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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.
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What Moves Man SUNY series in Global Politics James N. Rosenau, editor WHAT MOVES MAN The Realist Theory of International Relations and Its Judgment of Human Nature ANNETTE FREYBERG-INAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State Universit y of New York Press, Albany © 2004 State Universit y of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State Universit y of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Freyberg-Inan, Annette. What moves man : the realist theory of international relations and its judgment of human nature / Annette Freyberg-Inan. p. cm. — (SUNY series in global politics) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5827-X (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5828-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Political science. 2. Realism—Political aspects. 3. International relations. I. Title. II. Series. JA66.F68 2003 327.1'01—dc21 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2002045263 Contents 1. Introduction 1 Exploring the Realist Image of Man 1 Main Arguments 5 Approach and Layout of This Book 8 Why is This Study Important? 14 Part I What Moves Man? An Analysis of the Realist Psychology 2. The Roots of Realism 19 Introduction 19 The Roots of Realism in the History of Thucydides 23 Alternatives to Realism in the History of Thucydides 29 Summary and Conclusions 34 3. Realism Goes Modern 37 Introduction 37 Niccolo Machiavelli 40 Thomas Hobbes 46 Summary and Conclusions 58 4. Realism Today 63 Introduction 63 “Classical” Realism in the Twentieth Century 67 Neorealism and Beyond 73 Rational Choice and Game Theory 78 Summary and Conclusions 86 5. Realist Man through the Ages: A Synopsis 91 The Realist Image of Man 91 The Role of Motivational Assumptions in Realist Theory 96 The Effects of the Realist Use of Motivational Assumptions 100 Part II Sunglasses at Night: A Critique of the Realist Psychology 6. What Is Wrong with the Realist Psychology? The Incompleteness of Realist Motivational Assumptions 109 The Bias of Realist Motivational Assumptions 112 Realist Defenses 114 v 109 vi