Realism vs. Liberalism - Global Politics Theories Compared

Summary

This script explores the dichotomy between realism and liberalism in global politics. Realists advocate for self-reliance and power accumulation for security, viewing international relations as an anarchic struggle. Liberals, conversely, promote cooperation and soft power, emphasizing institutions like the UN and the democratic peace theory. The script contrasts the EU's economic growth through liberal cooperation with the US's unilateral approach and its implications, ultimately questioning which theory better explains global political behavior and encouraging optimism for a cooperative future.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Global affairs can be seen through two lenses: cooperation as per liberal theory, and self-interest as per realist theory.
• 🤝 Liberals believe in the power of cooperation, citing trade agreements, regional organizations, and the United Nations as examples that encourage states to work together.
• 🏛 Realists, inspired by Thucydides, argue that the international system is anarchic, with states constantly seeking power for survival and relying on themselves for security.
• 🛡️ For realists, power accumulation is a means of protection, and trust in other states is limited due to the lack of higher authority in the international system.
• 🕊️ Liberals emphasize the importance of liberal institutions and the concept of the 'democratic peace,' suggesting that democracies are less likely to go to war with each other due to shared interests and values.
• 💡 The script suggests that focusing on soft power and cooperative efforts, such as economic and social progress, might be more beneficial than an exclusive focus on hard power.
• 🌳 Liberals advocate for empowering non-state actors like NGOs to help tackle global issues like climate change, which requires collective action rather than individual state efforts.
• 💼 The European Union is highlighted as a successful example of liberal cooperation, demonstrating economic growth through a unified market.
• 🔫 In contrast, realists align with hard power, focusing on capabilities like military force and technology to ensure security and maintain a competitive edge.
• 🇺🇸 The United States is cited as an example of a state that maintains significant hard power, but recent actions have impacted its global soft power and respect.
• 🔄 The script discusses the Iraq War as an example of realism, where power and security interests were prioritized over the promotion of democracy and resulted in ongoing conflict.
• 🌟 The final takeaway invites viewers to consider whether hope and cooperation or fear and self-interest better explain the behavior of actors in global politics.

Q & A

What characterizes global affairs according to the script?

The script presents two perspectives on global affairs: one is cooperation, where states work together to solve global problems through trade agreements, regional organizations, and the United Nations; the other is the principle of every man for himself, where states seek power for survival in an anarchic international system.

What is the core belief of realism in international relations?

Realism believes in the anarchic nature of the international system, where there is no higher power above the state, leading to an unregulated and uncertain environment. States are constantly seeking power for their survival and security.

What does the script suggest about the role of liberal institutions in global politics?

Liberal institutions, such as free trade and the United Nations, are seen as promoting peaceful relations between states and fostering cooperation. They are important for the growth and empowerment of states through collective problem-solving.

What is the democratic peace theory mentioned in the script?

The democratic peace theory posits that liberal democracies, being alike in interests and values, are less likely to go to war with each other due to the mutual benefits they see in cooperation.

How does the script differentiate between soft power and hard power in liberalism?

Soft power in liberalism focuses on using influence to bring states together for mutual benefit, such as through economic and social progress. Hard power, while acknowledged, is seen as less necessary in a cooperative world.

What role do non-state actors play in the liberal perspective on global affairs?

Non-state actors, such as NGOs, are seen as important in fighting global injustices. They are given more legitimacy and are empowered to help address major global issues like climate change.

How does the script describe the European Union as an example of liberalism in action?

The European Union is highlighted as a success of liberalism, where the collective economic power of its member states has led to significant growth, demonstrating the benefits of cooperation over individual power accumulation.

What capabilities does realism emphasize in the international system?

Realism emphasizes hard power capabilities such as geographic territory, demographic power, military force, and advanced military technology, which are crucial for a state to stay ahead of potential enemies.

What is the script's view on the United States' role in maintaining global peace and power?

The script suggests that while the United States has a strong military and full spectrum capability, its unilateral approach and recent actions have not always led to long-term success or respect in the international community.

How does the script discuss the outcomes of the United States' actions in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The script implies that the United States' actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, driven by realist principles, have resulted in instability and ongoing conflict rather than long-lasting positive change.

What does the script suggest about the future of global politics?

The script encourages optimism and the choice of hope over fear, suggesting that cooperation and the benefits of working together should be aspired to for the future of global politics.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Debate Between Realism and Liberalism in Global Affairs

This paragraph introduces the ongoing debate in global politics between the principles of realism and liberalism. Realism is portrayed as an approach that emphasizes the anarchic nature of the international system, where states are solely responsible for their own security and power accumulation. It suggests that trust cannot be placed in other states and that self-reliance is paramount. On the other hand, liberalism is presented as an ideology that promotes cooperation, interdependence, and the strengthening of institutions like the United Nations to foster peaceful relations and collective problem-solving. The paragraph also touches on the democratic peace theory and the belief in mutual benefits through economic cooperation, contrasting it with the realist's focus on hard power and capabilities.

