Another Logic of Anarchy: Economic Prosperity, Economic Dependence, and Relative Losses

"Neo-realist" hypotheses have been one of the main debates over international political theories. This paper posesquestions in neorealist hypotheses over national interest, economic dependence, and relative gains, and then, proposesnew alternative hypotheses which represent the logic of anarchy different from neorealism. Neorealist hypotheses are asfollows.1. International political structure is "anarchy", where central government securing "survival-independence" forstates does not exist. Therefore, states are forced to pursue security -survival-independence for states- as core state interest.2. Because of concern over survival-independence, states dislike dependence or subordination to other states, and refrainfrom extending economic exchange one another.3. If one state takes an advantage in relative gains in trade, the state will relatively enhance power and might pursuemore hard-line, more aggressive diplomacy, and what is worse, even aggression against the other state. This situationwill undermine the other state\u27s survival-independence. Therefore, states hesitate to extend economic cooperationbecause of concern for relative gains as well as dependence.Neorealist hypotheses often contradict the reality of international politics. Neorealist hypotheses face explanatoryproblems especially about economic statecraft, because these hypotheses pay little attention to economic aspects in nationalsecurity."Neo-realist" hypotheses have been one of the main debates over international political theories. This paper posesquestions in neorealist hypotheses over national interest, economic dependence, and relative gains, and then, proposesnew alternative hypotheses which represent the logic of anarchy different from neorealism. Neorealist hypotheses are asfollows.1. International political structure is "anarchy", where central government securing "survival-independence" forstates does not exist. Therefore, states are forced to pursue security -survival-independence for states- as core state interest.2. Because of concern over survival-independence, states dislike dependence or subordination to other states, and refrainfrom extending economic exchange one another.3. If one state takes an advantage in relative gains in trade, the state will relatively enhance power and might pursuemore hard-line, more aggressive diplomacy, and what is worse, even aggression against the other state. This situationwill undermine the other state\u27s survival-independence. Therefore, states hesitate to extend economic cooperationbecause of concern for relative gains as well as dependence.Neorealist hypotheses often contradict the reality of international politics. Neorealist hypotheses face explanatoryproblems especially about economic statecraft, because these hypotheses pay little attention to economic aspects in nationalsecurity