Realism In International Affairs Essay

realism in politics is a governmental philosophy, which tries to observe, shape and predict political trans movemention. It is based upon assumption that king should be the primary goal of any political dally, both in inter tribeal or house servant sphere. As farthermost as internal personal business are concerned, this supposition sound outs that political figures are alleged(a) to direct all efforts to maximizing their world-beater. checkly, in the international sphere nation should aim at maximizing its exponent among an early(a)(prenominal) states.This speculation can be regarded as a prescription to be followed by politicians and states or as a description of current affairs of the state or politician move self-interest. realness in politics is often defined as a principle of power supremacy, and it has a long history since the ancient times. It was reflected in Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. This theory was likewise fey by Machiavelli in his writing The Pr ince, as well as by early(a) outstanding philosophers wish Spinoza, Hobbes and Rousseau.In the second half of the nineteenth century it had a rebirth and appeared in a in the buff form, a social Darwinism. According to this theory, social or political growth is determined by a struggle, in which the materialest parties survive. According to the theory of political realism, interests should be satisfied by means of power exercise, and the demesne is defined by competing powers. In this context, the adherents of Marxist theory refer to classes, while another(prenominal) political theorists to states. (Ahrensdorf) governmental realism is explained in the following wayPrior to the French Revolution in which nationalism as a political doctrine truly entered the worlds stage, political realism involved the political jurisdictions of ruling dynasties, whilst in the nineteenth century, nationalist sentiments focused realists directions on the development of the nation-state, a polic y that was subsequently extended to include imperialist ambitions on the part of the major Western powers-Britain and France, and even Belgium, Ger worldly concerny and the United States were influenced by imperialism. (Viotti, Kauppi).Important difference between social darwinism and other branches political realism is as follows adherents of the former state that some nations are destined to precept over other nations, while other part of realists pays to the highest degree management to the need of ensuring that nation, culture or politician sets or secures own need before needs or interests of others. Political realism in international affairs Political realism of an expressive piece body stands for the suggestion that international commonwealth is distinguished by anarchy, since there is no absolute world government, that could rule with an all-purpose policy code.Since the anarchy does non need a chaotic nature, thus allowing member nations be involved into trading plans or turnies, the theorists most(prenominal)ly agree that morality or law are not the dominating factors outside one particular state. In this particular characteristic this hypothesis agrees with the Hobbs theory Where there is no common index, there is no Law where no Law, no Injustice ? if there be no Power erected, or not great enough for our security every man will and may lawfully confide on his own strength and art, for caution against all other men. (Hobbes, Leviathan , Part I, Ch. 13 Of Man, and Part II, Ch. 17, Of Commonwealth, cited in Griffiths, OCallaghan). Respectively, without any supreme international force, nations treat each other with hostility or fear, and it damages the system. Another aspect of the theory is an assumption that a state can promote its interest against the needs and interests of other states, it mounts that international surrounding is not stable. either order is affected if states compete for the kindred need, and under such circumst ances, as the realists state, the nation may rely on itself only.There are definite contradictions that can be found in the concept of political realism descriptive realism may be regarded as a true theory or false concept. Even if it is regarded as a true concept, it does not necessarily mean that morality should be included from the principles that rule international policy. One of the strong forms if descriptive quality of political realism states that states should be self-seeking, that they should build their policy basing upon desired gains of the nation and should not ignore their interests and demands.Simultaneously, if descriptive realism is held, it is as a closed theory, which means that it can refute all counter-factual state on its own terms (for example, evidence of a nation offering support to a neighbor as an ostensible act of altruism, is refuted by pointing to some self-serving motive the giving nation presumably hasit would increase trade, it would gain an impor tant ally, it would intuitive feeling guilty if it didnt, and so on), then any attempt to introduce morality into international affairs would prove futile. (Stern) The assessment of expressive kind of political realism power depends upon the chance of brain political reasons, which requests understanding the causes of state diplomats and re submitatives. The phase of officers relations, their motives and actions is complex. Waltz says that the closed nature of expressive realism includes a oppose scheme that nations does not serve any needs at all, or can serve the needs of others only.The synthetic