05:00

🛡️ Power Dynamics: Soft vs. Hard Power in Global Politics

The second paragraph delves deeper into the practical implications of the realist and liberal ideologies, focusing on the types of power states employ. It contrasts the liberal emphasis on soft power, which includes economic and social progress, with the realist preference for hard power, such as military force and technological capabilities. The paragraph uses the example of the European Union to highlight the success of liberal cooperation in economic growth. It also discusses the United States' approach under different administrations, suggesting that unilateral actions driven by realism may not always lead to successful outcomes. The paragraph concludes by questioning the effectiveness of realism in promoting democracy and stability, as seen in the cases of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Keywords

💡Global Affairs

Global affairs refer to the various issues and events that have an impact on countries and societies worldwide. In the video, global affairs are characterized by both cooperation and conflict among states, highlighting the complexity of international relations. The script discusses how states may work together to solve global problems through trade agreements, regional organizations, and the United Nations, or alternatively, act on their own interests as per the principle of 'every man for himself'.

💡Cooperation

Cooperation is the act of working together with others to achieve a common goal. The video emphasizes cooperation as a key aspect of global politics, where states collaborate to tackle shared challenges. Examples include the establishment of trade agreements and the formation of organizations like the United Nations, which aim to foster international collaboration.

💡Realism

Realism is a theoretical framework in international relations that emphasizes the anarchic nature of the international system and the pursuit of power by states for their survival. The script mentions realism as a prominent theory that focuses on the sovereign state and argues that states cannot rely on others for security, thus they must constantly accumulate power.

💡Anarchy

Anarchy, in the context of international relations, refers to the lack of a central authority governing states. The script uses the term to describe the fundamental condition of the international system, where there is no overarching power to regulate state behavior, leading to a constant struggle for power and security.

💡Liberalism

Liberalism is another theoretical approach to international relations that stresses the importance of cooperation, interdependence, and the role of international institutions. The video contrasts liberalism with realism, highlighting how liberals see the world as a place for collective growth and mutual benefit through cooperation, rather than a constant power struggle.

💡Democratic Peace Theory

The Democratic Peace Theory is a concept within liberalism that posits that liberal democracies are less likely to go to war with each other due to shared interests, values, and mutual benefits from cooperation. The script uses this theory to argue for the benefits of democratic cooperation and the reduced likelihood of conflict among like-minded states.

💡Soft Power

Soft power is the ability to influence the behavior of other states through appeal and attraction, rather than coercion or force. The video discusses how liberals focus on soft power, such as economic and social progress, to bring states together and address global issues, as opposed to relying solely on hard power.

💡Hard Power

Hard power refers to the use of military force, economic might, or the threat of force to achieve one's objectives. The script contrasts hard power with soft power, illustrating how realists prioritize capabilities such as military strength and advanced technology to ensure security and maintain a competitive edge.

💡Capabilities

Capabilities in international relations denote the various strengths and resources a state possesses, such as military force, economic power, and technological advancement. The video uses the term to describe the assets that realists believe are crucial for a state to maintain its power and security in an anarchic international system.

💡European Union

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of member states that work together to promote peace, stability, and prosperity. The script cites the EU as an example of successful liberal cooperation, demonstrating how collective economic power and integration can lead to significant growth and influence.

💡Unilateral Approach

A unilateral approach refers to a state taking action alone, without the need for agreement or cooperation from others. The video discusses the United States' recent actions as an example of a unilateral approach, suggesting that acting independently can sometimes undermine the benefits of international cooperation and lead to less favorable outcomes.

Highlights

Global affairs can be characterized by cooperation, with states working together to solve global problems through trade agreements, regional organizations, and the United Nations.

Realism, a prominent theoretical foundation of global politics, focuses on the sovereign state and the anarchic nature of the international system.

Realists argue that states are constantly seeking power for survival, relying only on themselves due to the lack of higher authority in international relations.

Liberals view the world as cooperative over competitive, emphasizing the importance of liberal institutions and free trade for peaceful relations.

The democratic peace theory suggests that liberal democracies are less likely to conflict due to shared interests and values.

Liberalism promotes the use of soft power and the empowerment of non-state actors like NGOs to address global issues.

The European Union is highlighted as a success of liberalism, demonstrating economic growth through the collective power of its member states.

Realism aligns with hard power, focusing on capabilities such as military force and advanced technology for security.

The United States is cited as an example of a powerful state due to its full spectrum capability in hard power assets.

The Trump administration's impact on American global respect and soft power is discussed, suggesting a potential decline.

Realists would consider cooperative actions by the United States for mutual benefit as a mistake due to mistrust in the intentions of other states.

