Realism

Question 1

In what way does realism possess a timeless quality?

Answer 1

• Wherever + whenever groups of people have sought to survive
• They have had no choice but to pursue power and engage in struggle to defend themselves

Question 2

Is realism optimistic or pessimistic?

Answer 2

Pessimistic

Realists profess to describe the world the way it really is rather than how we wish it to be

Question 3

Who are the founding fathers of realism?

Answer 3

Machiavelli (The Prince)

Hobbes (The Leviathan)

Question 4

Machiavelli + Hobbes: What are humans motivated by?

Answer 4

Humans are motivated by own self-interest, especially a lust for power

Question 5

Machiavelli + Hobbes: Who is the only guarantor of internal peace?

Answer 5

The sovereign who controls the state is the only guarantor of internal peace because only he has the power to enforce peace

Question 6

Machiavelli + Hobbes: What happens in the wider world of international politics?

Answer 6

In wider world of international politics, there is a continual state of anarchy

Question 7

Machiavelli + Hobbes: What is international politics a continual struggle for?

Answer 7

International politics is a continual struggle for power, always necessitating a readiness to go to war

Question 8

Machiavelli + Hobbes: What must sovereigns do?

Answer 8

Sovereigns must accumulate power (especially military) and use it to defend + pursue national interests

Question 9

What do modern realists stress?

Answer 9

• necessity of alliance building
• role of state as key political actor
• maintenance of favourable balance of power

Question 10

What do modern realists firmly refuse to do?

Answer 10

Modern realists firmly refuse to entrust security to international organisations + agreements

Question 11

When did realist ideas dominate in the 20th Century?

Answer 11

During the Cold War