Offensive ideas: structural realism, classical realism and Putin's war on Ukraine.

Controversy has surrounded realist explanations of the causes of Russia's war against Ukraine, particularly John Mearsheimer's charge of western responsibility. This article seeks to clarify and contextualize his argument, situating it within the broader paradigm. Realism, and even its narrower offe...

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Publicado en:International Affairs Vol. 98; no. 6; pp. 1873 - 1894
Autor principal: Edinger, Harald
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Nov2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Offensive ideas: structural realism, classical realism and Putin's war on Ukraine.
      aug:
        au: Edinger, Harald
      su:
        Ukraine
        Russia
        Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich, 1952-
        Emotions
        Realism
        Human behavior
        Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022-
        Political stability
        Theory of change
        Russia-Ukraine Conflict, 2014-
        Structural components
      sug:
        subj:
          Emotions
          Realism
          Human behavior
          Ukraine
          Russia
          Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022-
          Political stability
          Theory of change
          Russia-Ukraine Conflict, 2014-
          Structural components
          Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich, 1952-
      ab: Controversy has surrounded realist explanations of the causes of Russia's war against Ukraine, particularly John Mearsheimer's charge of western responsibility. This article seeks to clarify and contextualize his argument, situating it within the broader paradigm. Realism, and even its narrower offensive sub-school, offers a wide range of contrasting interpretations, depending on which major actors are studied and what characteristics they are endowed with. Like its classical predecessor, structural realism is premised on implicit views of human nature. In an effort to explicate some of these assumptions about the behavioural micro-foundations of states and their leaders, the article investigates main components of structural theory—including power differentials, 'rational' interests and states as unitary actors—and connects these concepts to base emotions like fear and anger. It argues that realists do well to differentiate between the aspirations of states and individual leaders' quest for power and status. In the same vein, reference to Russian security concerns may be emblematic of elites' perceived challenges of cultural subordination, and Putin's personal fears for the stability of his regime. Engagement with realist thought is essential, in part because of its continuing influence on policy-making (particularly in Russia) and in order to forestall improper co-option of caricaturized versions of realist arguments.
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    language: English
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