Realism and Globalisation

International relations is a robust field of study that examines the behaviour of states on the world stage and then attempts to explain this behaviour via differing theories. As a field, one of the primary goals is to understand what drives states to war and how best to mitigate against it. To explain this and many other phenomena there are several theories within International Relations but three, in particular, serve as the dominant theories; realism, liberalism, and constructionism.

Each of these theories has a particular outlook on globalisation and attempts to explain what it is and why it will or will not work out in the long run. Realism is the most pragmatic of these theories and argues that the structure of the international system in conjunction with the nature of power will ultimately result in the failure of globalisation.

Realism and globalisation – definition

To understand the realist perspective of globalisation, we must understand what these terms mean. Globalisation is a term used to describe the increasing interconnectedness of states in economic, cultural and political aspects. This takes place through the cross-border movement of people, money, goods and services, and the creation of international non-governmental organisations such as the United Nations and the World Bank.

Interconnectedness, or interdependence, is a key feature of globalisation. It refers to the concept of mutual influence and vulnerability between two or more states, in which decisions in one state have consequences in another and vice-versa.

Realism is a theory which claims to observe and examine world affairs as they are, not as we wish them to be, regardless of moral beliefs. Realism views nation-states as the main actors on the international stage, as there is no international sovereign power which rules over all states, creating what is referred to as an anarchic system. Realism also emphasises human nature as selfish, making power and self-interest the central aims of all states.

Realist approach in international relations

Realist thinking has been traced back to around 420BC in Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War” and has continuously been identified in the writings of philosophers from Machiavelli in the renaissance period to Thomas Hobbes in 1651. However, the term 'realism' became associated with realist theory by figures such as Hans J. Morgenthau in the mid-1940s.

Fig. 1 Dr. Hans Morgenthau

There is no international sovereign power which unanimously rules over all states. Therefore, the international system is in a state of anarchy, where every state is trying to fulfil its self-interests and gain more power. At times states also try and prevent other states from becoming too powerful, as it may contradict their interests and national sovereignty. This is known as the Balance of power. Alongside this, a system of self-help also operates, where states must rely on their own resources, military and otherwise, to keep themselves safe and pursue their self-interest.

The threat of conflict is always present due to contradicting interests. States commonly try and reach their means through peaceful diplomacy, cooperation and coercion but disagreements still occur.

Fig. 2 Representatives from Europe, China, Iran and the USA met in Vienna in 2015 to discuss the Iran nuclear deal

Neorealism

As the world recovered from World War II, globalisation rates increased, leading to changes in the international system. After the War the US and Russia were the leading world powers, however, since then the balance of power has become distributed between multiple states, such as China, India, and the UK. In other words, our international system is now more of a multipolarity.

Kenneth Waltz developed the theory of neorealism which he claimed could explain contemporary global politics more accurately. This was not a break from classical realism, but rather a disagreement on what causes states to behave as they do.

Realism and globalisation – examples

Around 40% of gas and 30% of petroleum oil consumed by European countries are imported from Russia, making them Europe's largest supplier. These supplies drive European industries, heat homes and fuel vehicles. Russia also depends on trade with Europe, as oil and gas exports account for around 40% of Russian annual revenue. These countries are interdependent and can use this to influence one another. A recent example of this would be Russia's threat to halt gas supplies to countries who refuse to pay in the Russian currency of Rubles, as they have already done with Poland and Bulgaria.

Fig. 3 Russian oil export destinations

The European Union has warned companies against this, creating a mutual vulnerability for all the states involved. If Russia halts its exports, European countries will struggle to find an alternative to Russian gas, and Russia will lose out on a large portion of its annual revenue. Both of these events will directly affect ordinary Europeans and Russians.

Importance of realism in international relations

Many realist scholars argue that realism is essential to understand international relations and processes like globalisation, while others disagree. The table below shows some of the strengths and weaknesses of the theory in international relations.

Realist views of globalisation

Generally, realists view globalisation as a negative development. This is mostly due to their pessimism towards human nature. As it stands, states are still the main actors on the anarchic international stage. International organisations such as the United Nations and even The European Union are still considered largely ineffective, as their members are states with different priorities and self-interests, which sometimes clash directly, as we have seen with the example of the U.S and Iran. These differences result in indecisiveness and inefficient united responses to world issues.