Comparison between realism and idealism
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The document discusses the theoretical frameworks of realism and idealism in international relations, highlighting their distinctive perspectives on conflict and cooperation. Realism emphasizes power struggles and national security, while idealism focuses on moral values and international law. Key figures such as Hans Morgenthau are mentioned as pivotal in shaping these theories.
Comparison between realism and idealism
- 1. “comparison between realism and idealism” Activity No 2nd Submitted By : