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Discuss the commonalities between the Marxist and Realist approach to the study of International Politics.(UPSC CSE Mains 2022 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
- It has often been claimed that Marx, when writing Capital, followed critical realist principles before critical realism even existed. Marxists have linked the origin and development of imperialism with the advancement of capitalism. Taking inspiration from Marxism, three variants of neo-Marxism have significantly enhanced our understanding of world politics. The dependency theory explains how unfair terms of trade between developed and newly independent states lead to exploitation of post-colonial states by the developed capitalist states. The neo-Gramscian approach has splendidly shown how the powerful state establishes and maintain their hegemony and suggested the way to end it.
- In contrast to pure Realists, Neo-realists see power as something which does not solely stem from the degree of military capabilities but instead stems from the accumulated capabilities of the state. Nations at the top rank of the world order become hegemons, able to influence the policies of other nations in their vicinity. As stated by Kenneth Waltz, the forming of and the effectiveness of the United Nations, NATO and other international institutions, rests on the ability of the global hegemon(s) (i.e.) the United States to support them.
- Similar views for the necessity of hegemonic powers can be seen in Marxist works. Drawing upon Antonio Gramsci’s conceptualisation of the hegemony of the ruling classes via “spontaneous consent” and the need for a counter-hegemonic struggle, Canadian Marxist Robert Cox developed the idea and applied it to world politics. Cox argued that hegemons were essential to maintain stability in the international sphere. Put clearly in ‘The Globalisation of World Politics,’ “according to Cox, successive dominant powers in the international system have shaped a world order that suits their interests.”
- The similarities lying between Marxism and Realism are hence:
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- The mode of power maximization lies in both the forms of Marxist and Realist traditions. For example, realists seek hard power and marxist seek economic power.
- The objectivity of both theories is to display that there are ways to create some more powerful states and some less powerful states.
- Both hold the idea of anarchy existing in the international system.
- Both Marxism and Realism consolidates the notion of colonialism through establishing economic interests of big powers.
- Realism and Marxism both drift away from the ideology of idealism and liberalism theory of international relations.
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