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The long peace, the end of the cold war, and the failure of realism

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  • Lebow, Richard Ned

Abstract

Three of the more important international developments of the last half century are the “long peace” between the superpowers, the Soviet Union's renunciation of its empire and leading role as a superpower, and the post-cold war transformation of the international system. Realist theories at the international level address the first and third of these developments, and realist theories at the unit level have made an ex post facto attempt to account for the second. The conceptual and empirical weaknesses of these explanations raise serious problems for existing realist theories. Realists contend that the anarchy of the international system shapes interstate behavior. Postwar international relations indicates that international structure is not determining. Fear of anarchy and its consequences encouraged key international actors to modify their behavior with the avowed goal of changing that structure. The pluralist security community that has developed among the democratic industrial powers is in part the result of this process. This community and the end of the cold war provide evidence that states can escape from the security dilemma.

Suggested Citation

  • Lebow, Richard Ned, 1994. "The long peace, the end of the cold war, and the failure of realism," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 48(2), pages 249-277, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:intorg:v:48:y:1994:i:02:p:249-277_02
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    Cited by:

    1. Mihalache Oana-Cosmina, 2017. "NATO’s ‘Out of Area’ Operations: A Two- Track Approach. The Normative Side of a Military Alliance," Croatian International Relations Review, Sciendo, vol. 23(80), pages 233-258, November.
    2. Igor Kovač, 2013. "In the Long Run We Are all Dead: Hey Keynes, What Is Long in the Contemporary US Case?," Transition Studies Review, Springer;Central Eastern European University Network (CEEUN), vol. 19(3), pages 275-290, February.
    3. Akan Malici, 2005. "Discord and Collaboration between Allies," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 49(1), pages 90-119, February.
    4. Steve Chan & Richard W. Hu, 2015. "East Asia’s Enduring Rivalries: Ripe for Abatement?," Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, , vol. 2(2), pages 133-153, August.
    5. Jolyon Howorth & Anand Menon, 2009. "Still Not Pushing Back," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 53(5), pages 727-744, October.
    6. Paul Poast, 2024. "Prediction in international relations is hard, sometimes: A commentary on Tetlock et al. (2023)," Futures & Foresight Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 6(1), March.

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