When one wants to understand international regimes – their formation, maintenance and breakdown, the best way to begin is to try analysing these aspects by looking at and using theories connected to these specific problems. In our case we have a set of three main theories that are concerned with the wide field of international regimes: interest-based neoliberalism, power-based neorealism and knowledge-based cognitivism. Each of those theories has a unique view of international regimes and the phenomena related to them, although when looked at closer, one notices that they do in fact have several things in common. Of these three, neoliberalism and neorealism are both rooted in and based on the theory of rational choice – that is rationalism. Within the boundaries of rationalism however they do preserve their own interpretations of international regimes. In this essay we will therefore focus on the converging aspects of neoliberalism and neorealism as well as on their differences. Thus in the end it is our goal to show possible ways of how these two rationalistic approaches could be amalgamated so that their advantages may be used in a combined form by future political scientists, not ignoring the difficulties that one faces, when making such an attempt.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The concepts of neoliberalism and neorealism
3. The influence of hegemony on international institutions
4. Prospects for synthesis
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to analyze the converging and diverging aspects of neoliberalism and neorealism regarding the formation, maintenance, and breakdown of international regimes. It seeks to explore whether these two rationalist approaches can be amalgamated to offer a more comprehensive understanding of international cooperation and state behavior within an anarchic system.
- Comparison of neoliberal and neorealist interpretations of international regimes.
- Analysis of state motivations, specifically the tension between absolute and relative gains.
- Examination of the role and necessity of hegemony in stabilizing international institutions.
- Investigation of game-theoretic scenarios, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma, in state interactions.
- Evaluation of potential theoretical synthesis to advance political science research.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The concepts of neoliberalism and neorealism
The neoliberal view of the outcome of regime formation procedures is rather optimistic. In their opinion the main actors in world politics are states and therefore when it comes down to regime building, states are the decision-makers. As with individuals in society, states act within a global network of their kind and have a certain interest in achieving gains such as resources, capital or solutions to problems with the help of interstate cooperation. Up to this point there are no differences between the two approaches since neorealism regards states as the main actors in world politics that are interested in gains, too. This is due to the fact that both theories unfold within the sphere of rationalism. The rationalistic approach argues that decisions made by governments are not influenced by domestic issues and events. A state may therefore undergo an internal or domestic transformation over the years and will not be affected in its preferences and decision-making neither in the international system nor within institutions. Hasenclever, Mayer and Rittberger argue: “If preferences are generally assumed not to be amenable to sudden and frequent change this assumption holds specifically for the interaction among states. In rationalist models, interaction (including cooperation) does not affect actors' utility functions or identities [...]. Preferences help to explain interaction but not vice versa. This is another way of saying that rationalist analyses treat states as basically atomistic actors and deny (more often implicitly than explicitly) the existence of an international society [...].”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on international regimes through the lens of neoliberalism and neorealism, grounded in rationalist theory.
2. The concepts of neoliberalism and neorealism: Compares the perspectives of both theories on state behavior, emphasizing the debate between absolute and relative gains.
3. The influence of hegemony on international institutions: Examines how hegemonic power impacts the formation, maintenance, and potential dissolution of international regimes.
4. Prospects for synthesis: Discusses the difficulty and necessity of combining these competing schools of thought to achieve a more cohesive theoretical framework.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the key differences and suggests that future research should focus on collaboration between the theories rather than seeking a singular victory.
Keywords
International regimes, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Rationalism, Anarchy, Cooperation, Hegemony, Absolute Gains, Relative Gains, Prisoner's Dilemma, State behavior, Institutionalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on the theoretical debate between neoliberalism and neorealism regarding the formation and function of international regimes within an anarchic global system.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include the role of rationalism, state motivations, the distinction between absolute and relative gains, and the influence of hegemonic power.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The goal is to analyze the similarities and differences between neoliberalism and neorealism and to evaluate the possibility of synthesizing these approaches for better explanatory power.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author uses a comparative theoretical analysis, incorporating elements of rationalist models and game-theoretic concepts to contrast the two major schools of international relations.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the conceptual foundations of both theories, the impact of hegemony on institution stability, and proposals for theoretical convergence.
Which keywords best characterize this essay?
Key terms include International Regimes, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Anarchy, Hegemony, and Rationalism.
How do neorealists perceive the risk of cheating in international cooperation?
Neorealists argue that states are deeply concerned with relative gains and fear being betrayed by partners, which makes cooperation in an anarchic system highly precarious.
Why do neoliberals believe international institutions are important?
Neoliberals view institutions as vital mechanisms that provide information, facilitate communication, and help states overcome collective action problems to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Jakob Weber (Autor:in), 2009, Analysing the rationalistic theory of international regimes by examining common grounds and differences of its main approaches – neoliberalism and neorealism, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/134262
