Charles L. Glaser

Last updated

Charles Louis Glaser is a scholar of international relations theory, known for his work on defensive realism, [1] [2] as well as nuclear strategy. [3] [4] He is the founding director of the Institute for Security and Conflict Studies at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, as well as a professor of political science and international affairs. His best-known book, Rational Theory of International Politics: The Logic of Competition and Cooperation (Princeton University Press, 2010) received an Honorable Mention for 2011 Best Book from the International Security Studies Section of the International Studies Association. [5]

Contents

Academic career

Glaser's research focuses on international relations theory and international security policy. [6] He has contributed to the ideas of defensive realism, the security dilemma, the offense-defense balance, and arms races through various publications and articles. [7]

In Rational Theory of International Politics, he outlines three factors that affect a state's security strategies: the material capabilities of a state, the information it has about the intentions and capabilities of other states, and the state's motives. Here, he distinguishes between motives that are "security-seeking" or "greedy." [8] The book provides a defensive realist approach to international relations. It rejects that the international system consistently favors competitive behavior between states. The book was debated in an issue of Security Studies. [9] According to LSE international relations scholar Chris Brown, Glaser's book is "the most sophisticated account of structural realism since that of [Kenneth] Waltz." [10]

In a 2019 article for International Security, Glaser argued that the concept of a "liberal international order" was flawed and that many of the outcomes purportedly explained by the liberal international order (such as "cooperation under anarchy, effective Western balancing against the Soviet Union, the Cold War peace, and the lack of balancing against the United States following the Cold War") could be better accounted for by defensive realism. [11]

Glaser received a doctorate from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also holds an M.A. in physics and an MPP from Harvard University, as well as a B.S. in physics from MIT. [6] Glaser was the Emmett Dedmon professor of public policy and acting dean at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago prior to George Washington University. He has also taught political science at the University of Michigan and was a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation. He has served as a strategic analyst for the Joint Staff in the Pentagon, and was a peace fellow at the United States Institute of Peace, as well as a research associate at the Center for International Studies at MIT. [6]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

Neorealism or structural realism is a theory of international relations that emphasizes the role of power politics in international relations, sees competition and conflict as enduring features and sees limited potential for cooperation. The anarchic state of the international system means that states cannot be certain of other states' intentions and their security, thus prompting them to engage in power politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International relations</span> Study of relationships between two or more states

International Relations (IR) are the interactions among sovereign states. The scientific study of those interactions is called international studies, international politics, or international affairs. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities among states—such as war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy—as well as relations with and among other international actors, such as intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), international legal bodies, and multinational corporations (MNCs). There are several schools of thought within IR, of which the most prominent are realism, liberalism, and constructivism.

International relations theory is the study of international relations (IR) from a theoretical perspective. It seeks to explain behaviors and outcomes in international politics. The four most prominent schools of thought are realism, liberalism, constructivism, and rational choice. Whereas realism and liberalism make broad and specific predictions about international relations, constructivism and rational choice are methodological approaches that focus on certain types of social explanation for phenomena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Morgenthau</span> American political scientist

Hans Joachim Morgenthau was a German-American jurist and political scientist who was one of the major 20th-century figures in the study of international relations. Morgenthau's works belong to the tradition of realism in international relations theory; he is usually considered among the most influential realists of the post-World War II period. Morgenthau made landmark contributions to international relations theory and the study of international law. His Politics Among Nations, first published in 1948, went through five editions during his lifetime and was widely adopted as a textbook in U.S. universities. While Morgenthau emphasized the centrality of power and "the national interest," the subtitle of Politics Among Nations—"the struggle for power and peace"—indicates his concern not only with the struggle for power but also with the ways in which it is limited by ethical and legal norms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Jervis</span> American political scientist and academic (1940–2021)

Robert Jervis was an American political scientist who was the Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University. Jervis was co-editor of the Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, a series published by Cornell University Press.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Waltz</span> American political scientist (1924–2013)

Kenneth Neal Waltz was an American political scientist who was a member of the faculty at both the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University and one of the most prominent scholars in the field of international relations. He was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.

In international relations, the security dilemma is when the increase in one state's security leads other states to fear for their own security. Consequently, security-increasing measures can lead to tensions, escalation or conflict with one or more other parties, producing an outcome which no party truly desires; a political instance of the prisoner's dilemma.

Regime theory is a theory within international relations derived from the liberal tradition that argues that international institutions or regimes affect the behavior of states or other international actors. It assumes that cooperation is possible in the anarchic system of states, as regimes are, by definition, instances of international cooperation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International security</span> Measures taken by states and international organizations to ensure mutual safety and survival

International security is a term which refers to the measures taken by states and international organizations, such as the United Nations, European Union, and others, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security are invariably linked. International security is national security or state security in the global arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Realism (international relations)</span> Belief that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing power

In international relations theory, realism is one of the dominant schools of thought, theoretically formalizing the statesmanship of Realpolitik of early modern Europe. Although a highly diverse body of thought, realism is unified by the belief that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing wealth and power. The theories of realism contrast with the cooperative ideals of liberalism in international relations.

In international relations (IR), constructivism is a social theory that asserts that significant aspects of international relations are shaped by ideational factors. The most important ideational factors are those that are collectively held; these collectively held beliefs construct the interests and identities of actors.

