GVPT 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Kenneth Waltz, Pessimism, Security Dilemma
4 May 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Rulers have responsibility to always seek advantage and defend the interests of their state to ensure its survival. Rulers have responsibility to do things that may not be ethical at personal/private level. Not doing so may be seen as unethical. State of nature = state of war. International system does not have supreme authority. Structural realism (neo-realism) // kenneth waltz (1924-2013) Describes what happens in the 20th century. Don"t pay attention to international institutions/great powers. States can be seen as unitary and rational, valuing their own security above all else. Uncertainty: states never really know what other states are planning, so this makes them even more insecure. State leaders don"t know what other state leader"s next move, intentions, etc are planning. *** security dilemma : one state"s effort to increase its own security can inadvertently reduce the security of another state. States have to engage in self help -- cannot rely on international law, institutions, trade, etc. to prevent war.
