International Relations Essay. ONLY PROTOJE

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The Globalization of World Politics (6e)

8. Contemporary mainstream approaches:

neo-realism and neo-liberalism

Baylis, Smith & Owens

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

The ‘neo-neo debate’

• The debate between neo-realists and neo-liberalists has been a mainstay of IR scholarship since the mid-1980s

• The two ‘neos’ are evolved variants of, respectively, realism and liberalism

• They are both more than theories, offering paradigms and conceptual frameworks that define a field of study

• Policy makers and scholars use the terms very differently

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Three Neo-realism variants

• Structural realists believe that the effects of structure must be considered, as it shapes all policy choices

• Anarchy and the distribution of capabilities across states define that structure

• The lack of a central authority to enforce rules and bring about order creates a need for weapons to ensure survival and maximize influence

• Order is determined by a balance of power

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Three Neo-realism variants

• A second version of neo-realism focuses on relative and absolute gains

• In a hunt for absolute gains of power and influence, cooperation with other states are possible

• If a state suspects that the cooperation leads to a relative loss of power, failure to honour agreements are more likely as relative power is what determines survival chances

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Three Neo-realism variants

• Some security studies scholars argue that relations between states are in part determined on whether they view each other as friends or enemies

• Offensive security studies realists prescribe a constant state readiness to increase its relative power

• Defensive security studies realists state that the costs of war outweighs the benefits

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Four Neo-liberalism variants

• Commercial liberalism advocates free trade and a market economy as the way towards peace and prosperity – ideas promoted by global financial institutions, major trading nations and multinational corporations

• Republican liberalism expands on the Kantian idea that democracies will be less likely to go to war with democratic neighbours

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Four Neo-liberalism variants

• Sociological liberalism is concerned with interdependence and how it leads to more system embeddedness and less conflict

• It will be very costly to act unilaterally in such a complex network of dependencies

• Civil society is an important driver of such dynamics

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Four Neo-liberalism variants

• Liberal institutionalism suggests that the surrendering of some sovereignty will lead to greater prosperity

• This allure will make the creation of integrated communities possible (the EU is commonly used as an example)

• Non-state actors are becoming relatively more important in the international system

• This will counter some central realism claims

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

The ‘neo-neo debate’ revisited

• Both ‘neos’ agree that the international system is anarchic

• Neoliberalists argue that it is easy to cooperate internationally as long as there are common interests

• Neorealists argue that international cooperation is always difficult to accomplish and to sustain, and depends on state power

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

The ‘neo-neo debate’ revisited

• Neoliberalists claim that the drive to maximize absolute gains allows for cooperation where there are common interests

• Neorealists think that relative gains are more important, meaning that it is vital to prevent others from making inroads

• Neoliberalists have a greater faith in international institutions – neorealists maintain that their power is very limited

Baylis, Smith & Owens: The Globalization of World Politics 6e

Case study 1: The far north

• Environmental changes are causing the Arctic icecap to recede

• This highlights unsettled polar border claims, and new and coveted shipping and exploration opportunities

• Rules and institutions that help govern this area are rudimentary and ad hoc

• How will states deal with challenges to the environment, indigenous communities and security in the far north?