key term - Realist

Definition

A realist is an individual who has a practical, matter-of-fact view of the world and situations, often prioritizing objective facts and circumstances over idealistic or subjective considerations. Realists tend to focus on the reality of a situation rather than ideals or possibilities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Realists believe that the primary goal of states in the international system is to ensure their own security and survival, often through the accumulation of power.
2. Realists emphasize the role of power, self-interest, and the balance of power in shaping international relations, rather than ideals or moral considerations.
3. Realists view the international system as inherently anarchic, with no overarching authority to regulate the actions of states, leading to a constant struggle for power and influence.
4. Realists argue that states should pursue policies that maximize their own interests, even if those policies may conflict with the interests of other states or the international community as a whole.
5. Realist thinkers, such as Hans Morgenthau and Kenneth Waltz, have had a significant influence on the study and practice of foreign policy and international relations.

Review Questions

• Explain how the realist perspective shapes a state's approach to foreign policy and international relations.
  • From a realist perspective, states are primarily concerned with ensuring their own security and survival in the anarchic international system. As a result, realists believe that states should pursue policies that maximize their own power and influence, even if those policies may conflict with the interests of other states or the international community as a whole. Realists emphasize the role of power, self-interest, and the balance of power in shaping international relations, rather than ideals or moral considerations. This pragmatic, matter-of-fact approach to foreign policy often leads realists to prioritize practical considerations over idealistic goals or principles.
• Analyze how the realist view of the international system as inherently anarchic influences a state's decision-making and behavior.
  • Realists believe that the international system is inherently anarchic, with no overarching authority to regulate the actions of states. This anarchic environment, in which states are constantly vying for power and influence, leads realists to conclude that states must be prepared to use any means necessary to ensure their own security and survival. This can include the use of military force, economic coercion, and other forms of power politics. Realists argue that states should pursue policies that maximize their own interests, even if those policies may conflict with the interests of other states or the international community as a whole. This perspective can lead to a more confrontational and competitive approach to foreign policy, as states seek to maintain their position in the balance of power.
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the realist approach to understanding and analyzing international relations.
  • The realist perspective offers several strengths in understanding and analyzing international relations. It provides a clear and pragmatic framework for understanding the motivations and behavior of states, emphasizing the role of power, self-interest, and the balance of power. Realists argue that their approach is more realistic and grounded in the empirical realities of the international system, rather than relying on idealistic or normative assumptions. However, the realist approach has also been criticized for its narrow focus on state-centric power dynamics, neglecting the role of non-state actors, international institutions, and transnational issues. Realists have also been accused of justifying and perpetuating a status quo that may be unjust or detrimental to the interests of the international community as a whole. Ultimately, while the realist perspective offers valuable insights, it may not fully capture the complexity and nuance of contemporary international relations.

Related terms

Realpolitik: A pragmatic approach to politics and international relations that focuses on practical considerations and the balance of power rather than ideological principles.

Power Politics: The pursuit of national interests and the acquisition of power through means such as diplomacy, economic influence, and military force, rather than moral or ethical considerations.

Rational Actor Model: A theory in international relations that assumes states act as unitary, rational actors who make decisions based on a cost-benefit analysis to maximize their own interests.