Offensive realism is a structural theory in international relations that belongs to the neorealist school of thought and was put forward by the political scholar John Mearsheimer in response to defensive realism. Offensive realism holds that the anarchic nature of the international system is responsible for the promotion of aggressive state behavior in international politics. The theory fundamentally differs from defensive realism by depicting great powers as power-maximizing revisionists privileging buck-passing and self-promotion over balancing strategies in their consistent aim to dominate the international system. The theory brings important alternative contributions for the study and understanding of international relations but remains the subject of criticism.

Robert Gilpin was an American political scientist. He was Professor of Politics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University where he held the Eisenhower professorship.

In international relations theory, the concept of anarchy is the idea that the world lacks any supreme authority or sovereignty. In an anarchic state, there is no hierarchically superior, coercive power that can resolve disputes, enforce law, or order the system of international politics. In international relations, anarchy is widely accepted as the starting point for international relations theory.

Defensive neorealism is a structural theory in international relations that is derived from the school of neorealism. The theory finds its foundation in the political scientist Kenneth Waltz's Theory of International Politics in which Waltz argues that the anarchical structure of the international system encourages states to maintain moderate and reserved policies to attain national security. In contrast, offensive realism assumes that states seek to maximize their power and influence to achieve security through domination and hegemony. Defensive neorealism asserts that aggressive expansion as promoted by offensive neorealists upsets the tendency of states to conform to the balance of power theory, thereby decreasing the primary objective of the state, which they argue to be the ensuring of its security. Defensive realism denies neither the reality of interstate conflict or that incentives for state expansion exist, but it contends that those incentives are sporadic, rather than endemic. Defensive neorealism points towards "structural modifiers," such as the security dilemma and geography, and elite beliefs and perceptions to explain the outbreak of conflict.

<i>Theory of International Politics</i> 1979 book by Kenneth Waltz

Theory of International Politics is a 1979 book on international relations theory by Kenneth Waltz that creates a structural realist theory, neorealism, to explain international relations. Taking into account the influence of neoclassical economic theory, Waltz argued that the fundamental "ordering principle" (p. 88) of the international political system is anarchy, which is defined by the presence of "functionally undifferentiated" (p. 97) individual state actors lacking "relations of super- and subordination" (p. 88) that are distinguished only by their varying capabilities.

<i>The Tragedy of Great Power Politics</i> 2001 book by John Mearsheimer

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics is a book by the American scholar John Mearsheimer on the subject of international relations theory published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2001. Mearsheimer explains and argues for his theory of "offensive realism" by stating its key assumptions, evolution from early realist theory, and its predictive capability. An article adapted from the book had previously been published by Foreign Affairs.

Neoclassical realism is a theory of international relations and an approach to foreign policy analysis. Initially coined by Gideon Rose in a 1998 World Politics review article, it is a combination of classical realist and neorealist – particularly defensive realist – theories.

Liberal institutionalism is a theory of international relations that holds that international cooperation between states is feasible and sustainable, and that such cooperation can reduce conflict and competition. Neoliberalism is a revised version of liberalism. Alongside neorealism, liberal institutionalism is one of the two most influential contemporary approaches to international relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classical realism (international relations)</span> Theory of international relations

Classical realism is an international relations theory from the realist school of thought. Realism makes the following assumptions: states are the main actors in the international relations system, there is no supranational international authority, states act in their own self-interest, and states want power for self-preservation. Classical realism differs from other forms of realism in that it places specific emphasis on human nature and domestic politics as the key factor in explaining state behavior and the causes of inter-state conflict. Classical realist theory adopts a pessimistic view of human nature and argues that humans are not inherently benevolent but instead they are self-interested and act out of fear or aggression. Furthermore, it emphasizes that this human nature is reflected by states in international politics due to international anarchy.

References

  1. Charles Glasner; Chaim Kaufmann (Spring 1998). "What is the Offense-Defense Balance?". International Security. 22 (4): 44–82. doi:10.2307/2539240. JSTOR   2539240.
  2. Mearsheimer, John (2011-07-01). "Realists as Idealists". Security Studies. 20 (3): 424–430. doi:10.1080/09636412.2011.599190. ISSN   0963-6412. S2CID   145130662.
  3. "Book Review Roundtable: The Meaning of the Nuclear Revolution 30 Years Later". Texas National Security Review. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  4. Kroenig, Matthew (2015-09-01). "Posturing the Bomb". International Studies Review. 17 (3): 482–484. doi:10.1111/misr.12242. ISSN   1521-9488.
  5. Glaser, Charles L. (2010). Rational Theory of International Politics. Princeton University Press. ISBN   9780691143729. Archived from the original on 2010-04-02.
  6. 1 2 3 "Charlie Glaser | Elliott School of International Affairs | The George Washington University". elliott.gwu.edu.
  7. "WorldCat Identities". WorldCat. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Review by G. John Ikenberry". Foreign Affairs, November/December 2010. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2013.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. "Security Studies". Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  10. Brown, Chris (2012-07-01). "Realism: rational or reasonable?". International Affairs. 88 (4): 857–866. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2346.2012.01105.x. ISSN   0020-5850.
  11. Glaser, Charles L. (2019-04-01). "A Flawed Framework: Why the Liberal International Order Concept Is Misguided". International Security. 43 (4): 51–87. doi: 10.1162/isec_a_00343 . ISSN   0162-2889.
  12. "Additional Reviews and/or Endorsements for Glaser, C.L.: Rational Theory of International Politics: The Logic of Competition and Cooperation".
  13. Trevertonspring 1991, Gregory F. (28 January 2009). "Review by Gregory F. Treverton". Foreign Affairs, Spring 1991. Retrieved 25 September 2013.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)