What Moves Man: The Realist Theory of International Relations and Its Judgment of Human Nature (Suny Series in Global Politics)

The realist theory of international relations is based on a particularly gloomy set of assumptions about universal human motives. Believing people to be essentially asocial, selfish, and untrustworthy, realism counsels a politics of distrust and competition in the international arena. What Moves Man subjects realism to a broad and deep critique. Freyberg-Inan argues, first, that realist psychology is incomplete and suffers from a pessimistic bias. Second, she explains how this bias systematically undermines both realist scholarship and efforts to promote international cooperation and peace. Third, she argues that realism's bias has a tendency to function as a self-fulfilling prophecy: it nurtures and promotes the very behaviors it assumes predominate human nature. Freyberg-Inan concludes by suggesting how a broader and more complex view of human motivation would deliver more complete explanations of international behavior, reduce the risk of bias, and better promote practical progress in the conduct of international affairs. What Moves Man 2 Contents 6 1. Introduction 8 Exploring the Realist Image of Man 8 Main Arguments 12 Approach and Layout of This Book 15 Why Is This Study Important? 21 Part I. What Moves Man? An Analysis of the Realist Psychology 24 2. The Roots of Realism 26 Introduction 26 The Roots of Realism in the History of Thucydides 30 Alternatives to Realism in the History of Thucydides 36 Summary and Conclusions 41 3. Realism Goes Modern 44 Introduction 44 Niccolo Machiavelli 47 Thomas Hobbes 53 Summary and Conclusions 65 4. Realism Today 70 Introduction 70 “Classical” Realism in the Twentieth Century 74 Neorealism and Beyond 80 Rational Choice and Game Theory 85 Summary and Conclusions 93 5. Realist Man through the Ages: A Synopsis 98 The Realist Image of Man 98 The Role of Motivational Assumptions in Realist Theory 103 The Effects of the Realist Use of Motivational Assumptions 107 Part II. Sunglasses at Night: A Critique of the Realist Psychology 114 6. What Is Wrong with the Realist Psychology? 116 The Incompleteness of Realist Motivational Assumptions 116 The Bias of Realist Motivational Assumptions 119 Realist Defenses 121 7 The Effects of the Realist Bias 126 How Biased Assumptions Produce Biased Interpretations 126 How Biased Interpretations Affect Realist Scholarship 127 How Theoretical Biases Affect Reality 132 How the Realist Bias Affects International Politics 140 8. A Self-Fulfilling Prophesy? 150 The Problem of the Self-Fulfilling Prophesy 150 The Prophetic Status of the Realist Paradigm 151 Concluding Observations 159 9 Conclusion: Great Debates and Small Suggestions 162 Realism—Where Do We Go from Here? 162 Complementary Motivational Assumptions in International Relations Theory 169 Transcending the Third Debate 175 Appendix: Biographical Notes on Authors of Classical Realism 182 Notes 184 Chapter 1 184 Chapter 2 189 Chapter 3 196 Chapter 4 204 Chapter 5 219 Chapter 6 220 Chapter 7 222 Chapter 8 228 Chapter 9 231 Bibliography 238 Index 264 A 264 B 264 C 264 D 265 E 265 F 265 G 266 H 266 I 266 J 267 K 267 L 267 M 267 N 268 O 268 P 268 Q 269 R 269 S 270 T 270 U 271 V 271 W 271 Y 271 Z 271 Annette Freyberg-inan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-255) And Index. Annotation A volume in the SUNY series in Global Politics James N. Rosenau, editor