Realism and International Politics

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how realism promotes the idea of power politics and that the state is the main and most important actor on the international scene. The paper also explains the international system from the realist perspective. The paper believes that although there are particular elements that are inconsistent with the nature of today's politics, the general framework of realism points out the most important aspects of international politics today.

From the Paper:

"The realist theory of international relations is considered to be one of the most important paradigms of international politics. Developed under the pressure of the idealist conceptions on politics and foreign affairs, the realist beliefs represented the cornerstone of the political analysis of the Cold War period. It has been argued however that the lack of flexibility that describes its paradigms has made it incapable of foreseeing the end of the bipolar world and the demise of the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, despite its limitation, it can be argued that its perceptions maintain their validity in describing the world today. Although there are particular elements that are inconsistent with the nature of today's politics, the general framework it presents points out the most important aspects of international politics."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. London: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
• Nye, Joseph. Understanding international conflicts: an introduction to theory and history. New York: Pearson, 2005
• Russbach, Oliver. ONU contre ONU. Le droit international confisque. Paris: Edition La Decouverte, 1994
• Waltz, K.. Theory of International Politics. New York: McGraw-Hill,1979.

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