Session 11: Neo-Realism: Facts and Theory

States are faced with constraints and challenges. These could range from domestic instability to international turf wars. From the perspective of a neo-realist, to over come any obstacle, the only entity a state can count on is, the state itself. The Realist theory presented by Waltz argues that no matter what goes on in the international arena a state's best bet to stay afloat and progress, is the states own potential, more or less. However as viewed by Schroeder, in the context of international conflicts, this claim hardly has any statistical evidence. 

Schroeder presents the view that self-help is an abstract concept. If not abstract, a thing of the past, to say the least. Using statistical evidence from the greatest disputes seen over the last three centuries Schroeder explains how the realist or the neo-realist theories have little to do with reality. Using multiple cases of nations with disputes he tries to establish that self help in the contemporary world is a rare occurrence. From the First world war, to the second one and to the cold war, states took three approaches to either align themselves, distant themselves or go beyond their own capacity to help resolve conflicts between the states engaged in disputes. 

From the perspective of a non-realist there are three significant ways a state might respond to a dispute between two other states, depending on its own capacity to influence. If a state does not enjoy a greater degree of influence over other states it might ally itself with either of the two states depending upon its pre-conflict relations with either of the state. A state might ignore the conflict altogether and not try to influence its course. Thirdly and lastly a state might try and impose a solution on the states sharing the dispute. Historically, broadly viewing, these are the main ways states react to conflicts they are not directly a member of. 

Therefore, viewing the neo-realist theory from the perspective of international conflicts it can be seen that it is in fact far from ground realities. In my opinion, the concept of self-help is not, was not or will not ever be the on;y course of action states take in international disputes. However it cannot be said that states will rely on self-help but it cannot be ruled out completely as well. Because like everything else in international politics, there is no hard and fast definition of conflicts or its types.