value of the three theories resulting from this concept offers that preferring one condition to another is an optional decision, if an assumption is accepted, or not. (Waltz) The present international sphere of nations interaction is defined by the lack of supreme power. In the past, wars were a strong account in support of political realism there flip been more than 200 wars sinc e the mediate of the 17th century. This condition seems to have a chaotic nature, and some thinkers are likely to compare it to domestic anarchy, when state government is not able to rule the stateWithout a world power, war, conflict, tension, and insecurity have been the regular state of affairs just as a domestic government removes internal discord and punishes local crime, so to a fault ought a world government control the activities of individual states-overseeing the legality of their affairs and punishing those nations that break the laws, and thereby calming the insecure atmosphere nations find themselves in. (Kegley, Wittkopf) At the same time, such comparison leads to a conclusion that the relations between the state and the individuals are alike.Such argument includes the personification of the states and collectivization of individuals. Some theorists state that the relations between states and the citizens cannot be compared to the relations between the states and the relations of the individuals, and therefore should be oppositely judged. In addition to the propositions of descriptive realism, there are notions offered by normative political realism, for instance, the tale that a certain nation should follow its own interests and needs independently of the applicable state of international relations.This theory can be divided into various aspects, depending upon proclaimed interest of the nation and the allowability of the tools that would be used to reach desired goals. As far as the national interest is concerned, there are distinct opinions of what it should be, but all of them agree that the state should be self-efficient in economical and political sphere, cutting dependency on other nations. (The Globalization of populace Politics an Introduction to International Relations) The statement supporting the supremacy of self-sufficiency of the state has appeared long time ago.Plato and Aristotle referred to this aspect as a purpose necess ary to provide security of the national power, they asserted that nation should import only insignificant commodities. This economic theory has been used for supporting political realism, especially in the 18th century the theorists of political sphere declared that the political power of the nation is reached and supported in the terms of reduced import and increased export only. Difference between neorealism and simple realismConflict is regarded as a key element in politics, including international affairs, by all realists, however, there are two different sources of conflict, pointed out by different realist authors. For instance, classical realism theory starts with a pessimistic viewpoint on the human nature. As the adherents of this theory believe, selfish, competitive and striving for power behavior in inherent for the humans. Hans Morgenthau states that each individual is enforced to act uncaringly to protect himself, and this situation leads to the disagreementWhat the one wants for himself, the other already possesses or wants, too. Struggle and competition lead. Man cannot therefore hope to be good, but must be content with not being too evil. (Morgenthau) Niccolo Machiavelli shares this opinion how men live is so different from how they should live that a ruler who does not do what is generally done, but persists in doing what ought to be done, will undermine his power alternatively than oppose it. (cited in The Globalization of human race Politics an Introduction to International Relations).These ideas performed specific approach to a scheme applied in international affairs a careful statesman must avoid hopeful view on others aims and intentions and limits their initiatives to those that may help if the situation goes better. For instance, Henry Kissinger warned the leadership of the the States and Israeli against the intentions of Syria and Palestine, during the negotiations on Middle East conflict It is likely that agreements will be reached because the alternatives will, in the end, seem more dangerous. simply when this happens, we must avoid euphoria. An agreement will represent a strategic interlude for the Syrians and most of the Palestinians, not a commitment to a new world order. (Legro, Moravcsik) In other words, classical type of realism regards conflict and competition as essential element of international affairs, referring the line of merchandise of conflict to the human nature. Humans struggle with each other for resources they need and strive for power to rule over other pile.This is a set pattern, which cannot be changed. Due to these expectations of human behavior, the adherents of classical realism theory often insist on the necessity to organize humans into groups, which would serve for better protection of their members and concentrate on up groups position in comparison to other groups. Another theory, neorealism or structural realism, refers the origin of conflict to interstate condition , the lack of legally restricting rules in particular, rather than to human nature.The adherents of neorealism state, that the absence of a neutral authority that can enforce rules and agreements creates an insecure, self-help situation in which all policy makers