Understanding International Relations Analytical Essay by scribbler

Understanding International Relations
A comparative analysis of the political theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism.
# 153363 | 1,951 words | 11 sources | MLA | 2013 | US
Published on May 26, 2013 in Political Science (Political Theory) , International Relations (War and Conflict)


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Description:

The paper explores the political theories of realism and liberalism and also mentions their newer forms, neorealism and neoliberalism, and how they shed light on international relations. The paper then discusses constructivism, and in particular social constructivism, that criticized both realism and liberalism, and shows how this theory provides a better understanding of the role of society and the electorate in determining the state's course of action.

From the Paper:

"System theory deals, first and foremost, with two concepts: the actors and their interconnections; when changes occur at the systemic level, actors change their structure and attitudes; it is thus imperative to analyse the main players of the international system, from the perspective of the different theories advocated by the international system
"Political realism considers that if the behaviour of the states, as it had been shown up until then, cannot be reformed, it can at least be controlled. The realist tradition can be traced back to Thucydides and Hobbes, although it rose to great heights as the dominant paradigm in American policymaking during the Cold War (Roggeveen, 2001).Even so, the first valuable theory writings belong to XX st century.
"The classic realist theorists start their argumentation from the clear premises stated by Morgenthau who acknowledges "the nation state as the ultimate point of reference of contemporary foreign policy" (Morgenthau, 1978); moreover, as one of the leading theoreticians of realism, Morgenthau pointed out a second principle that defined the goals of politics "The main signpost that helps political realism to find its way through the landscape of international politics is the concept of interest defined in terms of power"."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Griffiths, M, Fifty key thinkers in international relations. Routledge, London, 1999.
  • Guzzini, S, Realism in international relations and international political economy. The continuing story of a death foretold. Routledge, London, 1998
  • Hopf, T. The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory. International Security, Vol. 23, No. 1. pp. 171-200, 1998.
  • Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. London: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
  • Kreisler, H. 2003, Conversation with Kenneth Waltz. Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley, 2003 Available at: http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people3/Waltz/waltz-con3.html

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Understanding International Relations (2013, May 26) Retrieved June 03, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/understanding-international-relations-153363/

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"Understanding International Relations" 26 May 2013. Web. 03 June. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/understanding-international-relations-153363/>

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