Preview

MGIMO Review of International Relations

Advanced search

Realism vs. Neoliberalism and Constructivism: Main Points of Debate

https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2015-5-44-126-135

Abstract

Abstract: Following the collapse of the bipolar world realist approaches were placed under close scrutiny by neoliberals and constructivists. The legacy of the realist school actually became an object of numerous attacks, which were undertaken to demonstrate its discrepancy with new international realities. In the course of sharp debates proponents of realism managed to show the weakness of neoliberal argumentation and, further, to testify that a number of high-sounding neoliberal theories are poorlygrounded. At the same time, realism’s supporters proved themselves to be incapable of defeating constructivists. The new opponents persuasively revealed the apparent though neglected earlier controversy between the basic materialist assumptions of the realist school and the not entirely materialist tool of their reflection in the international relations, i.e. the concept of power. Only after a time realists managed to find some credible theoretical ground and make first effective steps towards building a consistent system of counterarguments against constructivism. However, ‘the constructivist assault’ caused a profound review of the realist theoretical and practical apparatus. Among currently relevant applied propositions of the school we should name assumptions of statism, of anarchy, of the significance of the power factor (while recognising the dual nature of power in international relations) as well as the ‘relative gains problem’.

About the Authors

Y. V. Borovsky
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University)
Russian Federation


P. A. Gvozdev
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University)
Russian Federation


References

1. Киссинджер Г. Ядерное оружие и внешняя политика : [сокращенный перевод с английского] / Генри Киссинджер. - М. : Издательство иностранной литературы, 1959. - 511 с.

2. Фукуяма Ф. Конец истории и последний человек / Фрэнсис Фукуяма ; перевод с англ. М.Б.Левина. - М. :ФСТ, 2007. - 588 с.

3. Хантингтон С. Третья волна: демократизация в конце ХХ века / Сэмюэл Хантингтон ; перевод с англ. Л.Ю. Пантиной. - М. : «Российская политическая энциклопедия» (РОССПЭН), 2003. - 366 с.

4. Buzan B. Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security / Barry Buzan, Oliver Waever. - NY : Cambridge University Press, 2003. - 570 p.

5. Buzan B. The Inaugural Kenneth N. Waltz Annual Lecture. A World Order Without Superpowers: Decentred Globalism [ Electronic Resource ] / Buzan Barry // International Relations. - 2011. - Vol. 25, No. 1. - P. 3-25. - Mode of access: http://ru.scribd.com/doc/148502411/Buzan-2011-a-World-Without-Superpowers-1#scribd (Accessed 14 May 2015).

6. Doyle M.W. Kant: Liberalism and World Politics [Electronic resource] / Michael W. Doyle // American Political Science Review. - 1986. - Vol.80, No. 4. - P. 1151-1169. - Mode of access: http://www.ir.rochelleterman.com/sites/default/files/doyle%201986.pdf (Accessed 2 May 2015).

7. Gilpin R.G. The Richness of the Tradition of Political Realism / Robert G. Gilpin // International Organization. - 1984. - Vol. 38, No. 2. - P. 287 - 304.

8. Gilpin R.G. War and Change in World Politics / Robert G. Gilpin. - NY : Cambridge University Press, 1981. - 271 p.

9. Gowa J. Anarchy, Egoism, and Third Images: The Evolution of Cooperation and International Relations / Joanne Gowa // International Organization. - 1986. - No.40. - P. 167 - 188.

10. Grieco J.M. Anarchy and the Limits of Cooperation: A Realist Critique of the Newest Liberal Institutionalism / Joseph M. Grieco // International Organization. - 1988. - Vol.42, No. 3. - P. 485 - 507.

11. Guzzini S. The Enduring Dilemmas in International Relations / Stefano Guzzini // European Journal of International Relations. - 2004. - Vol.10, No.4. - P.533-568.

12. Legro J. Is Anybody Still a Realist? / Jeffrey Legro, Andrew Moravcsik // International Security. - 1999. - Vol.24, No. 2. - P.5-55.

13. Mearsheimer J. Conventional Deterrence / John Mearsheimer. - NY : Cornell University Press, 1983. - 289 p.

14. Oneal J.R. Assessing the Liberal Peace with Alternative Specifications: Trade Still Reduces Conflict / John R. Oneal, Bruce Russett // Journal of Peace Research. - July, 1999. - Vol.36, No. 4. - P. 423 - 442.

15. Oren I. The Subjectivity of the ‘Democratic’ Peace: Changing U.S. Perceptions of Imperial Germany / Ido Oren // International Security. - 1995. - Vol.20, No. 2. - P. 147-184.

16. Owen J. M. How Liberalism Produces Democratic Peace? [Electronic resource] / John M. Owen // International Security. - 1995. - Vol.20, No. 2. - P. 87-125. - Mode of access: http://www.metu.edu.tr/~utuba/Owen.pdf (Acessed 12 May 2015).

17. Russett B. Grasping the Democratic Peace: Principles for a Post-Cold War World / Bruce Russett. - Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994. - 192 p.

18. Vasquez J. The Realist Paradigm and Degenerative vs. Progressive Research Programs: An Appraisal of Neotraditional Research on Waltz’s Balancing Proposition / John Vasquez // American Political Science Review. - Vol.91, No. 4. - December, 1997. - P. 899 - 912.

19. Waltz K.N. The Emerging Structure of International Politics / Kenneth N. Waltz // International Security. - 1993. - Vol.18, No.2. - P. 44-79.

20. Waltz K.N. Structural Realism after the Cold War / Kenneth N. Waltz // International Security. - 2000. - Vol.25, No. 1. - P.5 - 41.

21. Waltz K.N. Theory of International Politics [Electronic resource] / Kenneth N. Waltz; University of California, Berkeley. - Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1978. - 251 p. - Mode of access: http://ru.scribd.com/doc/40007016/Kenneth-Waltz-Theory-of-International-Politics#scribd (Acessed 22 August 2015).

22. Wohlforth W.C. Gilpinian Realism and International Relations / William C. Wohlforth // International Relations. - 2011. - Vol.25, No.4. - P.499-511.

23. Wohlforth W.C., Little R., Kaufman S.J., Kang D., Jones C.A., Tin-Bor Hui V., Eckstein A., Deudney D., Brenner W.L. Testing Balance-of-Power Theory in World History / William C. Wohlforth, Richard Little, Stuart J. Kaufman, David Kang, Charles A. Jones, Victoria Tin-Bor Hui, Arthur Eckstein, Daniel Deudney, William L. Brenner // European Journal of International Relations. - 2007. - Vol.13, No.2. - P.155-185.

24. Young O. International Regimes: Toward a New Theory of Institutions / Oran Young // World Politics. - October 1986. - No.39. - P. 104 - 122.


Review

For citations:


Borovsky Y.V., Gvozdev P.A. Realism vs. Neoliberalism and Constructivism: Main Points of Debate. MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2015;(5(44)):126-135. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2015-5-44-126-135

Views: 2151


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2071-8160 (Print)
ISSN 2541-9099 (Online)