Meeting # 3: Realist Theory.

Questions for Discussion

  1. Recall each step in the logic of the institutionalist argument we read about the last 2 weeks. What are the realist critiques of each point in the argument?
  2. What is the realist theory of international institutions? Explain.
  3. According to realism, do institutions influence state behavior? Why do they (institutions) exist in the first place? How/when do they change? What effect do different institutional designs have on policy outcomes? Why are some institutions formal and others informal? Why are some institutions public, i.e., governmental, and others private? Suggest hypotheses consistent with realist theory.
  4. What is "market failure"? "Distributional conflict"? Contrast these two problems. What does Krasner say dominates in international politics? Do you agree with him? What about the evidence?
  5. What is Fearon’s argument about bargaining versus enforcement? Do institutions facilitate bargaining as well as enforcement in any way?