The attempt to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan is presented as an example of realism, with power enhancement as the motive.

The Iraq War is discussed as a case where the realist approach of the United States did not yield the desired long-lasting change.

A call for more meaningful cooperation with the international community is made, suggesting a more liberal approach could yield better results.

The debate between choosing hope over fear and optimism for the future in global politics is presented.

Viewers are encouraged to reflect on which theory they find most convincing and share their thoughts in the comments.

Transcripts

do you believe that global affairs are

characterized by cooperation

where states realize the power of

working together to solve global

problems

after all we have numerous trade

agreements regional organizations and

the united nations

that all encourage states to work

together or do you believe that the

international system runs on the

principle of every man for himself

as thucydides once said the strong do it

they can and the weak do what they must

realism has long been one of the most

prominent theoretical foundations of

global politics and traditionally

focuses solely on the sovereign state

this focus on the state stems from a

foundational belief in the anarchic

nature of the international system

meaning there is no power above the

state making everything that happens in

the international realm unregulated

and uncertain due to this anarchic state

realists argue that states are

constantly seeking power for survival

for the realist you can never trust

anyone and you can only rely on yourself

so this constant accumulation of power

acts as a means of protection and

security

on the other hand liberals see the world

as one of cooperation

over competition where states that work

together

grow stronger together to enable this

cooperative system

liberals will stress the importance of

liberal institutions

in part this means the support of ideas

like free trade

and organizations like the united

nations that promote

peaceful relations between states a

major belief of liberalism in

international relations

is the concept of the democratic peace

theory that argues liberal democracies

are

so alike in interests and values and see

mutual benefit in cooperation

it makes conflict less likely after all

why go to war with a trading partner

where you see the mutual benefit of that

economic cooperation

so what best explains the state of

global affairs today

first let's think about power liberalism

has a strong focus

on soft power over hard power while

liberals will acknowledge that war might

be necessary to pursue liberal interests

if we're past the necessity of preparing

for war

let's look at ways we can use power to

bring states together

instead of driving them apart sure some

major powers like the united states

might still need a strong military to

keep the peace

as it were but for the rest of us let's

use that money

towards economic and social progress if

we're focused on collectively tackling

global issues let's use all the tools at

our disposal to help make that happen

liberals look to empower and give more

legitimacy to non-state actors

like ngos that help in fighting global

injustices

and major global issues like climate

change won't be solved in a world

of states constantly growing their own

power at the expense of others

let's also consider the european union

one of the greatest successes of

liberalism in action the economic power

wielded by the common market

with all the eu states joining forces

has ushered in tremendous economic

growth

in contrast realism aligns itself with

hard power

and what realists often refer to as

capabilities these capabilities are

things such as geographic territory and

demographic power

and most commonly military force and

advanced military technology

all of which allow you to stay ahead of

the enemy and mitigate the risk of

attack

or invasion take the united states for

example while economic and social

progress

are important the united states still

remains one of the most powerful

countries in the world

and this is due to its ability to

maintain a full spectrum capability

meaning that it has high capability

across all hard power assets

not because it acts cooperatively in

international institutions in fact

some might say that it's done the

opposite of that in recent years

okay but under the trump administration

american global respect

influence and soft power took a hit

that's not a recipe for long-term

success

well it doesn't matter who the president

was

a realist would consider the united

states acting cooperatively for mutual

benefit to be a grave mistake

as you can never trust the intentions of

another state in this anarchic

international system

next let's consider bringing democracy

to iraq

afghanistan and other former

authoritarian regimes

while obviously there have been some

setbacks at least attempting

some form of liberal democracy has to be

preferred

over the dictatorships of saddam hussein

and the taliban

not quite the iraq war often seen as

part of the war on terror

is a poignant example of realism at work

in the international system

realists would argue that the united

states seized the opportunity to enhance

their power capabilities

the us's infiltration of iraq and

afghanistan have actually done more harm

than good

leading to instability and ongoing

conflict the motive was power

not altruism and the promotion of

democracy and this can be proven by the

less than ideal results of the mission

exactly the realist approach of the

united states

produced less than stellar results and

failed to produce

long-lasting change with more meaningful

cooperation

with the international community and

more in line with liberal institutions

over the united states's unilateral

approach

well maybe we could have had a different

result yeah

you can hold on to that liberal utopia

in your dreams

so what do you think better explains the

behavior of actors in global politics do

you agree that states should never trust

the intentions of others and should

always look out for themselves

or that states see the benefit of

cooperation as being beneficial for

themselves as well

should we not choose hope over fear and

have optimism for the future

something to aspire to if you learned

something from this video hit that like

button which theory do you believe is

most convincing

let us know in the comments below and as

always subscribe so you don't miss

anything in the future and we'll see you

again

next time

[Music]