In the discipline of International
Relations, Realism is a school of thought that emphasizes the competitive and
conflictual side of International Relations. Realism`s roots are often said to be found in some of the humankinds
earliest historical writings, particularly Thucydides history of Peloponnesian War, which raged between 431 and 404 BCE. Realism is the dominant theory of IR, it is
developed after two World Wars, but its roots can be traced from:-
1- 1 Peloponnesian
War, written by Thucydides.
2- 2 Suntzu`s
book Art of War.
3- 3 Arthashashtra
book by Chanakya.
Realism is actually a spectrum
of ideas, Realists believe in the centrality of Power in politics, the minimal
role of morality, reason and objective. Realists are essentially theorists of Power Politics.
Realists believe that state is an important/only/major Actor in IR. Everything
is being done on the name of state. Realists do not believe that because of
Globalization power of state is declined. They believe State is still an
important actor. Realists are essentially theorists of power politics. The
first assumption of realism is that the nation-state, is the principal actor in
IR, other bodies exist, such as individuals and organizations but their power
is limited. Second, the state is a Unitary actor, in the sense that rational
decision making leads to pursuit of the National Interest. Finally State live
in a context of Anarchy that is, in the absence of anyone being in charge
internationally.
Theory of Realism can be
explained on the basis of four core elements:-
1-
Anarchy:- International politics
takes place in an arena that has no overarching central authority above the
individual collection of sovereign states. It denotes complete chaos and
lawlessness.
2-
Statism:- State is everything, no one
and nothing is above the state. Everything is in control of state, everything
is being done on the name of state.
3-
Survival and Self Help:- In IR, no one
is your permanent friend and enemy. State has to think about its own interests
and survival. Self Help is the only way to be safe in the world as world is the
Jungle, because there is lawlessness.
Realism is
a theory that claims to explain the reality of International Politics. It
emphasizes the constraints on politics that results from humankinds Egoistic
nature and the absence of a central authority above the state. For realists,
the highest goal is survival of the state, which explains Why? States actions
are judged according to the ethics of responsibility rather than by moral
principles.
The core theme of Realist
theory can be summed up in the equation. Egoism plus Anarchy equals Power
Politics. Some have suggested that this formulation betrays a basic theoretical
fault line within realism dividing it into two distinct schools of thought. One
of these is Classical Realism and another is Neorealism.
In the recent times a new thread of realism have emerged known as Neoclassical
Realism.
These Threads
of Realism will be discussed in the Next Blog.