POL 2103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: System 6, Power Politics, Human Nature

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 2103
• Professor: De Larrinaga Miguel

Document Summary

Self-help (is greater than alliance to ensure own security) Unit of analysis = states the most important actors in the system. Power politics (pursuit and use of power, as a means of coercion and influence) Self-interest (rational actors pursue national interests defined as power) Survival (security is the primary motive of all states) Order in the system is identified by polarity (neorealism) distribution of power or by the collapse of the community, institutions, convention, law (classical realism). See power rooted in an unchanging human nature interest = struggle for power. Human nature drive for power can be governed and channeled, via = institution, norm, treaty, customary law (inter-states tradition), convention; smart use of power = psychological influence, reciprocity, payment for comply. For classical realists, power is an end in itself (whereas for structural realists, power is a means to an end and the ultimate en f. There is no difference between national and international politics (both a struggle for power)