Realism Liberalism

Constructivism English School Marxism

Classical Realism Neorealism Liberalism Neoliberalism
Individual level Global system Some individual (e.g. Global system level Individual level in State level,
(human nature) [Mansbach and John Stuart Mill) and [Mansbach and transmission of ideas emphasizing
[Mansbach and Rafferty 2008, p. 41] some on state level Rafferty 2008, p. 41] and identities dominant economic
Level of
Rafferty 2008, p. 41] (e. g. Immanuel [Mansbach and system
analysis Kant) Rafferty 2008, p. 41] [Mansbach and
[Mansbach and Rafferty 2008, p. 41]
Rafferty 2008, p. 41]
Sovereign states International system States, international Individuals, states, Individuals,
[e.g. Kegley and institutions, global non-state actors nongovernmental
Wittkopf 2011, p. 32] corporations. organizations,
Key actor(s) [Kegley and Wittkopf transnational
2011, p. 47] networks.
[Kegley and Wittkopf
2011, p. 47]
Aggressive and Benign, perfectible, Malleable, changes Benign and
selfish, cannot be harmony of interest behavior to reflect perfectible under
improved, cannot be is possible. changing norms in socialism, greed and
Human
perfect. [Mansbach and society. selfishness without
nature [Mansbach and Rafferty 2008, p. 41] [Mansbach and socialism.
Rafferty 2008, p. 41] Rafferty 2008, p. 41] [Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 41]
Various. Survival, for both
[Kegley and Wittkopf offensive and
Primary state
2011, p. 35] defensive realism.
objective [Kegley and Wittkopf
2011, p. 35]
Don’t matter much, A big problem, and
may be preferable. can be reformed
Nature and [Kegley and Wittkopf through strong
consequences 2011, p. 43] international
of anarchy institution.
[Kegley and Wittkopf
2011, p. 43]
Pessimistic, war can Optimistic, wars can Indeterminate, Optimistic: wars are
be managed but not be prevented by depends upon the the result of class
eliminated. Policies reforms, e.g. free ideas that take root conflict, and can be
World view should enhance trade, economic and attract eliminated by the
power. development, widespread support. end of capitalism and
[Mansbach and welfare, and [Mansbach and introduction of
Rafferty 2008, p. 41] democracy. Policies Rafferty 2008, p. 41] classless society.
 should enhance Policies should
justice. enhance equality.
[Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 41]
Key features of Key features of Key features of Key features of
global politics are global politics are global politics are global politics are
permanent, evils mutable, moving to a mutable though mutable.
such as war and positive direction. change is impeded [Mansbach and
poverty cannot be [Mansbach and by material factors, Rafferty 2008, p. 41]
eliminated. Rafferty 2008, p. 41] only evolution of
Change [Mansbach and ideas and resulting
Rafferty 2008, p. 41] change in identities
and interests can
modify material
factors.
[Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 41]
Individuals are International Individuals and states Possible, because Indeterminate, Socialist and
naturally cooperation is can cooperate to international depending on which capitalist states
competitive. possible, but will be overcome collective cooperation will ideas become cannot cooperate.
[Mansbach and difficult to sustain. problems. reduce selfishness. dominant and the [Mansbach and
Cooperation Rafferty 2008, p. 42] [Kegley and Wittkopf [Mansbach and [Kegley and Wittkopf response to such Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
2011, p. 43] Rafferty 2008, p. 42] 2011, p. 43] ideas.
[Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
Elitist, diplomacy Public diplomacy, Crucial in forming Public opinion
should be conducted applauds public intersubjective reflects class
in secrecy by opinion as an consensus regarding perceptions and
professional obstacle to war. norms and ideas, to interests, dominant
Public
diplomats. Public [Mansbach and create collective economic class in
opinion opinion is ill-formed Rafferty 2008, p. 42] identity. society.
and short-sighted. [Mansbach and [Mansbach and
[Mansbach and Rafferty 2008, p. 42] Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
Leaders serve the States exist to serve National interest is States serve the
interests of the state. the interests of based on national interests of the
Focus is mainly on individuals. Free identity, what states dominant economic
National great powers. trade and human make of it. class in the society.
interest International rights are key [Mansbach and Economic
institutions are regardless of state Rafferty 2008, p. 42] imperialism and
suspect as they may interests. dominance over the
pursue interests [Mansbach and ‘periphery’ of poor
 other than those of Rafferty 2008, p. 42] states.
the states. [Mansbach and
[Mansbach and Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
States must be International Support international Institutions are Indeterminate. Support
International independent, organizations are organizations as important and will [Mansbach and transnational
autonomous, and arenas for states to encouraging peace change patters of Rafferty 2008, p. 42] institutions created
institutions
free to act without compete for to overcome international politics. by socialist societies.
and limits of sovereignty. influence. collective dilemmas. [Kegley and Wittkopf [Mansbach and
organizations [Mansbach and [Kegley and Wittkopf [Mansbach and 2011, p. 43] Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
Rafferty 2008, p. 42] 2011, p. 43] Rafferty 2008, p. 42]
Tend to ignore the Focus on society and Intense focus on Focus on society,
role of society. relations among society as the source especially on
[Mansbach and people rather than of ideas and relations between
Society Rafferty 2008, p. 43] state bureaucracies. identities. classes rather than
[Mansbach and [Mansbach and on government.
Rafferty 2008, p. 43] Rafferty 2008, p. 43] [Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 43]
Actors do and should There are areas Indeterminate. Focus on relative
seek relative gain where participants [Mansbach and gains of socialists
rather than the can all profit or lose Rafferty 2008, p. 43] compared to
absolute gain. (variable-sum games) capitalists.
[Mansbach and and there are others [Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 43] in which the gain Rafferty 2008, p. 43]
Relative and made by one actor is
absolute gain equivalent to the loss
of other (zero-sum
game). Actors are
more concerned
about absolute gains.
[Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 43]
Military and Security is the Human security Security is less Indeterminate. Human security
economic security primary issue. consists of far more important than [Mansbach and consists of far more
are the principle [Kegley and Wittkopf than military economic welfare. Rafferty 2008, p. 43] than military
issues, support for 2011, p. 43] security. [Kegley and Wittkopf security, should
large defense [Mansbach and 2011, p. 43] involve economic
Security budgets and Rafferty 2008, p. 43] equality and
opposition to free fulfillment of basic
trade which can material needs.
render countries less [Mansbach and
independent. Rafferty 2008, p. 43]
 [Mansbach and
Rafferty 2008, p. 43]
Protect sovereign Institutional reforms Activists who
autonomy and deter through promote progressive
rivals through democratization, ideas and encourage
military open markets, and states to adhere to
Approach to
preparedness and international law and norms for
peace alliances. organization. appropriate
[Kegley and Wittkopf [Kegley and Wittkopf behavior.
2011, p. 47] 2011, p. 47] [Kegley and Wittkopf
2011, p. 47]
Anarchy, self-help, Collective security, Ideas, images, shared
national interest, reciprocity, knowledge,
relative gains, international identities, discourses,
balance of power regimes, complex and persuasion
Central
[Kegley and Wittkopf interdependence, leading to new
concepts 2011, p. 47] transnational understandings and
relations normative change
[Kegley and Wittkopf [Kegley and Wittkopf
2011, p. 47] 2011, p. 47]