Realism: the state, national interest

and foreign policy

Topik 3 Rabu 16 Sept 2015
Prodi DP Cohort 2
Prof. Bantarto Bandoro
Prodi Diplomasi Pertahanan
Unhan

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The Realist Paradigm- Hans Morgenthau

Six principles of political realism (Mongenthau, Politics Among Nations)

The tenets of Realism

The notion of state

The international system

States foreign policy formation

Patterns of foreign policy

Relative power capability base

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Six principles of political realism

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

Politics is governed by objectives laws; IR theory is a

rational theory that reflects these laws
Politics is an autonomous sphere, independent of
economics and personal morality
International politics is about national interests though
these interests reflect the political and cultural context
within which foreign policy is formulated
The political ethics is different from the universal moral
principles
Particular nations cannot impose their national
aspirations on other nations
Pessimistic knowledge of human nature is in the centre
of international politics
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The tenets of Realism-the notion of

state
The notion of state defined through power: states are about pursuit and
maximisation of power:
1.

acquiring it,

2.

increasing it,

3.

projecting it

National interest:
4.

acquisition of power;

5.

objective national interest in terms of optimization of political

influence of a country in the international political environment
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The tenets of Realism-the notion of

international system
Self-help system:
Refers to the ultimate dependence of state on its own resources
to promote its interests and protect itself
1.

Anarchy

2.

Zero-sum competition

3.

Balance of power

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States foreign policy formation

Rationale of state foreign policy:
to advance states interests and survival
Patterns of foreign policy:
1. Status quo
2.Imperialist
3. Prestige
Relative power capability base:
Resource base:
1.

capital and industrial base;

2.

military capability;

3.

population size and education level;

4.

natural resource base;

5.

technological base;

6.

internal market capacity; transstate resources

Mobilisation base: domestic control system and political regime; nationalist predisposition of the
community
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Superordinate actors on international stage: foreign policy makers as rational problem-solvers

Pattern of foreign policy

Relative power capability base:

Resource base:
1.

2.
1.

Status quo 2.Imperialist

3.

3. Prestige

4.
5.
6.

capital and industrial base;

military capability;
population size and education
level;
natural resource base;
technological base;
internal market capacity;
transstate resources

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- Mobilisation base:
1. domestic control system and political regime;
2. nationalist predisposition of the community

Superordinate actors on international stage:

foreign policy makers as rational problem- solvers

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National Security as Foreign Policy

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Overview

Defining/redefining national security

Theorizing national security

Realism and national security

Security studies and national security

National security and American grand strategy

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What is security?

Take a minute and jot down the key ideas that come to
mind when you think of concept of security?

Think about how these different ideas might impact the

way a decision maker approaches foreign policy

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Defining national security

Crucial concept for foreign policy but no universal

definition of what it is

Traditional meaning of national security: protecting and

securing the physical survival of the state from external
(military) threats
Protecting

territory from foreign invasion

Security redefined (e.g. Wolfers, Buzan) expanded from

military: health, economics, environment, etc. THE
COPENHAGEN SCHOOL
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Whose security and from what?

Clarify

the referent object of security (whose

security?)
Human

security: individuals as referent object

(and state itself as possible threat)

Threats:

(security from what?) subjectively defined,

and widened, like security itself

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Deepening & Broadening of Security

Thus, see concept of security moving in two directions:

Deepening - from state to individual

Broadening - from military threats to things like health,

environment, economy etc.

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Theorizing national security

Realism: focuses on the external sources of national security threats
(outside the boundaries of sovereign state, from the anarchical
system)

Critical Theory: analyzes threats inside and outside the state (Threat of
poverty, environmental degradation and domestic repression of
essential human rights, all reside inside the state.)

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Cont
Constructivism:

security and threats as social constructions;

how we understand these concepts and processes that can change

our understanding;

envisages security communities whereby states share the collective

sense of identity and security

Integrative approaches:
combining internal and external factors into a comprehensive
national security policy (Leffler)
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Realism and national security

For realists, the fundamental national interest of all states is national
security. The three Ss:
Statism:

states as central actors; makes security a pervasive element of

foreign policy

Survival:

central goal of all foreign policy; use force as a legitimate

(element) instrument of statecraft

Power vs security debate

(offensive vs. defensive realism)

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Realism and national security

Self-help:
take

appropriate steps to ensure survival,

balance

of power as enduring structural feature

The security dilemma

efforts

to build defensive capabilities in one state can

be perceived as threatening to others, which causes
them to build their own defenses, which can in turn be
threatening to the original state

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Security studies and national security

Security studies is defined as the study of

1.

the nature,

2.

causes, effects, and

3.

prevention of war.

The concept of national security rose to prominence during

the Cold War, monopolized by Realists.
The concept of human security arose in the early 1990s,
which placed individuals at the centre of security strategies.
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National security and American grand

strategy
Grand strategy

is a crucial component of a states foreign policy

it is the overall vision of a states national security goals,
and

a determination of the most appropriate means by which

to achieve these goals.
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Cont
It entails a 3-step process:
1.

Determine the states vital security goals.

2.

Identify the main source of threats to these

goals, internal and external.

3.

Ascertain the key political, economic and

military resources that can be employed as
foreign policy options to realize national security
goals.
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American grand strategy

A variety of different grand strategies can be
identified for the United States:
1.

Neo-isolationism: interest based foreign policy

2.

Liberal internationalism

3.

Primacy

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American grand strategy

Neo-isolationism: America should focus on its
own national interests.
Activist,

globalist role is no longer needed in

post-Cold War era.

US

is secure from external threats with

power to guarantee its security.

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Cont
Liberal internationalism: an expansive American national interest, (that
includes world peace), necessitates multilateral engagement in
pursuit of common goals.

The US not immune from military threats.

Central:

democracy,

human rights,

interdependence and

role of institutions

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Primacy:
1.

Preserving US power as the undisputed pre-eminent

power in the international system.

2.

US must ensure its military dominance, preventing

emergence of a multi-power structure.

3.

Institutions seen as restraining unilateral options

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Question for the class

Which

of the three do you think the US has taken

in recent years?

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The answes is :

There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that US

has based its foreign policy on a grand strategy of
primacy

It is worthwhile to ask whether this strategy is

sustainable as evidence suggests that attempts to
counterbalance the US are underway.

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States feel insecure

States feel insecure, leading them to increase

their military capabilities.

Realists advocate a policy of offshore

balancing that attempts to maintain Americas
relative power and national security in an
emerging multipolar world.

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Our Conclusion
1.

Despite the importance of national security to FP, there is no universal

agreement on the concept

2.

Thus, its always important to consider how the concept is being used

3.

Also important to be aware that some of the approaches to security that

realism advocates can actually create insecurity.

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Thank you and good luck

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