International Relation

Core theme:

1. National interest define in terms of power is the basis of international relations and global politics;
2. Interest and power are signpost of international relations and global politics;
3. Statism: states are main actor;
4. Anarchic: no higher authority; 
5. No morality and ethics, states are not guided by national moral principles, and not bound to any universal moral principle while protecting their national interests;
6. Politics is autonomous of universal moral principle, has it's own rule of morality;
7. Each state can do anything to protect their national interests depending on their relative power and capabilities;

Features:

1. 3 "S": statism, survival, self-help;
2. Variation in relative power among states;
3.  Balance of Power;
4. States are rational actor, pursue their own self interests;
5. Interest guided states action rather than morality;
6. State pursue "security maximization" or "power maximization";
7. Security Dilemma( coined by John Herz) : lack of trust- each state increasing its capabilities/power- end result heightened tension, no increase in security;

Classical Realism

1. Hans Morgenthau is father of Classical Realism;
2. Gave 6 principles of Realism in his book "Politics among nation" - 1948;
3. Based on human nature: competitive and egoistic human nature as base of realist approach;
4. Behaviors of States matches human behavior;
5. Interest and power are signposts of politics;
6. Politics has its own standard of morality;
7. National interest, and Not national morality, decides foreign policy;
8. Other thinkers: Thucydides, Thomas Hobbes, E.H. Carr, Arnold Wolfers

Neo Realism

1. Propounded by Kenneth Waltz in his book "Theory of International Politics" - 1979 ;
2. Instead of human nature its bases its theory on Anarchic Structure of International state system and great variation in relative powers and capabilities of states;
3. Also called structural realism;
4. States aim security, power is means to attain security. Hence, States are security maximiser

Offensive and Defensive Neo Realism:

Thinkers

Thucydides:

Father of Realism; His ’Melian dialogue’(on Peloponnesian War- between Athens & Sparta) is regarded as a classic realist account.

Machiavelli:

His ‘Prince’ a classic in Realism.

Thomas Hobbes:

His ‘Leviathan’ is realist in approach.

Hans Morgenthau:

1. Father of IR; 
2. Father of classical realism;
3. Interest & Power Flag post/placard of Politics; 
4. Interest defined in terms of power- bases of IR;
5. Politics separate from morality;

Books:

1. Politics Among Nations  - 1948 - gave 6 principles of Classical Realism

Principles:

1. Objective laws governed politics, which are rooted in human nature;
2. Interest defined in terms of power;
3. Interest is objective, but not fixed; No fixed meaning of national interest and power;
4. Universal moral principles must be subordinated to political ones, should not be applied in the action of states;
5. Difference between universal moral laws and moral aspiration of particular state. The relationship between morality and politics is complex and ambiguous; 
6. Autonomy of the political sphere;

E. H. Carr:

Books:

1. The Twenty Years' Crisis - 1939;

Kenneth Waltz:

1. Father of Neo-Realism;

Books:

1. Man, the State, and War - 1959;
2. Theory of International Politics - 1979 - this book gave birth to Neo-realism;

John Mearsheimer:

1. Offensive Neo-realism; 
2. Great power competition;
3. Stopping power of water;

Books:

1. The Tragedy of Great Power - 2001;

Assumption:

1. Anarchy: No higher or central authority above states;
2. Offensive Military Capability: All states has, different in relative power;
3. Uncertainty: States can never be certain of the intentions of other states;
4. Survival: The primary goal of states is survival; outweighing other considerations like economic prosperity or ideological goals;
5. Rationality: States are rational actors, act strategically to maximize their chances of survival; 

Robert Kaplan:

1. Pioneer in system approach in IR;

Books:

1. ‘The Coming Anarchy (paper articles);
2. Asia's Cauldron;

Robert Jervis:

1. Perception and Misperception in International Politics;

Reinhold Niebuhr:

Books:

1. Christian realism;
2. Moral Man and Immoral Society - 1932;
3. Nature and destiny of Man- 1939;