Power Politics

CHAPTER TWO

Dr. Clayton Thyne

PS 235-001: World Politics
Spring 2009

Goldstein & Pevehouse,

International Relations, 8/e

Student notes version

 Realism
Central position in the study of IR
Foundation is the principle of dominance.
3-part framework:

1.

2.

3.
 Realism
Realism developed in reaction to a
liberal tradition that realists called
____________________.
Idealism:

Since WWII, realists have blamed

idealists for looking too much at how
the world ______________rather than
_________________________.
 Realism
Realist tradition
Sun Tzu:

Thucydides:

Machiavelli (around 16th century):

Thomas Hobbes (17th century):

Hans Morgenthau:
 Defining and Estimating
Power
A central concept, but difficult to measure
Power (theoretical definition):

Power (empirical definition):

Material elements (tangible capabilities):

Nonmaterial elements (intangible capabilities):

Power can only explain so much. Real-world IR

depends on many other elements, including
________________________.

Relational concept: Relative power is

 Estimating Power
The logic of power suggests:

However

 Elements of Power
State power is a mix of many ingredients.

Long-term elements of power:

Tangible:

In/less tangible:

Short-term elements of power:

Tangible:

In/less tangible:

Trade-offs among possible capabilities always exist.

Fungible:

Realists: _____________________ is the most important element

of national power
 Elements of Power
Tanks versus Gold

Geopolitics

Morality

Operation Just Cause 1989 (Panama)
Operation Promote Liberty 1990
(Panama)
Operation Desert Shield 1990-91 (SW
Asia)
Operation Desert Storm 1991 (SW
Asia)
Operation Provide Comfort 1991
Operation Joint Guard 1997-98 (Bosnia-
Herzegovina)
Operation Joint Forge 1998-99 (Bosnia-
Herzegovina)
Operation Joint Guardian 1999-2000 (Kosovo)
Operations Noble Eagle / Enduring Freedom
2001 - 2003 (USA / Afghanistan)
Operation Iraqi Freedom I, II & III 2003 -
 The International System
States interact within a set of long-
established rules of the game
governing what is considered a state
and how states treat each other.
Together these rules shape the
international system.
 Anarchy and Sovereignty
Anarchy (def):

Sovereignty (def):

Lack of a world police to punish states if they break

an agreement
_________________________________________

In practice, most states have a harder and harder

time warding off interference in their affairs.

Security dilemma:
 Anarchy, Sovereignty and the
Bush Doctrine
The Bush doctrine:
1.

2.

3.

4.
 Balance of Power (BOP)
Def:

BOP theory:

BOP and US dominance:

Russia, China & France seem to be balancing
against US power
World support of US foreign policy is very low
 Great Powers and Middle
Powers
Great powers (def):
Get the most attention from IR scholars because they exert the
most influence
Generally have the worlds strongest military forces and the
strongest economies

Until the past century, the club was exclusively

Todays great powers include:

_____________________: the worlds only superpower

_____________________: the worlds largest population, rapid
economic growth, large military, credible nuclear arsenal
 Great Powers and Middle
Powers
Middle powers
Rank somewhat below the great powers
Some are large but not highly industrialized
Others may be small with specialized
capabilities
Examples:
midsized countries:

Larger or influential countries in the global South:

 Power Distribution
The concept of the distribution of power
among states in the international system

Neorealism, or structural realism

Explains patterns of international events in
terms of the
_____________________________________ rather
than the ___________________________________.
 Power Distribution
Polarity refers to the
__________________________________________.

Multipolar system:

Bipolar system:

Unipolar system:

Power transition theory

Figure 2.3
 Hegemony
Hegemony (def):

The hegemon can dominate the rules and

arrangements by which international political
and economic relations are conducted

Instances:

___________________ in the 19th century following

defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars

___________________ after WWII after defeat of

Japan/Germany and exhaustion of USSR, France,
UK and China

___________________ after the end of the Cold War

 Hegemony
Hegemonic stability theory

For the hegemon to provide stability, it must:
1.
2.
3.
Ambivalence of U.S. hegemony
Internationalist (e.g., ____________________) versus
isolationist moods (________________________)

Unilateralism versus multilateralism

 The Great-Power System,
1500-2000
Treaty of Westphalia, 1648
Rules of state relations
Originated in Europe in the 16th century
Key to this system was
Figure 2.4
 Purposes of Alliances
Alliance (def):
Most are formalized in ________________________
Endure across a range of issues and a period
of time
Purposes of alliances:
Pooling capabilities
For smaller states, alliances can be their most
important power element.
Most form in response to a ________________________.
Dilemmas:

 NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
1 of the 2 most important alliances
Encompasses Western Europe and North America
Founded in 1949 to oppose and deter Soviet power in
Europe
Countered by the Warsaw Pact (1955); disbanded in
1991
Article 5:
Includes of worlds GDP
First use of force by NATO was in Bosnia in 1994 in
support of the UN.
Biggest issue for NATO is
Figure 2.5
 Other Alliances
U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty
2nd of 2 most important treaties
A _____________________________alliance
U.S. maintains nearly 50,000 troops in Japan.
Japan pays the U.S. several billion dollars annually
to offset about half the cost of maintaining these
troops.
Created in 1951 against the potential Soviet threat
to Japan.
Asymmetrical :
Other U.S. alliances:

De facto alliances:
Figure 2.6
 Strategy: Statecraft
Statecraft (def):

Key aspect of strategy:

 Strategy: Statecraft
Deterrence (def):

Compellence (def):

Arms race (def):

 Rationality
Most realists assume that
Two implications for IR:
1. States and other international actors can
_____________________ and
____________________their interests

2. Actors are able to perform

_______________________ calculating the costs
incurred by a possible action and the benefits
it is likely to bring.
 The Prisoners Dilemma
Prisoners Dilemma:
2 rational actors, A and B
Preferences for A:
1.Defect while B cooperates
2.Cooperate while B cooperates
3.Defect while B defects
4.Cooperate while B defects
Preferences for B: the same as A
Bs decision

Cooperate Defect
As Cooperate A=3 ; B=3 A=1 ; B=4
decision Defect A=4 ; B=1 A=2 ; B=2
 The Prisoners Dilemma
India/Pakistan nuke example: Should each state build
nukes?
2 rational actors, India (A) and Pakistan (B)
Preferences for India:
1. Build nukes while Pakistan doesnt
2. Neither side builds nukes
3. Both sides build nukes
4. Dont build nukes while Pakistan does
Preferences for Pakistan: the same as India

Pakistans decision

Cooperate Defect
Indias Cooperate A=3 ; B=3 A=1 ; B=4
decision Defect A=4 ; B=1 A=2 ; B=2