Realism
Realism is one of the traditional (parent:: international relations theory) focusing on conflict, anarchy, and selfishness of states.
Assumptions 1
Branches of Realism
- Human Nature: Pessimistic view of human nature and state’s nature as being selfish, pragmatic, self-reliance, and power-seeking
- Power Hungry: States want to be in the driver seat above others
- Main aim is to gain more power than everyone else
- Main Actor: only states are influential in the International System
- Institutions and IGO are only tools for states national interests
- Highly valued state’s national security and survival
- Population rely on state’s leadership, other wise they’d be poor,
- International system: is bound to be conflictual and anarchic
- No global government looking over each state (anarchic)
- States must rely on themselves
- Conflicts will be resolved by war
- Doubt there can be progress in International Politics (cooperation is impossible)
- Domestic politic can be achieved but international political level isn’t possible
- states focus on themselves rather than relying on relations
- Conflicts being resolved by war means difficulty for building relations
- Peace: only happens when there’s balance of power between states Hegemonic Stability Theory
Sub-Topics of Realism
[!tips|right]- Key Terms
- Security Dilemma: a state increases security in territory, but the adversary is also increasing its security. ⇒ increasing security becomes less secured than before.
- Realpolitik: pragmatic ideas better suited for dealing with practical ideas than theoretical ideals.
- US’s president calling China’s leader to deal with Covid-19
- Transnationalism: ideas to lessen the importance of borders between countries to allow for better integration, relations, and trade. (Globalization)
- states will only abide by international law if it is tied to its national goal
- Interdependence: states depend on one another to grow
References
Footnotes
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Chapter 3 Realism (main) ↩