"Realism is one of the dominant schools of thought in international relations theory..."
The belief that the international system is characterized by a struggle for power and security, with actors driven by self-interest.
Historical Roots of Realism: This topic explains the origins and development of Realism as an international relations theory.
Main Assumptions of Realism: This topic elucidates the fundamental assumptions of Realism, such as the state as the primary actor in international relations, the pursuit of power and security, and the anarchic nature of the international system.
Realism and Human Nature: This topic examines how Realism views human nature as fundamentally selfish and competitive.
Balance of Power: This topic explains the concept of balance of power, which is a key element in Realism theory that suggests states must balance power to prevent one state from dominating over others.
National Interest: Realism emphasizes the importance of the national interest in foreign policy, with each state primarily focusing on its own national interests.
Realism and International Security: This topic discusses how Realism views international security, defined as the absence of threats or use of force, as a key objective of states.
Realism and International Law: This topic examines how Realism views international law as secondary to the interests and power of states.
The Concept of Hegemony: This topic elucidates the concept of hegemony in Realism theory, which refers to the dominant state in the international system.
The Role of Military Power: This topic discusses how Realism views military power as necessary to secure a state's interests and protect its sovereignty.
Realism and International Organizations: This topic examines how Realism views international organizations as often serving the interests of powerful states, rather than providing a framework for cooperation and collective action among states.
Realism and Diplomacy: This topic elucidates how Realism views diplomacy as instrumental in maintaining power and security in international relations.
Realism and Economics: This topic examines how Realism views economics as a tool for achieving national security and prosperity, rather than for promoting cooperation and economic integration.
Realism and Nuclear Weapons: This topic discusses how Realism views nuclear weapons as a key element in the achievement of national security.
Realism and Foreign Policy Decision-Making: This topic examines how Realism views foreign policy decision-making as driven primarily by considerations of power and national interest.
Realism and International Conflict: This topic examines how Realism views international conflict as an inevitable consequence of the anarchic nature of the international system.
Classical Realism: It is the first and original school of Realism that emerged in the 1940s. It contends that states are motivated primarily by power and that human nature is essentially aggressive and self-interested. States seek to maximize their own interests and security, and they do so by accumulating power and relying on military force.
Neoclassical Realism: It is a more recent development within Realism that attempts to bridge the gap between Classical Realism and other theories. It asserts that while states are motivated by power, their actions are also influenced by other domestic, economic, and sociopolitical factors.
Structural Realism (also known as Neorealism): It is based on the premise that the international system is structured in such a way that states are encouraged to pursue power and security at the expense of others. It emphasizes the importance of the distribution of power among states and the constraints this places on their behavior.
Offensive Realism: It emphasizes the aggressive expansionist tendencies of powerful states. It argues that states must constantly seek to increase their power and influence to ensure their survival in an anarchic international system.
Defensive Realism: It argues that states are primarily concerned with their own security and will seek to maintain a balance of power to prevent any one state from becoming too dominant.
Classical Realism: It argues that states pursue their interests and security because of their nature, and this nature will not change regardless of the structure of the international system. Classical Realism also highlights the role of culture and historical context in shaping state behavior.
Cooperative Realism: It argues that states can cooperate to achieve common goals, even in an anarchic international system. This variant of Realism emphasizes the potential for international institutions and norms to facilitate cooperation and promote peace.
Marxist Realism: It is a Marxist approach to international relations that emphasizes the importance of economic factors and social classes in shaping state behavior. It asserts that capitalist states are driven by the need to secure resources and markets for their economies and that conflict is inevitable under capitalism.
Psychology Realism: It is a recent development within Realism that emphasizes the psychological factors driving state behavior. This variant of Realism emphasizes the role of emotions, attitudes, and cognitive biases in shaping decision-making at the state level.
"...theoretically formalizing the statesmanship of Realpolitik of early modern Europe."
"...realism is unified by the belief that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing wealth and power."
"The theories of realism contrast with the cooperative ideals of liberalism in international relations."
"Classical realists believe that conflict follows from human nature."
"Neorealists attribute conflict to the dynamics of the anarchic state-system."
"Neoclassical realists believe that conflict results from both, in combination with domestic politics."
"Neorealists are also divided between defensive and offensive realism."
"Realists trace the history of their ideas back to classical antiquity, beginning with Thucydides (fl. 5th century BCE)."
"State-centrism: states are the central actors in international politics, rather than leaders or international organizations."
"Anarchy: the international political system is anarchic, as there is no supranational authority to enforce rules."
"Rationality and/or egoism: states act in their rational self-interest within the international system."
"Power: states desire power to ensure self-preservation."
"Realpolitik, however, is an older prescriptive guideline limited to policy-making, while realism is a wider theoretical and methodological paradigm which aims to describe, explain, and predict events in international relations."
"As an academic pursuit, realism is not necessarily tied to ideology; it does not favor any particular moral philosophy."
"However, realists are generally critical of liberal foreign-policy."
"Garrett Ward Sheldon has characterized the priorities of realists as Machiavellian..."
"...seen them as prioritizing the seeking of power..."
"...although realists have also advocated the idea that powerful states concede spheres of influence to other powerful states."
"Realpolitik, however, is an older prescriptive guideline limited to policy-making, while realism is a wider theoretical and methodological paradigm which aims to describe, explain, and predict events in international relations."