PYQ Vault · Paper 2 · Approaches to International Relations
Neo-liberalism lightened neo-realism’s dark view of international politics. Comment.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
R1 shared premise: anarchy + rational states → opposite verdicts on cooperation → Intro routes claim holds: same start, minus the pessimism 2 neo-realism asks "how to survive" → neo-liberalism asks "how to cooperate" → same anarchy, softer reading
Body flow
Waltz: structure = anarchy + distribution of capabilities → survival central → Body flow cooperation blocked by insecurity (intentions unverifiable) + relative gains → Mearsheimer: institutions reflect power, war a constant risk → neo-liberalism accepts anarchy, denies it is determinative → absolute gains → economic interdependence (Keohane & Nye) → institutions: share information, cut transaction costs, enable reciprocity → mitigate cheating → states pool resources, cede some sovereignty
Counter-view
Grieco: states still weigh relative gains ("who will gain more?") → the lightening is only Counter-view partial
Conclusion routes
R1 gap narrows into a Neo-Neo Synthesis → dark view softened, not dispelled 2 Conclusion routes institutions soften but do not abolish the security dilemma → neo-liberalism lightens the darkness rather than removing it
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
