Realism is a broad comprehensive theory of international relations with many diverse assumptions and sub-theories articulated by several scholars. New ideas have been introduced by scholars who interpreted traditional philosophers and historians to generate some branches within realism such as classical realism (Thucydides, Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes), and neo-realism/ structural realism (Kenneth Waltz).However, there are four key assumptions that are similar within all branches of Realism and they are the following:
1- States are the principle or most important actors in an anarchic world lacking central legitimate governance. The study of international relations is the study of relations among states, particularly major powers as they shape world politics and when engaged in wars the result is costly.
2- The state is viewed as a unitary actor. Established states face the outside world as an integrated unit. Political differences within the state are ultimately administratively resolved such that the government of the state speaks with one voice to strengthen its status in the international system. 3- The state is essentially a rational (or purposive) actor (cost-benefit analysis) and aware of its objectives. 4- Within the hierarchy of issues facing the state, national security usually tops the list especially in terms of designing its foreign policy. The theoretical assumptions of the realists date back to Thucydides who is considered to be the father of Realism. The biggest contribution he made to the realist theory was his statement that the strong do what they will, while the weak do what they must. Thus, he is dictating that developing power is a priority (for the state) in order to sustain itself as an independent entity. As for Machiavelli, although many people misinterpret his famous saying “the ends justify the means”, he was simply exhibiting what is and not what ought to be. Perhaps this notion contributed to the fundamental idea in realism which is dealing with facts as they are and not as they ought to be. When articulating Hobbes assumptions towards the human nature, he projects it as being bad by birth. To him societies without central government would be in a state of war where everyone is against everyone. Hobbes’s political opinions have widely been considered as presenting a basis for the realist perceptive of international relations. As for the contemporary IR literature, Waltz contributed to structural realists/neo-realists. He identified the international system as being anarchical—the absence of a central authority. De-facto status of states is by nature sovereign and thus independent of one another. There exists no provision of authority over the state. Relations among states thus are either an act of force or coercion that is when things are not on their own consent. Liberalism The five key assumptions: 1- States as well as non-state, transnational actors (sometimes even individuals) are important entities in world politics. To them it is important to understand and explain how, to what extent and under what circumstances these state and non-state actors contribute to world politics. 2- Economic or any other forms of interdependence among both state and non-state actors tends to have a moderating effect on state behavior. Global civil society. 3- Rejects the notion that the agenda of international politics is dominated only by military-security issues. 4- Factors at the state-society and individual level of analysis affect international relations and outcomes. 5- The key analytical task is to discover under what conditions international collaboration if not peace might be achieved. Liberalism too is a wide theory of international relations …show more content…
Since Globalism is not a theory that attempts to explain all aspects of international affairs, it does not have sub-branches similar to Realism and Liberalism. Thus the two scholars that I see shape this theory are Jagdish Bhagwati and Joseph Nye. Their contributions are the following.
Bhagwati introduced globalism in terms of being anti-nation due to the encouragement of nationals to adopt a world view instead of a national view. At its extreme form globalism sometimes uses terms like "one world", “global citizen” or “world citizen” in support for a unified world government. Globalism also engages in the economic aspect of the world interdependency and credits international trade for it and also widely due to recent technological inventions like the
1- States are the principle or most important actors in an anarchic world lacking central legitimate governance. The study of international relations is the study of relations among states, particularly major powers as they shape world politics and when engaged in wars the result is costly.
2- The state is viewed as a unitary actor. Established states face the outside world as an integrated unit. Political differences within the state are ultimately administratively resolved such that the government of the state speaks with one voice to strengthen its status in the international system. 3- The state is essentially a rational (or purposive) actor (cost-benefit analysis) and aware of its objectives. 4- Within the hierarchy of issues facing the state, national security usually tops the list especially in terms of designing its foreign policy. The theoretical assumptions of the realists date back to Thucydides who is considered to be the father of Realism. The biggest contribution he made to the realist theory was his statement that the strong do what they will, while the weak do what they must. Thus, he is dictating that developing power is a priority (for the state) in order to sustain itself as an independent entity. As for Machiavelli, although many people misinterpret his famous saying “the ends justify the means”, he was simply exhibiting what is and not what ought to be. Perhaps this notion contributed to the fundamental idea in realism which is dealing with facts as they are and not as they ought to be. When articulating Hobbes assumptions towards the human nature, he projects it as being bad by birth. To him societies without central government would be in a state of war where everyone is against everyone. Hobbes’s political opinions have widely been considered as presenting a basis for the realist perceptive of international relations. As for the contemporary IR literature, Waltz contributed to structural realists/neo-realists. He identified the international system as being anarchical—the absence of a central authority. De-facto status of states is by nature sovereign and thus independent of one another. There exists no provision of authority over the state. Relations among states thus are either an act of force or coercion that is when things are not on their own consent. Liberalism The five key assumptions: 1- States as well as non-state, transnational actors (sometimes even individuals) are important entities in world politics. To them it is important to understand and explain how, to what extent and under what circumstances these state and non-state actors contribute to world politics. 2- Economic or any other forms of interdependence among both state and non-state actors tends to have a moderating effect on state behavior. Global civil society. 3- Rejects the notion that the agenda of international politics is dominated only by military-security issues. 4- Factors at the state-society and individual level of analysis affect international relations and outcomes. 5- The key analytical task is to discover under what conditions international collaboration if not peace might be achieved. Liberalism too is a wide theory of international relations …show more content…
Since Globalism is not a theory that attempts to explain all aspects of international affairs, it does not have sub-branches similar to Realism and Liberalism. Thus the two scholars that I see shape this theory are Jagdish Bhagwati and Joseph Nye. Their contributions are the following.
Bhagwati introduced globalism in terms of being anti-nation due to the encouragement of nationals to adopt a world view instead of a national view. At its extreme form globalism sometimes uses terms like "one world", “global citizen” or “world citizen” in support for a unified world government. Globalism also engages in the economic aspect of the world interdependency and credits international trade for it and also widely due to recent technological inventions like the