Neorealism: War Avoided in Thirteen Days

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Both states have certain tools that they prefer to wield and one of these is secrecy. On the American side, spies, observation flights, and suppressed journalism were used to achieve American goals, and the Soviet Union paralleled this. The Soviet Union continuously denied placing offensive weapons in Cuba, then resorted to attempting to prevent evidence from being revealed (though unsuccessfully). Secrecy is used by both states to coerce the other into certain actions by putting them in unfavourable positions. This tool is in line with neorealism’s ideas. Neorealism believes that the anarchic system in place “makes it impossible for governments to fully trust each other.” Within both the film and the theory, such a sentiment translates into secrecy. There can be no cooperation between the two on matters of international interest and all actions that are taken must be done without the other’s knowledge. Neorealism advocates the use of secrecy as a tool of international relations and this tool is depicted within the film.
The two states also used diplomacy in both a public and private forum. Publically, the two condemned one another in the UN, but the most significant diplomacy occurred in private. The duo interacted with each other most meaningfully through secret telegrams and backchannel negotiations, and it was through secret diplomacy that an agreement was reached. Once again, neorealism is displayed as its ideas about international organizations are reinforced. For neorealists, international organizations exist and can be utilized, but are not significant in situations of national interest or survival. The film depicts this concept for while the UN is used to try to gain public support, the ...

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...e use of force is necessary. Lastly, Kennedy also believes in the use of international organizations. Before enacting the blockade, he made sure he had the support of the Organization of the American States, and later turned to the UN, where his delegate proved the legitimacy of American actions. This falls into line with liberalism thinking, as it believes in the strength of international institutions for “they clarify how and when [international rules] will be broken.” Kennedy utilized these institutions in this way, making sure other states knew that the Soviet Union had disobeyed international law and that the United States was behaving appropriately. Within the film, Kennedy embodies liberalism ideals and provides an interesting counter to neorealism. Either liberalism or neorealism could be argued for the film Thirteen Days, and both would be correct.

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