Russian-u.S. Relations Surrounding Syria Today

Russian-U.S. Relations Surrounding Syria Today

Summarize how the following case would be explained by a) an offensive realist, b) a defensive realist, and c) a classic realist: Russian-U.S. relations surrounding Syria today.

An offensive realist would claim that Americans prefer Assad dead so that the powers of Iran would be lessened. From this perspective, Syria appears to be the only existing nation enjoying close ties with the Arab world. As much as Iran is of strategic importance, Syria is important, as well. In previous years, the U.S. has imposed foreign policies demanding power balance between Iran and Iraq. Iraq has ceased to be a factor leaving Iran to emerge as the regional leader. Geopolitics of power balance is seeking power balance to deter Iran from expanding into deep Middle East in pursuit of influencing other states. From a classic realist perspective, relationships between the U.S., China and Russia cannot add up to a set of exchanges between powerful and influential states.

Their relations are marked by varying interpretations and collisions regarding the outside world. These relations are too complex and cannot be explained through classical approaches grounded on power balance. From the defensive realist perspective, international relations are not static as they are subject to fluctuation and changes. International relations between nations such as U.S. And Russia are constantly being reinvented through international discourses and as impacts of international development. Global politics are shaped by countries that change their perceptions to the outside world.

2. Why Gilpin calls realism a worldview, touching on the main ideas of Morgenthau and Thucydides

First, Gilpin calls realism a worldview because he believes that politics is similar to a society governed by rules and policies rooted in human nature. Morgenthau and Thucydides argue that human nature remains an essential factor since its first examination by classical philosophers (Keohane, 2001, p.34). They hold the belief that human nature remains self-interested and self-centered from time immemorial. On the contrary, Gilpin has dismissed the function of human nature by focusing on alternative approaches whereby the international system structure is crucial in forming international relations unlike Morgenthau and Thucydides emphasis on human nature. While Gilpin has focused on classifying classical concepts as reductionists based on distinct sections of the system, Morgenthau and Thucydides have admitted that the international system has structures that govern the human behavior.

Gilpin has acknowledged the non-government organizations and transactional forces impose strong impacts on the international system. According to these philosophers, these impacts stem from the world environment, which has been dominated by one state (Dunne, 2007, p.214). Gilpin points out that the aforementioned non-state players exists and they play a key role in the system even though states are obliged to design rules, which must be followed by other actors

3. Compare how Lakatos describes theory testing with the way Waltz describes it. How are they similar / different? Which do you prefer and why?

Lakatos and Waltz have differing beliefs concerning theory testing. Lakatos believes that new theories receive excessive empirical content accruing from corroborated empirical progressives and predictions. Lakatos emphasizes that in order for a theory to qualify as progressive, it must be empirically and theoretically progressive (Keohane, 2001, p.23). According to Lakatos, problems in shifts and research program featured by sematic devices tends to hide the real details thus decreases the nature of the theory via reinterpretation mechanisms. Lakatos argues that progressive theories must be evaluated based on an accurate criterion whereby new explanations must undergo empirical tests. On the other hand, Waltz argues based on ambiguity of balancing rather than bandwagoning. He has performed the main test arguing that nations should not engage in bandwagoning except in conditions that can be identified. He demonstrates that states balance threats (Dunne, 2007, p.45).

4. Using the concepts of competition and socialization to anchor your analysis, explain what Waltz means when he writes that a structure may designate a compensating device that works to produce a uniformity of outcomes despite the variety of inputs.

According to Waltz, structures work through socialization such that it is impossible to determine the behavior of a group by looking at the behavior of individual members of the group (Keohane, 2001, p.280). Rather, it involves looking more into the aspect of interactions by the members to determine such behavior. A good example is that of teenagers who behave in a particular way, not because they have been told to do so, rather it is because the opinion of the group determines their behavior such as dressing. On the other hand, competition brings about order, whereby the consequences of a particular behavior determine its selection and the most successful becomes the leader of the group (Dunne, 2007, p.49).

5. What does it mean to say that a theory is useful? How should one approach the question of determining the relevance and value of a theory (theory-testing), according to Waltz?

Waltz emphasizes that a useful theory must have the capacity to be disproved. According to Waltz, a theory must be based on observable facts. The best theory must be close to reality and must be proved through measurements. Waltz believed that measurements were to be tested and predicted (Dunne, 2007, p.12). Waltz advances that the relevance and value of a theory is determined by the distinction between the measurement and the predictions. This implies that, if the distinction between the prediction and the measurement are too far apart, then it proves that the theory is falsified. Waltz advices that this would necessitate improvements on the theory to ensure that the predictions of measurements are within the boundaries of the applicable paradigm (Keohane, 2001, p.261).

6. Discuss how these five concepts inter-relate within realist theory: rationality, power, prudence, security, pessimism.

The relationship among the five concepts has been presented by Waltz: players under a domestic polity do not have reason to fear dependence on specialization. However, most starts get worried because of the anarchic structure, which plunders states into a vulnerable condition of insecurity (Keohane, 2001, p.81). This compels nations to become rational and reduce their dependency level. According to Waltz, it is such a simple feeling that explains the pessimistic thrust in order for them to expand their power and control. Countries that rely on other nations for crucial economic supplier are afraid of blackmail or cutoff during a war or crisis. Consequently, nations are likely to expand their political control in supplying resources, which might foster conflicts. Therefore, interdependence may lead to great rationality, insecurity and power (Dunne, 2007, p.47).

7. Define the following three terms and explain their significance: auxiliary hypothesis, reductionism, anarchy.

Modus Tollens is the reasoning patterns based on deductive validity. The auxiliary test hypothesis rarely comes in isolation. We often expect certain hypothetical observations to be tested in conjunction with a variety of background assumptions. Auxiliary hypotheses are defined as the aforementioned background assumptions. Auxiliary hypotheses must be taken into consideration in the reasoning method of refutation and conjecture (Keohane, 2001, p.161). Reductionism refers to the process of stratifying individuals into hierarchical ranks based on socio-economic teams. Reductionism argues that conflicts of sexuality, gender, and sex are melted into class inequality. This means that they arise between individuals who control and own means of manufacturing, service, exchange, communication and discipline vs. those who do not. Anarchy is viewed as auxiliary and separate to the universalization of class struggle (Dunne, 2007, p.111).