Cooperation and Neo-Realism

Cooperation and Neo-Realism

By
B.E.N.


Cooperation is normally referred to as a liberal idea and is often seen as an opposite to the realist or neo-realist mindsets in regards to international theory. However, I do not think this premise or assumption is entirely correct because all international theories provide for some form of cooperation, especially in neo-realism. When the premise of cooperation is examined, this element becomes more obvious to the analyst and allows then the application of some of these characteristics of cooperation to the neo-realist premise.

Collective Security
The idea of collective security, a form of cooperation, is not unique to liberal theorists. In the theory of neo-realism, collective security becomes increasingly apparent when dealing with the balance of power or even bandwagoning. While the former is always preferred to the later, the element of collective agreements remains the same.

Inis Claude Jr. stated several valuable points to collective security, which are applicable to the neo-realist theory on international relations. First, Claude pointed out that collective security is a specialized instrument of international policy intended to forestall arbitrary and aggressive use of force and was not intended to provide enforcement mechanisms for international law in general. What this says is that collective security is focussed purely on the premise of state security, which is the single driving goal for neo-realists.

He continues by stating that, in regards to world order, collective security provides restraint of military action instead of guaranteeing respect for international law. Collective security is not an ideal, but rather a tool used in an anarchic system to help provide security to states that feel they are incapable of dealing with their threats individually. Collective security uses diplomatic, economic and military sanctions as equipment to induce a rational decision of avoiding national damage.

Collective security is designed to provide the certainty of collective action in the face of aggression. It reassures the victim and deters the aggressor, ensuring that the resources of the community are mobilized. Again this supports the elements of balance of power in neo-realism and supports the premise that states will balance against powerful nations rather than bandwagon with them.

Cooperation and International Regimes
Robert Keohane has argued several points about cooperation and international regimes that apply to the neo-realist premise as well. Keohane’s first point is that cooperation can only come from conflict or the potential for conflict. This is supported by the neo-realist theory because the world is in an anarchic state with all states focussing on the need for security from threats to state survival. Based off of this, discord therefore stimulates interaction, which will intern either foster cooperation or more discord.

Second, international regimes, also known as alliances, focus on global conflict and provide a pattern that allows for states to look at different situations with some semblance of predictability. These patterns of cooperation or discord therefore highlight situations and connect them to past occurrences, thereby keeping them from being isolated events. Neo-realists, while they believe there is no difference in the function of the units or states, do believe there are vast difference in the capabilities of these units so the makeup of regimes and their ability to deal with conflict becomes increasingly important.

Another element of regimes, supported by neo-realism, is that the norms and rules of regimes have an effect on the actions of states, even if self-interested units focussed on mutual adjustment use them. States pursue policies that support their security, regimes are collective tools towards that end. Since few regimes actually compete against one another directly, this narrows the number of units competing against one another. When the number of main actors in the system decreases, which regimes do, then the system becomes less anarchic and therefore more stable in neo-realist theory. Therefore regimes are an important element of neo-realism and help promote state security.

Tit for Tat
Robert Axelrod promotes a theory of reciprocity. Responses to other states are to be reciprocal to their actions, and therefore, if a state acts in good faith, then the response should be an act in good faith. The same applies to acts in bad faith as well as their responses; this is a very realist premise. He also promotes the interaction of smaller groups as he feels that the members of these groups interact more than larger groups.

While the concepts of Axelrod are premised on game theory and are limited in their structure and development, the belief of reciprocity and interaction of smaller units in the face of adverse situations shows a theory that thrives in the face of negativity, providing benefits, while striving for a better paradigm. This strongly supports the idea of neo-realism while holding out for better situations.

The Ties that Bind
By looking at the elements of the collective security, cooperation and international regimes and game theory we can effectively provide a strong, thorough understanding of the cooperative nature of neo-realism and see how these separate and independent theories on international relations make up a large portion of the neo-realist mindset.

Game theory really provides the foundation for the cooperative element of neo-realism. The concept of reciprocity is extremely important and is not to be underestimated. For states to consider cooperation, two things are assured- they are either very weak or very strong; there is no middle ground. This is important to understand as the repercussions of defection or the benefits of cooperation are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. If a state cooperates but the other defects, then that state is severely hampered while the other is greatly rewarded. This really affects the expectations that the participating states will have on the interaction, so the expectation of cooperation is low and states will do what is safe- defect, thus at least getting some benefits even though they could have gotten more.

This ties into the neo-realist theory as this type of interaction happens in an anarchic system with no central authority that ensures all states play "fair". As stated earlier, weak states must make the effort to cooperate so as to garner as much benefit as possible while powerful states will participate as they can afford to take the chance on defection.

The element of reciprocity involved in game theory also plays a large part of neo-realism. States, in an environment of cooperation, must be able to trust the actions and intentions of the other participating states. While the dependence exists, there must also be an element of enforcement for when that trust is broken, meaning that when one state defects it should and does expect the other to respond in kind, thus ending the cooperative regime or alliance.

This brings us to the cooperation concept of collective security. Collective security is a focus on security, pure and simple, and it is the goal of neo-realists to attain maximum security. The tools of collective security are diplomatic, economic and military, which are all elements of power. Power is the primary tool used by neo-realists to attain security, therefore, collective security uses the power of the collective to attain security for the collective.

Collective security is achieved through cooperation by states and is typically in the form of collective security regimes. These international regimes provide a vehicle for states that on their own, could not withstand a particular threat. Members of the regime face the same threat and each one independently could not ensure their own security in the face of it, so it is the mission of the regime to collectively pool together the resources and capabilities of the members to effectively counter and defeat the threat. The regime provides the security that the individual members could not attain independently, thus balancing power in the system. These collective security regimes also reduce the number of main actors in the system, thus providing a stabilizing factor as prescribed in the neo-realist theory.

Conclusion
Cooperation is an important tool used by neo-realists and liberals alike, but is particularly an important piece in the neo-realist theory. The premise of reciprocity, collective security, and the effects of international regimes all contribute important characteristics to neo-realism. These elements all provide tools to the state, which then uses them in its pursuit of security in the international system. Without cooperation, security would be a goal well out of the reach of most states and an enormous obstacle when attempting to balance the power of others. Its absence would leave the world as a very volatile, destabilized and violent environment with little need for diplomacy and little hope for peace.