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Realism

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Realism through the Lens of Politics and International Relations

Images of War, Realism, and combat. Machine guns and infantrymen.

Realism is the traditional approach of understanding security and international relations. For many decades realism has been the only approach to understanding war, peace, and national interests. After the end of the Cold War new theories have emerged to compete with this traditional approach.

Realism in this context (political/international relations) is different then the realism of literature and art. These are not the same things.

There are different forms of Realism, art and literature are both forms of realism. Even magic has a specific philosophy on realism. I am discussing Political Realism

Focuses on Basic political theory. Realism is evident in the writings of of the early writers of Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes, and now Waltz. Many theorists and philosophers have discussed this issue. It is a perspective that many of today's politicians tend to use as reasoning in national and international policy decisions.

Realism is the focus of Hobbesian Anarchy. This being the concept of all-against-all. Self-interest is most important. In this political model the state or national government is the primary actor. Analysis involves understanding what states are doing and thinking to secure themselves and their interests. The most important element to the state is always survival and self-preservation.

To traditional realists territorial integrity (defending borders) is the best way to secure national interests. Territorial integrity represents the protection of all national interests.

Realism Resources

Theoretical and Explanatory Resources on Realism

Major Points of Realism

These are the major ideas expressed in Realism

Survival Procuring your own survival is the most important objective of all.
Anarchic. A Hobbesian approach to politics. All-against-All tactics. You can only trust yourself to look out for you. The system cannot be controlled unless by you, but you can never depend on someone else. Even allies.
Self-Interest. Since everyone is out to get you, you must go after whatever will get you what you want. If it requires stepping on toes, just do it. Whatever is the national interest of a state, becomes the only interest of the state. Example is "The Stag Hunt". See story below...
Security. For realists security comes through the procurement of power. Particularly military power. The only way to get what you want is to be able to stop others from taking it, or take it yourself. Whenever war is discussed it is won or lost only in military terms. Peace is just the absence of war. Winning is everything, and nothing just happens, we make it happen.
Limited Cooperation. In search of satisfying self-interest and survival cooperation is limited. This is in part because of the system of anarchy. No one else can be trusted with your own self-interest. They all have self-interests too.

Victory in Iraq

For many realists this is a difficult decision. Realist theory would say that the Iraq War has either been victorious now for many years or will perhaps never be. What do you think?

Iraq War, soldiers, will we ever win? Realism in Iraq

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The Stag Hunt

A vivid illustration of realism in life circumstances

"The Stag Hunt" is a great example of Realism in a real decision-making process. It illustrates both the problems and support for realism by seeing how realism is viewed by actual individuals.

story below picture...
The Stag Hunt, Stag Hunt pictures, Realism through the story of the Stag Hunt

The Stag Hunt, Stag Hunt pictures, Realism through the story of the Stag Hunt

"The Stag Hunt"

A group of men are meeting together to discuss what they should do to feed themselves. All of the men know that the only way to sustain their lives is to find food. The men believe that because of the lack of previous meals that they will otherwise parish. The group discuss possible solutions and come up with an answer to their problems. To feed themselves they will need to all go on a stag (deer) hunt.

The men form a line and prepare themselves to find, track and kill the stag. It requires the men to walk in a line through the forest widely separated to find the stag. After a stag is found the men will then form around the stag in a large circle and slowly encircle it. After trapping the stag all of the men will be required to kill it.

A dilemma arises when one of the men, in search of the stag, comes across a rabbit. The rabbit would require the man to leave the line and abandon the group, but would completely satisfy him. The rabbit is right in front of him and he is not sure if the group will be able to find a stag. There is a good chance that the man might not even eat if he stays with the group. The man decides to leave the group and go after the rabbit.

What major points or themes of realism are apparent in "The Stag Hunt"? What are the possible problems. Was the man's survival, self-interest and personal goals important enough to abandon the groups interests? What if someone else was already doing the same? What if the rabbit ran across the line and enticed someone else?