Realism and Climate Change

• Self-interest


  Taking care of what benefits you the most
• Egoism


  Only caring about yourself and your needs
• International anarchy


  There's no single ruler over all countries, so they act in their own interests
• Power politics


  Countries use their strength and influence to get what they want
• State of nature


  A hypothetical idea of what life was like before governments existed
• Nurture


  The way you're raised and your environment shapes you
• Utopian


  Describing a perfect world that might not be possible
• Harmony of interests


  When everyone's interests align and work well together
• Oppression


  Controlling someone in a cruel or unfair way
• State-centric


  Focused on the interests of a particular country
• Moral aspirations


  High ideals about what is right and wrong
• National interest


  What a country believes is best for its own people
• Cost-benefit analysis


  Weighing the pros and cons of something before you do it
• Security dilemma


  When trying to be safe can actually make things more dangerous
• Military capacity


  A country's ability to fight a war
• Self-determination


  The right of a people to govern themselves
• Bipolar


  Having two main powerful countries
• Multipolar


  Having several powerful countries
• Superpower rival


  A country that is very powerful and competes with another powerful country
• Nuclear arms race


  When countries compete to build more and more nuclear weapons
• Realism is a major theory in international relations that emphasises the role of power, national interest, and the absence of a central authority in shaping global politics
• Core assumptions of Realism

  • Egoism: Humans are inherently selfish and competitive, leading to state egoism and conflict
  • Anarchy: There is no world government, creating an international system like a "state of nature"
• Key themes of Realism

  • State egoism and conflict: Realists view states as the primary actors and competition for power as inevitable
  • Statecraft and the national interest: Realists acknowledge the role of skilled leadership but believe foreign policy should prioritise national security
  • International anarchy and its implications: The lack of central authority leads to a "self-help" system where states rely on themselves for security, creating a security dilemma and a tendency towards relative gains
• Criticisms of Realism: Ignores the role of non-state actors and international institutions, Underestimates cooperation and the importance of ethical considerations
• Realism vs. Liberalism


  Realism emphasises power and conflict, while liberalism emphasises cooperation and shared interests
• Realism remains influential due to the continued existence of anarchy in the international system
• Neoclassical realism combines elements of classical realism and neorealism, emphasising the importance of statecraft
• Realism claims to be realistic in world affairs, and views other theorists as non-realistic
• Liberalism


  • Recognizes that individuals may have a plurality of interests, which is linked to the concept of competition and leads to human progress
  • Economic interdependence exists which is a positive factor as it means having trade relations which could help avoid war
  • States cooperate to ensure peace
  • Focuses on individuals
• Realism


  • Focuses on states and how states can promote their power and security
  • Still today, realists believe that state sovereignty is one of the key features of global politics
  • Act in their own self-interest meaning maximising their security and power without hindering a nation's survival
  • They don't trust other states
• Classical Realism


  • States act in self-interest for power and security because it's in their human nature
  • Morality should not interfere with national survival
• Neorealism/Structural Realism


  • Sees the anarchic structure as a crucial factor
  • States accumulate power to maximise security
  • States act in their own self-interest which could lead to a security dilemma
• Climate change is not a traditional focus for Realism, but it has gotten more attention from realists as it is a significant global issue
• Reasons why international cooperation in tackling climate change is difficult for Realists

  • Self-interest: The main driver of states' behaviour is the protection of their national interests, so they may not have an incentive in taking action on climate change as this may harm their general interests
  • Politicians are generally short-sighted: Long-term investments in climate change which don't align with their self-interest might seem less pressing compared to issues with a more direct impact like re-election cycles
  • Cross-country resentment: Developing countries see developed nations as the main culprits for climate change and resent being asked to limit their growth
• Realist solutions for climate change: Leadership should be taken by the largest/richest countries, rather than relying on the UN, because it is in their national interest to tackle the issue of climate change as it is a dramatic national threat. The public should put pressure on politicians. Promoting technology and innovation as the state would be working towards increasing the national power and investing in green technology may be a new way to maximise your power.