Verified Document

Structural Realism Neorealism, Also Known As Structural Journal

Structural Realism Neorealism, also known as structural realism, is a theory associated with realist perspectives. According to this perspective, all nations and all departments within national governments are competing with each other for power. In this war for dominance the various factions compete to gain power particularly if it is at the expense of power of other groups. Structural realists believe that society as a whole has a structure which may not be discernible but that it is an undeniable truth. The guiding principal behind this school of political thought is that it is only power which regulates and dictates international relationships. The quest for power and the desire to maintain the level of power that a nation state already has will be directly involved in the decisions that are made by that government's leaders (Waltz 1987,-page 75). The various groups who are in competition for power have no choice but to engage in these political disagreements because if they do not then they will not survive (page 85). Rather they will be absorbed into the government or under the leadership of the dominant group. Waltz (1987) writes, "The survival motive is taken as the ground of action in a world where the security of states is not assured, rather than as a realistic description of the impulse that lies behind every act of state" (page 85). A consequence is that there is always violence between the competitors and as long as there is a need for groups to compete for power then the world will be a dangerous...

Parts of this document are hidden

View Full Document
svg-one

Not all structural realists agree about the exactitudes of these power exchanges. For example, defensive realists believe that the structural factors which control the quarrel for power limit the amount of power that can be gained by the individual states and therefore also impacts how much that faction can defend itself against its enemies (page 76). Offensive strategists believe just the opposite. They hypothesize that the structures that are in place encourage the spread of domination and the accumulation of national power.
All governments, by the definition of their creation, are an organization with power. According to Waltz (1987), "Political structure produces a similarity in process and performance so long as a structure endures" (page 80). They have power over their citizens and, based upon their economic position and their ability to persuade allies, various nations have more power than others. International relationships add to the strength of the country in question and to the leaders of that country (page 100). Without power over the citizenry, there is no way for a government to maintain authority and the government and more than likely the entire nation will fall into chaos and anarchy. International disputes begin when one political group determines that they do not have enough power as they currently exist and that the…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Waltz, K. (1987). Anarchic orders and balances of power. Neorealism and its Critics. Columbia:

New York, NY. 98-130.

Waltz, K. (1987). Political structures. Neorealism and its Critics. Columbia: New York, NY. 70-
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

John Mearsheimer's "Structural Realism" Is
Words: 660 Length: 2 Document Type: Journal

Aside from distinguishing between classical realists and neorealists, Mearsheimer also distinguishes between other types of realism. He discusses several extensions of structural realism and realists who champion different viewpoints. For instance, the author claims that offensive realists utilize the structure of their states in order to encourage conflict internationally (between states) in order to maximize the amount of power, and the resulting hegemony they can obtain (Mearsheimer 72). Defensive realists

Interventionism From the Perspective of Realism Vs.
Words: 13409 Length: 44 Document Type: Case Study

interventionism from the perspective of realism vs. idealism. Realism is defined in relationship to states' national interests whereas idealism is defined in relation to the UN's Responsibility to Protect doctrine -- a doctrine heavily influenced by Western rhetoric over the past decade. By addressing the question of interventionism from this standpoint, by way of a case study of Libya and Syria, a picture of the realistic implications of "humanitarian

European Union Member States Relations With Their Overseas Territories...
Words: 17554 Length: 50 Document Type: Thesis

political framework of EU and OCT European Union (EU) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) are in association with each other via a system which is based on the provisions of part IV of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU), consisting of detailed rules and measures which are laid down in the document issued on 27th November 2001 title Oversees Association Decision. The expiry date of this

International Security With the End
Words: 2544 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

In a brief homage to neo-Marxism, critical theory highlights the way in which human security, typically in the hands of leaders, can be used as a global tool to secure economic and political issues, and to justify pre-emptive intervention when the balance is in question (Cox 1992). Being such a broad approach, and taking into account population geography, economics, history, feminist studies, multi-cultural sociology, etc., the theory is more of

Russian-u.S. Relations Surrounding Syria Today
Words: 1439 Length: 4 Document Type: Journal

On the other hand, competition brings about order, whereby the consequences of a particular behavior determine its selection and the most successful becomes the leader of the group (Dunne, 2007, p.49). 5. What does it mean to say that a theory is useful? How should one approach the question of determining the relevance and value of a theory (theory-testing), according to Waltz? Waltz emphasizes that a useful theory must have the

Social Construction and Security
Words: 2927 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

Contact With a Sentient Extraterrestrial Alien Species I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. -- U.S. President Ronald, Speech to the United Nations General Assembly, 42nd General Assembly, September 21, 1987 As the epigraph above indicates, even national leaders recognize the potential for first contact with a sentient extraterrestrial alien species and its implications for humankind. In

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now