are pressured to act competitively, regardless of their individual natures or personal preferences. (Kegley, Wittkopf) This statement is not new, it appeared in the 17th century in the work of Thomas Hobbes. In his writing Leviathan he states that the in the world, which lacks supreme power that could provide security, people has a right to use any tools to protect themselves.Besides, he assumed that all mankind has a perpetual and restless desire of power after power that ceases only in death. (cited in The Globalization of World Politics an Introduction to International Relations) Modern tradition in neorealist theory declines the assumption that individuals strive for power due to a natural inclination, and concentrat es on the motives produced by a lack of a neutral power that can set rules for interstate relations.For instance, Kenneth Waltz says that the main cause of war must lie in some regularity at the level of the interstate system, rather than within particular leaders or states, since war has been waged for all sorts of specific reasons and by good as well as bad leaders. (Waltz) According to Waltz, this regularity is the pressure, produced by anarchy Without enforceable interstate rules, states must either resist possible subordination by others through a policy of balancing against others power capabilities, or by bandwagoning-joining a spinal fusion that supports an aggressive state, in hopes of turning its aggression elsewhere.(Waltz) Waltz states that large states possess the capacity and desire to have the strength of other states. This results, as he sees it, in a tendency of competitiveness among states independently of the views of their leaders concerning domestic policy. Actually, the prediction of this statement is not much different from the assumption made by the adherents of classical realism. As soon as it is based on the assumptions concerning human nature, classic realists expect that the makers of policy alike act competitively. The difference lies in the way this conclusion is reached.As Waltz sees it, this is the pressure of competitiveness, produced by anarchy, which importantly influences the human behavior. Those strategies that are oriented on power, appear because the leaders are forced to struggle for security, rather than because they desire just to obtain power. Realistic approach in modern international affairs Realism was a concept for analyzing world politics since remote times, because much of humankind history was characterized by wars. As soon as the states interests come across in conflict, it is expected that leaders pay much attention to their positions in power.The classical realist worldview appealed to many statesmen d uring the period that states were evolving in Western Europe-an era rife with conflict, as knightly forms of rule broke down and rulers asserted new claims to authority against feudal lords or the Pope. It jumped to the United States when the experiences of World War II were followed by the onset of the Cold War. Neorealism later emerged when the bipolarity of the Cold War drew analysts attention to the effects of the structure of the interstate system. (Lieven, Hulsman).At present, ethical realism is offered to the USA as a leading principle that should define the foreign policy of this state. As it is described by the supporters of this type of realism, it bases upon finesse a concentration on possible results rather than good intentions a close study of the nature, views and interests of other states, and a willingness to accommodate them when these do not contradict Americas own truly resilient interests and a mixture of profound American patriotism with an equally profound a wareness of the limits on both American power and on American goodness (Lieven, Hulsman).The concept of the Great Capitalist Peace is also derived from the theory of ethical realism concept. It is based upon the ideas of Kennan and Morgenthau, including the concepts of diplomacy purposes and international order. It proclaims that a global order is demand to be agreed by the largest states, to provide the promotion of their interests and reduce the threat of terrorists. Accordingly, the USA power is handle as an element, vital for keeping the Great Capitalist Peace.At the same time, it is added that the limits should be put on the US power, in order to legitimate interests and needs of other states should be satisfied. Instead of promoting unrestrained power, the USA should support the linking of the most significant states in every particular arena. For instance, in the Middle East region the USA should use its power and resources to support creation of a regional patter for the states, including Syria and Iran, and to make this pattern functional enough to regulate Iraq conflict after withdrawal of the US troops from this country.(Lieven, Hulsman) As far as the Far East is concerned, the USA should paid attention to the primary role, which should be played by mainland China in this region, but not by the United States. China is treated as a state, ready to act in cooperation with other states and act responsibly, thats why USA should allow China to occupy a leading position in finding resolutions to the actions of the regime in the North Korea, and other possible challenges in this region. (Lieven, Hulsman) Sources Waltz, K. N. Structural Realism after the Cold War.International Security. Summer. 2000 Morgenthau, H. J. Politics Among Nations the Struggle for Power and Peace. McGraw Hill NY, 1993. Stern, G. 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