Realism in International Relations | Major Themes |

Realism emerged after World War 2 in IR. On of the core belief of realists is that States, like men are by nature selfish. States are also aggressive and will always pursue their own interests. One of the major problems in the international system is the “Anarchy”. Anarchy is the absence of any world government. After world war 1, the League of Nations was created to maintain peace and to avoid any future war. First, liberalist put forward their ideas to maintain peace in the world. But, for realists, conflict is unavoidable. The only thing which can stop the war is to prepare for war. The origin of realism is associated with Thucydides, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes. The Neo-Realists believe in the Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST). For realists, real power is military power. States strive to achieve Balance of Power (BOP). Kenneth Waltz is an important realist thinker.

One of the major assumptions of Realists are:

1. States are the key actor in the international system.

2. States are motivated by the drive of power, security and national interest.

3. Sovereignty is the defining characteristic of any state.

4. States like men behave in a self-interested manner.

5. The central problem in the international system is anarchy.

6. States make an alliance to prevent any other major power to prevail.

7. International institutions and law is only effective if backed by the threat of force.

8. Power is the key to understand international behavior.

9. Human nature is inherently selfish.

Realism in International Relations (IR) was actually the response to liberalism. Liberalists believe in the goodness of human nature. They also believed that peace can be achieved. But the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War 2 proved these liberal ideals as folly. Since then, realism emerged as the dominant school of thought in IR.

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