Political Science: 1/15
2 theories of politics (human nature): realism (most basic/dominant) or idealism. Elements of soft/hard power. US foreign policy is made for ‘national security’. ▪ Why does conflict happen?—> The Stag Hunt: an inherently anarchic system. If one person cheats, then the next person cheats. (only takes 1 person to corrupt the system). Effort for agreement then tension happens to maintain agreement. ▪ The Pursuit of Power by states has long been put forward as the cause for the outbreak of war & conflict between nations.
Power: Ability to persuade (manipulate) someone to do something that they wouldn’t otherwise do. States have power to protect their interest because the system is anarchic.
Security: Power to pursue interests and do what is required to protect them.

Hobbes assume evil intent in the international system “Peach through strength”. Represents the view by “realist” thinkers (Morganthau, Kissinger, Thucydides)

Idealists (Plato, Locke, Rouseau, Kant) believe in man’s capacity for good & the construction of peaceful societies. Their role to establish collective security because of common interest that a system can be build to complement each other. So when 1 person breaks the stag rule, they punish that person. Idealism sees the world as it is and sees what they want it to be. Principle and peace ▪ One’s basic assumption about the international system and the nature of man affect what policies you tend to support.
Realism: oriented around power & consumption among states for the resources that define or enhance power. Developed as the school of thought as a reaction to what was perceived as Idealism’s failure after WWI. The Cold War further accelerated the adoption of realist through in security affairs. View the world as it its not what they want it to be. Power and prosperity

Thucydides: father of political realism. Looked at nature & causes of Athens and Sparta and expressed realist notions of power politics and the state of power. Politics are ruled by strength and self-interest
Entangling alliances, competing economic interests, competition & rivalry, competing ideological interests, personal fear & prestige, racial strife, poor leadership

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Benjamin.doran@wsu.edu T/Th 11-1 JT 622
Ryan.Kersten@email.edu.edu T/Th 2:45-4:10 Johnson Tower 226

Cooperative alliances are done to pursue power and as soon as power is threatened, they vanish; Realist
States (nation state)—> Power b/c interests b/c of principle/peace. Full circle of interests States are rational actors, pursue things important to them based on perception and understanding. Soviet Union has nuclear weapons in Cuba and it violates principle and power is shifted to them. Russia has missiles 90 miles from Florida which was seen as against US principles.
Rationality - Interests, motivations, costs/values. Everything is done b/c states pursue interests, make it hard to predict. Have to understand motivation with rationality. Extremists are looking for people who know about them to pay more attention and to create an environment where people take in their message more seriously.

Us foreign policy is more influenced by individuals (ex. presidents) than domestic policy. In times of crisis, people talk more about US foreign policy because interests shift. — World View, Locus of Control, Influence Events, Self-Confidence
Cognitive Complexitiy (How do you look at problems?) Some have a perspective approach; See both sides of the situation. Some seek information for necessity, not necessarily b/c of personality trait. Some have a Disconfirming info (Ex. George Bush withholding info from the public). Most of us are guilty of this especially in politics. People seem to hold on their values more when more negative information is given to them by a huge load.

Advisory Structure Ex: President and his organization structure (team) and interacting personality trait. All fall under the Rational and perception ideas.