Knowra Political realism Political realism Political realism is an approach to international politics that treats states as key actors pursuing security and interests in a system without a central authority. It emphasizes power, competition, and constraints on cooperation.
International anarchy : A condition in which no central authority can enforce rules among sovereign states. Without a world government, states must provide for their own security.
Sovereignty : The claim of supreme political authority within a territory and independence from external rule. Realist analysis usually treats sovereign states as the principal units of international politics.
Thucydides : An ancient Greek historian whose account of the Peloponnesian War examines power, fear, and political necessity. His account of Athens and Sparta became a touchstone for realist interpretations of conflict.
Liberalism (international relations) : An approach that explains international politics through institutions, interdependence, domestic politics, and possibilities for cooperation. It gives cooperation and institutions a stronger role than realism typically does.
Realpolitik : A politics guided by practical calculations of power and national interest rather than ideology or moral principle. The term captures the policy style often associated with realist reasoning.
Security dilemma : A dynamic in which one state's defensive measures make other states feel less secure and prompt countermeasures. It shows how fear can produce rivalry even when states seek only safety.
National interest : The goals a state pursues in its external relations, commonly including security, autonomy, and prosperity. Realism interprets foreign policy through states' interests rather than universal moral aims.
Machiavelli : A Renaissance political thinker who analyzed how rulers acquire and preserve power amid danger and uncertainty. His separation of political necessity from conventional morality influenced realist thought.
Constructivism (international relations) : An approach that explains international politics through shared ideas, identities, and socially constructed norms. It challenges realism's emphasis on material power and fixed state interests.
Geopolitics : The study of how geographic features and spatial relationships influence political power and international affairs. Realist strategy often connects security and influence to territory and location.
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