Lecture notes: Realism as tragedy
Narrative genres
This is my way of talking about IR theory
- makes sense to me
- but this is not the official story
Everything we try to talk about or explain —
- our lives as autobiographies — the “national histories” of our countries
- this is also true of international politics — a story of what happened
- you should be able to understand stories told about international politics by means of literary theory
What unites all stories?
- there is a beginning and an end — and something happens in between — a problem is solved — a conflict is resolved — some kind of logic is worked out
- the story identifies a main protagonist — a hero — who has a certain character and plans
- the story is moving forward through the actions in which the protagonist engages
”Plot structure” – can be characterized in terms of narrative genres
- already classical authors write about this — Aristotle
Four different kinds of narrative genres:
- tragedy
- comedy
- romance
- irony or satire
That is —
- there are four different, main stories, that can be told about international politics
- four versions of the world described by means of four different plot structures
Which is the true story?
- you can use the same facts, but tell the story very differently
- they might all be true!
Tragedy
Classical Greek tragedy
- not just “sad” or “unfortunate”
- rather, a question of an ironclad logic — a prophecy that will come true no matter what we do
- everything is determined by the gods — if you try to fight against it, you are only coming closer to your destiny
- even if you know your destiny, there is nothing you can do about it
For example:
- cf. Oedipus Rex — your destiny is to marry your mother
- cf. Bacchae — the mother will kill her son
This is what’s tragic about it
- the protagonists are helpless — the story is about how they are fighting against their destiny
The conclusion is just
- the order of the world is confirmed — it is the gods, not human beings who decide
- when your destiny is fulfilled, that happens which had to happen — there is no other way
- the will of the god will always prevail
Realism
The tragic view …
- human beings might want to try to improve the world, but it’s not possible — anarchy blocks any such attempts
- anarchy — “there is no one to call”
- all states will always think only of what’s best for them — they must always be ready to go to war — they cannot afford to trust others
As a result all other states must prepare for war
- good intentions are not enough — it is the gods that decide, not us
- if we try something else, we are just coming closer to our destiny, our doom
- we have to arm ourselves, defend ourselves, look after ourselves
“Realism”
- this is the most commonly used name for this “school”
- Realpolitik — a German, 19th century, development
- connected to power politics, security policy, balance of power politics
Reason of state – raison d’etat – raggione di stato
- way of thinking already in the Renaissance
- the state has its own reason, its own morality —
- not the same kind of morality that applies to individuals — not individual morality
Individuals should not lie or kill —
- but political leaders may do it — in fact they may have to do it —
- not because they are bad people, or stupid, but because they are good — they have no other choice
- they have to guarantee the security of the state — and of their citizens
- cf. Obama and the drones — he is not a bad person, he is just following raison d’etat
Very macho — very male — all about wars and big guns
- that sort of bravado that comes from “seeing things without illusions” —
- attitude 20 year old boys adopt in order to shock their mothers …
Neorealism
- Kenneth Waltz — structural features of the system
- security is the goal and power is only the means
Mearsheimer — great power rivalry
- study the system like we study other systems — the economic system
- cf. the difference between international politics and foreign policy
Key concepts
Autonomy of politics
The point we just made …
- politics has its own logic
- just as the economy, morality, religion, etc distinctive form of morality —
Prudence — consider the consequences
- always just the lesser evil — prioritizes security, order — not justice
Anarchy
- we live in a world of states – no overarching authority
- constant state of fear — imposing fear on others
- “there is no one to call”
“National interest”
- presupposes a united agency — a unified state
- cf. the state as “body” with the king as a “head”
- national interests as objective
Geopolitics
- read the interests off the map
What is “power”?
- we somehow know what it is, but at the same time difficult to measure —
- many dimensions — forcing someone by means of threats
“Soft power”
- by means of persuasion
- popularity
- the US in 1945
- the power of Turkish soap operas
Lukes and his three faces of power
- physical coercion
- determining someone’s agenda
- changing their goals and preferences
The powerlessness of power
- US as the most powerful country in the world
- how little weapons can accomplish
- cf. US losses in wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan
Security dilemma
unavoidable since we all live in an anarchy
- the more we arm ourselves, the more insecure we will become
- but not arming ourselves is worse
constant arms races
Balance of power
Alliances
- this is the Realist’s best hope for peace
Deterrence
- we talked about already
- nükleer caydırıcılık
Historical case studies
- to prove that this is an eternal law of politics — this is how IR always has worked
- but this is surely quite problematic
Thucydides
- “the strong do what they will and the weak will suffer what they must”
Realism as “advice to princes”
- mirrors of princes and all that — in the 1500s, when the international system first is developed
- secret teaching — Machiavelli — everyone pretended to be horrified
- this is simply what you have to do to stay in power
Thomas Hobbes
What is he actually saying in chapter 13 of Leviathan?
Realism as a European tradition
- the 18th century as the period of “balance of power”
- teaching foreign ministers
America as different
- corrupt European practices
- we can start again
- we have no enemies — except the “Indians” …
The US as isolated from the world cf. “the American way of war”
- little need for IR theory
- changes after World War I — but Americans pull back — we talked about this already …
Context of the Cold War
- Niebuhr — Hertz — Kissinger
- influenced by historical studies
- moral issue — how human beings are — our “fallen nature”wisdom of statesmen — practical knowledge, not science — international politics is something that you do
- practices — judicial judgement
Mutually Assured Deterrence (MAD)
- explain how this was supposed to work …
The whole movie is here
Other cases of competitive systems
Sunzi and the Legalists in China
- The Art of War
- The Warring States period and the founding of the Chinese empire
Arthahastra in India
Collective action problems
- Mancur Olson and all that …
- Why do people vote?
- or if we organize a party …
Prisoner’s dilemma
Game of Chicken
The situation in Haiti
Questions
- What can you tell us about the history of Haiti?
- Who were Jean-Claude Duvalier? Who was “Baby Doc”?
- How and why was President Jovenel Moïse killed?
- Who is “Barbecue”?
- Why did President Ariel Henry fly to Kenya?
- Why did
