EMO Comparative theories

Question 1

Outline the main ideas of realism (4)

Answer 1

1. States are the key actors in global politics - they are sovereign and the interests of the state come first. Strive to become the hegemon.
2. The world is naturally anarchical - there is no higher authority, meaning states need to be selfish
3. The security dilemma - a country builds up military strength in defence, another country perceives that as aggression so builds up their military strength, and then the original country perceives that as a threat and so further develops their military
4. Inevitability of war - the only true way to resolve disputes given diplomacy is rarely sufficient.

Question 2

Outline the main ideas of liberalism (4)

Answer 2

1. Positive view of human nature - humans predisposed to collaboration and therefore they can work together diplomatically to resolve disputes
2. The power of IGOs - links to the above, powerful forums for political discussion to take place to avoid conflict
3. Complex interdependence - states intrinsically linked through globalisation therefore even less likely to go to war. Spider’s web theory.
4. Possibility of balance - given conflict is not inevitable, the world can be a peaceful place with states able to coexist. LIO established in 1940s to entrench these ideas.

Question 3

How do liberals and realists differ with regard to human nature and power?

Answer 3

Liberals:
Positive view of human nature
Locke - rational, selfish yet able to cooperate
Social Contract Theory
Power shared between states eg IGOs - more equal distribution

Realists:
Negative view of human nature
Hobbes - nasty, brutish, and short
States selfish - will always put their own interests first
Security dilemma
The world is anarchical

Question 4

How do liberals and realists differ with regard to order and conflict?

Answer 4

Liberals:
Conflict not inevitable - primacy of diplomacy and collaboration
Democratic Peace Theory - spread of liberal democracy
Complex interdependence/globalisation
Individual pursuit of power increases likelihood of conflict
Joseph Nye - importance of soft power
Thomas Friedman - Dell Theory, countries with integrated supply chains won’t go to war

Realists:
Hierarchy in society - concentrated power
The attempted spread of liberal democracy leads to failed states, leading to power vacuums, leading to extremism and more conflict
Real power is military/hard power - must be able to defend yourself otherwise you can never feel safe
Kenneth Waltz - great powers will always compare their power to others
Graham Allison, Thucydides Trap - when you have a rise in power, the established power will feel threatened
Mearsheimer - Tragedy of Great Power Politics, structure encourages pursuit of own self interest

Question 5

How do liberals and realists differ with regard to IGOs/the importance of the state?

Answer 5

Liberals:
IGOs very important/powerful in resolving conflict
States less significant - should put collective aims first to reduce the chances of conflict
Kantian Triangle

Realists:
State the most important actor in global politics - should pursue self-interest above anything else
IGOs at the mercy of the states they are created by - membership strategic and at will, and only effective when supported by major powers eg UNSC
Billiard Ball model

Question 6

Explain the anarchical society

Answer 6

Hedley Bull - a middle ground between realism and liberalism whereby some cooperation is necessary but the basis is sovereignty eg diplomatic immunity

Question 7

How do realism and liberalism explain developments in the state and globalisation?

Answer 7

Liberals - increased interconnectedness (eg global financial crisis, Paris climate agreement, #metoo), power of the people due to improved technology/communication

Realist - COVID vaccines and lockdowns, increasing autocratisation (eg Modi/Putin/Erdogan)/failure of Arab Spring shows overstatement of globalisation

Question 8

How do realism and liberalism explain developments in economic global governance?

Answer 8

Realist - South China Sea competition over trade route dominance, UAE intervention in Sudanese conflict for port/trade control, Trump’s tariffs (2.5% -> 27%) plus response of other states, G20/7 elite clubs/internal disputes, IMF/WTO/World Bank self-interested eg Doha Round

Liberal - G20 agreed $1.1tn stimulus package after the London summit to prop up the world economy/2022 Bali Summit, Biden and Xi met to rule out a new Cold War

Question 9

How do realism and liberalism explain developments in human rights?

Answer 9

Realists - human rights unenforceable (nothing agreed within UNSC), ICJ cannot enforce measures eg Myanmar without UNSC backing, ECHR unenforceable, humanitarian intervention often ineffective eg Rwanda/Bosnia or vetoed

Liberals - ICJ definition of genocide and ICC war crimes warrants demonstrate power of supranational governance, ECHR generally complied with eg 2022 Rwanda ruling, humanitarian rulings often successful eg Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste

Question 10

How do realism and liberalism explain developments in political global governance?

Answer 10

Liberal - Tony Blair formalised R2P in 2005, Budapest Memorandum 1994, UNSC enforced agreement between Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to remove nuclear weapons obtained during the Cold War

Realist - Iraq legality/intervention, Russian annexation of Crimea, 2016 Leave Campaign (language), UN dysfunctional eg Russia using veto to prevent criticism of Assad

Question 11

How do realism and liberalism explain developments in the environment?

Answer 11

Realist - IPCC/UNFCCC ineffective given sovereign states unwilling to prioritise uncertain long-term cooperation over short term interests, Paris Climate Agreement non-binding eg US withdrawal

Liberal - IPCC/UNFCCC effective due to common goals eg +2 degrees warming target

Question 12

How do realism and liberalism explain developments in power (consider sovereignty)?

Answer 12

Sovereignty:
Realist - sovereignty safeguarded by nuclear deterrent, Brexit
Liberal - military strength financed by US eg F35s, Trident, Special Relationship, Five Eyes, NATO; sovereignty can lead to extremism eg North Korea

Realists - hard power comeback eg Gaza, Russia in Caucasia, US in Afghan/Iraq - due to decline in US hegemony, states have invested in military alliances eg NATO/AUKUS

Liberals - spread of soft/smart power eg China hosting the Olympics, rise of emerging powers likely to enforce multipolar world - no clear sides

Question 13

What are the different types of realism?

Answer 13

Classical realism - states act selfishly due to innately selfish nature (ref Hobbes)
Neo-realism - structure of international system encourages suspicion and selfishness
WITHIN NEO-REALISM: defensive realism - international anarchy drives states to act defensively eg Security Dilemma, NATO vs Russia
WITHIN NEO-REALISM: offensive realism - international anarchy drives states to attempt to increase their power to become the global hegemon for maximum security

Question 14

Explain the end of history theory

Answer 14

Francis Fukuyama - end of Cold War was the end of the ideological conflict with the idea of Western liberal democracy the final ideological stage in human evolution, therefore history must have ended

Question 15

Explain the clash of civilisations theory

Answer 15

The age of ideological/economic conflicts is over - war now fought over culture and civilisations

Question 16

How do realists and liberals differ with regard to regionalism and the EU?

Answer 16

Realists - regional institutions weak, states not forced to comply eg Brexit/Euroscepticism in Italy, Hungary, Poland, and Greece, most regional bodies committed to principle of state sovereignty eg ASEAN decisions made by unanimous consent of leaders, difficulty establishing single markets due to state resistance eg Arab League regional trade below 10%

Liberals - more states joining regional institutions than leaving, EU demonstrates ease of supranational regional governance eg ECJ, European Parliament, regional bodies likely to develop as challenges need unity to be solved eg NATO membership increase after Russia in Ukraine