Realism In International Relations

Power occupies a leading role in the study of international politics, especially in realism. The objectivity in the realist theoretical paradigm is predicated on power being the central element in examining interstate behavior. Power is dynamic and thus has to be analyzed within the context of its evolution in international realist thought. From classical realism, in which behavior of states is assumed to be based on the insatiable human appetite for power, to the debate in neorealism regarding whether the ultimate goal of the state is power or security, and to neoclassical realism's attempt to restore the centrality of the state and power as a transforming agent in intra- and interstate behavior, power is therefore an important concept in the study of realism in international relations.

Power emerged as the central concept in international politics from the debate between utopians [Page 556]and realists in E. H. Carr's Twenty Years' Crisis. The danger of such utopianism or idealism lies in the blatant disregard for power in international conduct by European statesmen during the inter-war years (1919–1939). Carr underscored the importance of power by stating that “politics are then, in one sense, always power politics.” Thus military power and power over opinion are crucial in examining a state's ability to mobilize the populace to harness resources to wage war, which is the ultima ratio in international relations.

In Politics Among Nations, Hans J. Morgenthau's central thesis is that international politics is a struggle for power. The insatiable appetite for power has its roots in human nature and thus is reflected in the behavior of states. States seek to maximize power because it is the ultimate goal. The objectivity in realism lies in defining the national interest in terms of power. A state pursues policies of status quo, prestige, and imperialism to maintain, demonstrate, and increase power, respectively. Classical realism's reliance on human behavioral assumptions to explain interstate relations became a point of contention and ushered in a new generation of realists introducing a more scientific approach to the study of international politics.

The landmark statement in neorealism is Kenneth Waltz's Theory of International Politics. This approach to the study of international politics is based on the anarchic nature of the international system: states are primary actors seeking to survive and the distribution of capabilities defines the polarity and hence the international structure. Survival in international anarchy became a prerequisite for state action. Power is considered a means to an end in neorealist thought, as opposed to the classical realist assumption that it is an end in itself. The impulse to survive outweighs state strategies seeking to maximize power. Waltz constructed a status-quo-oriented theory based on the assumption that states try to maintain a balance of power in which they can pursue minimal security for maximal chances of survival. Security is best assured when states maintain their positions in the international system. Acquiring too much power can be self-defeating because intensifying the security dilemma results in increased costs for survival. The end result is the formation of a new international equilibrium in which increased capabilities are required to attain the basics: survival. Thus, maximizing power results in diminishing returns.

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