On the Cost of Realism

Robert L. Rothstein

I. Realism according to Rothstein
a. Involved commitment to a set
of proposition about
international politics which
were essentially extrapolations
from diplomatic history of the
19
th
Century Europe.
b. Based on 4 premises
i. All states would seek
power given the
opportunity
ii. Power is an essential
prerequisite for other
goals
iii. Todays enemy can be
tomorrows ally
iv. The use of Any means
was acceptable
c. The role of statesman was to
make hard choices in a bitter
but limited struggle for
dominance in a world which:
i. States were involves in
an unending struggle
with each other
ii. Power was necessary to
survive
iii. All states were
potential enemies but
worse can be avoided
by clever diplomacy.
d. Billiard ball theory
II. (FAILURES OF REALISM)
a. Is it really easy to distinguish a
Realist from a non-Realist? (p.
411, 1
st
paragraph) *This
suggests that the list of
characteristics presumably
shared by all Realists are
irrelevant.
b. Realist is someone who
possesses certain
characteristics but we cannot
relate it to concrete choices.
c. Realism is attractive to
professional diplomats because
of the necessity for a diplomatic
corps that Realism imposes.
d. Realism assumes a world of
similar states and anomalies are
unwelcome.
e. Both realists and practitioners
have bias to evaluate and
analyze current state system
according European History.
f. Realism is ought to preserve
status quo.
III. Practical Effects of Realism
a. The extent of which Realism has
been elitist and antidemocratic
was masked- or ignored- for
many years.
b. Realism is a conservative
doctrine attractive to men
concerned with protecting the
status quo.
c. Realism has emphasized the
necessity for the Great Powers
to maintain their prestige,
status, and credibility.
d. Realism asserts that nothing
much could be changed.
Practitioners are armed with
traditional procedural skills.
Practice can only be learned by
doing. There is no proper
training but on the job



IV. The future of Realism
a. Its assumption about state
behavior has become
increasingly irrelevant.
b. However, the dominant role
which Realism assigns to the
generalist practitioner makes its
hold over the mind of the
practitioner.
c. Traditional security is no longer
likely to be the dominant
consideration in the world
politics
d. The growing interdependence
within the state system implies
a system in which autonomy
and sovereignty is eroding.
REALISM PRESUPPOSES CONFLICT
THUS IT DESTROYS THE POSSIBILITY
OF WORKING OUT NEW FORMS OF
COOPERATION.