Political realism is a theory emphasizing power and self-interest in international relations․ It posits that states are the primary actors, driven by a desire for survival and security in an anarchic system․
Table of contents
Core Tenets
- State-centricity: States are the main actors․
- Anarchy: The international system lacks a central authority․
- Self-interest: States pursue their own national interests․
- Power: A key factor influencing state behavior․
Realism vs․ Other Theories
Realism differs from idealism and liberalism, which emphasize cooperation and international law․ Realists focus on the realities of power politics․ Morgenthau says the realist thinks in terms of interest defined as power, as the economist thinks in terms of interest defined as wealth; the lawyer, of the conformity of action with legal rules; the moralist, of the conformity of action with moral principles․
Criticisms of Realism
Realism has faced criticism for its pessimistic view of human nature and its neglect of non-state actors․ Some argue it overlooks the potential for cooperation․
Realists claim to offer both the most accurate explanation of state behaviour and a set of policy prescriptions (notably the balance of power between states) for ameliorating the inherent destabilizing elements of international affairs․
Variations of Realism
Different strands of realism exist, including classical realism, neorealism (structural realism), and neoclassical realism․ Neorealism focuses on the structure of the international system as the primary determinant of state behavior․
Relevance in Contemporary Politics
Despite criticisms, realism remains influential in understanding international relations․ It provides a framework for analyzing state behavior in a world characterized by competition and uncertainty․ As noted, realism has been the dominant IR theory for nearly a centuryespecially prevalent during the Cold Warbut many IR scholars find themselves wondering what the future holds for the theory and its role going forward in international security․
The Basic Legitimation Demand (BLD)
Some realists are attracted to the suggestion that a normative principle – the Basic Legitimation Demand (BLD) – can be derived from the very meaning of a political situation․ The situation of one lot of people terrorizing another lot of people is not per se a political situation: it is, rather, the situation which the existence of the political is in the first place supposed to alleviate․
Realists are aware of the existence and relevance of other fields and the experts within, but sometimes politics must be separated from economics, morality, and even law․
Realism (including neorealism) focuses on abiding patterns of interaction in an international system lacking a centralized political authority․
For realists, political standards must have a bottom-up source; that is, they need to be extrapolated from the political practice․
