Understanding

Global Politics

Lecture 4: Neo-Realism/
Structural Realism

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 Core assumptions
 Anarchy as the defining feature of the
international political system.
 Structure of the system as a major
determinant of state behavior (hence
structural realism).
 States as rational actors.
 States as self-interest oriented actors.
 National survival as the most critical
problem in the anarchic international
system.
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 Kenneth Waltz
A Theory of International Politics
(1979)
 Identified problems in
classical realism.
 Main problem = state-
centric.
 Theory should tell us
about units (states) and
system as a whole.
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 International system
 state-level explanations are
important but the impact of structure
should be examined
 Structure defined by anarchy and the
distribution of capabilities across
states.
 No differentiation of functions
between different states.
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 Distribution of capabilities
 Power defined more broadly to go
beyond military power and ability to
use military power
 Power defined as the combined
capabilities of states
 States are functionally similar but
different in terms of their power
 Power/capabilities as determinants of
state behaviour/foreign policy choice
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 The Balance of Power
 The distribution of power at a
systemic level.
 A mechanism to prevent the
dominance of any one state in the
international system.
 Can be natural or strategy pursued
by states.
 Does not preserve peace, but
preserves security of states.
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 Hegemony
 One state is dominant in the
international system.
 Two periods of hegemony: Pax-
Britannica and Pax-Americana.
 When conditions of hegemony prevail
– much better chance institutions will
be created and/or function effectively
 Why?

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Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST)
 Developed to explain the collapse of
economies and the onset of
depression in early 20th Century.
 International system always tends
towards instability.
 But this can be avoided if dominant
state assumes leadership
(hegemonic) role.
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 Example of HST in action
 Bretton Woods system (GATT, World
Bank, IMF)
 Provided system of economic rules,
values and norms based on US
domination of world system post
1945.

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 To conclude …
 Neo-realists are more concerned
than classical realists with the
system in which states exist and
interact.
 It is also more concerned with
conditions of international anarchy
 Bridges realism with liberalism:
introduces idea of co-operation BUT
via hegemonic powers.
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