INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
NEO-REALISM AND NEO-LIBERALISM
- The neo-neo debate has been a major focus in International Relations
theory scholarship in the USA for the last fifteen to twenty years.
- More than just theories, neo- realism and neo- liberalism represent
paradigms or conceptual frameworks that shape individuals’ images of the
world and influence research priorities and policy debates and choices.
- Neo-liberalism in the academic world refers most often to neoliberal
institutionalism. In the policy world, neoliberalism is identified with the
promotion of capitalism and Western democratic values and institutions.
- Rational choice approaches and game theory have been integrated into
neo- realist and neoliberal theory to explain policy choices and the
behaviour of states in conflict and cooperative situations.
- Neo-realists and neo-liberals study different worlds. Neo-realists study
security issues and are concerned with issues of power and survival. Neo-
liberals study political economy and ficus on cooperation and institutions.
- Core assumptions of Neo-Realists are:
A. States and other actors interact in an anarchic environment. This means
that there is no central authority to enforce rules and norms or protect the
interests of the larger global community.
B. The structure of the system is a major determinant of actor behaviour.
C. States are self interest oriented, and an anarchic and competitive system
pushes them to favour self-help over cooperative behaviour.
D. States are rational actors, selecting strategies to maximise benefits and
minimise losses.
NEO-REALISM AND NEO-LIBERALISM
- The neo-neo debate has been a major focus in International Relations
theory scholarship in the USA for the last fifteen to twenty years.
- More than just theories, neo- realism and neo- liberalism represent
paradigms or conceptual frameworks that shape individuals’ images of the
world and influence research priorities and policy debates and choices.
- Neo-liberalism in the academic world refers most often to neoliberal
institutionalism. In the policy world, neoliberalism is identified with the
promotion of capitalism and Western democratic values and institutions.
- Rational choice approaches and game theory have been integrated into
neo- realist and neoliberal theory to explain policy choices and the
behaviour of states in conflict and cooperative situations.
- Neo-realists and neo-liberals study different worlds. Neo-realists study
security issues and are concerned with issues of power and survival. Neo-
liberals study political economy and ficus on cooperation and institutions.
- Core assumptions of Neo-Realists are:
A. States and other actors interact in an anarchic environment. This means
that there is no central authority to enforce rules and norms or protect the
interests of the larger global community.
B. The structure of the system is a major determinant of actor behaviour.
C. States are self interest oriented, and an anarchic and competitive system
pushes them to favour self-help over cooperative behaviour.
D. States are rational actors, selecting strategies to maximise benefits and
minimise losses.
