still occur? Do you agree with offensive structural realists that the best way for states to stay secure is to acquire as much power as possible? Power transition realists generally argue that international political change is the result of differential growth among great powers. Is this dynamic universal, or does it only apply in particular time periods and/or particular places? With its use of domestic-level variables, is neoclassical realism a more powerful approach than other forms of realism, such as offensive or defensive structural realism? Do dynamics such as terrorism and unconventional war render realism irrelevant to the study of modern international security? Drawing on at least two variants of realism, examine whether a war between China and the United States is likely or even inevitable. Drawing on at least two variants of realism, examine the causes of 2022 war in Ukraine. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

WEBSITES AND AUDIO WEBSITES AND AUDIO- -VISUAL RESOURCES VISUAL RESOURCES Websites and Audio-Visual Resources Films with realist themes John Mearsheimer on war in Ukraine (2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmnllaCMaJw Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003): https://vimeo.com/149799416 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pOPbiA_eMw John Mearsheimer & Charles Glaser on Offensive & Defensive Realism (2018) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI9mlNvJze0 Lord of the Flies (1963): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1x2wP5vP34 Countering China (2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofmy74Vj9RA Yes, Prime Minister A Victory for Democracy (1986): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074qxj (episode & chapter in diary ) Kenneth Waltz in conversation with James Fearon (2011): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T-Bh254RJI Darkest Hour (2017): https://www.focusfeatures.com/darkesthour Randall Schweller on realism (2011): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnKEFSVAiNQ John Mearsheimer on Why China Cannot Rise Peacefully (2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXov7MkgPB4 Stephen M. Walt, Conversations with History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSfeaI61RSY Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General