POL 3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Security Dilemma, Hegemony, Preemptive War
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Perspectives: define different variables/ theories,
Realism
• states are the main actors, what is happening in international pol. Focus on states,
2 assumptions: unitary actors assumption:
o act in one voice and rational actors (they have goals, they achieve goals by
weighing the options) (democracy or what, president who or not), look at it as a
whole, acting rationally as a coherent unit.
o 2nd assumption: anarchy defines international system. This is different from a
hierarchical system, we have no control over different states. State interaction is
very imp, decision of state is very important.
• Use of Force is effective:
use of force against other states can be used and it is effective policy.
State wants to leave it can leave.
No world government or police force, it is a useable policy.
Way they can get other states to get what they want.
It is EFFECTIVE.
Implications of assumptions:
1. Constant threat of war and invasion: every state has the potential to be attacked,
because anarchy. Constant threat.
2. Main goal is state security/ survival. National interest is about security. SECURITY.
• Because anarchy, self-help system, state protects itself. Bunch of states who want to
gain more power.
• Gain power, power is military and economic abilities as in money and weapons. For
realists, this is power.
3. States worry about gains
• relative gains: how much more/ less I get than you.
• Absolute gain: how much I get. States are worried about relative gains
Cases:
example 1; I get $60 you get $100
Absolute gain: $60
Regular gain: $-40
Shows that I am willing to take a loss, if the other state is getting eve less.
4. Cooperation is difficult:
• Because of relative gain concerns, other state is going to gain more. We shy away.
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