Discuss the emergence of neo-realism and its basic tenets.

The Rise of Neo-Realism: A Reaction to Classical Realism

Classical realism, championed by thinkers like Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Hans Morgenthau, posited that states are driven by an innate lust for power stemming from human nature. Morgenthau’s ‘Six Principles of Political Realism’ (1948) emphasized power as the primary goal and politics as a struggle for it. However, this approach was criticized for being too subjective and lacking a rigorous explanatory framework. Neo-realism sought to address these limitations by focusing on the international system itself, rather than the internal characteristics of states.

Key Thinkers and their Contributions

Kenneth Waltz is widely considered the founder of neo-realism. His seminal work, Theory of International Politics (1979), laid out the core tenets of the theory. Waltz argued that the anarchic structure of the international system – the absence of a central authority – is the primary determinant of state behavior. Other important contributors include John Mearsheimer, who further developed the offensive realism strand, and Robert Jervis, who focused on defensive realism.

Basic Tenets of Neo-Realism

• Anarchy: The defining feature of the international system is the absence of a supranational authority. This leads to a ‘self-help’ system where states are responsible for their own security.
• State as a Unitary and Rational Actor: Neo-realism assumes states are the primary actors in international politics and act rationally to maximize their security. Internal politics are largely considered irrelevant.
• Survival as the Primary Goal: States prioritize survival above all else. All other goals are secondary to ensuring the state’s continued existence.
• The Security Dilemma: In an anarchic system, efforts by one state to increase its security can be perceived as threatening by other states, leading to a spiral of arms build-ups and increased insecurity for all.
• Distribution of Power (Systemic Structure): The structure of the international system, determined by the distribution of power among states (unipolar, bipolar, multipolar), significantly influences state behavior and the likelihood of conflict. Waltz argued that bipolar systems are more stable than multipolar systems.
• Relative Gains: States are concerned not only with absolute gains but also with relative gains – how much they gain compared to other states. This can lead to cooperation being difficult to achieve, even when it is mutually beneficial.

Defensive vs. Offensive Realism

Neo-realism is further divided into two main strands:

Feature	Defensive Realism	Offensive Realism
Primary Goal	Security	Power Maximization
State Behavior	States seek an appropriate amount of power to ensure their security; excessive power can be counterproductive.	States seek to maximize their power to achieve hegemony.
Cooperation	More likely, as states can benefit from cooperation to enhance security.	Less likely, as states are constantly competing for power.
Key Thinker	Kenneth Waltz	John Mearsheimer

Limitations of Neo-Realism

Despite its influence, neo-realism has faced criticism. It is often accused of being overly deterministic, neglecting the role of domestic factors, and failing to adequately explain cooperation in international politics. The rise of non-state actors and globalization also pose challenges to its state-centric focus. Furthermore, the end of the Cold War and the relative peace that followed led some to question its predictive power.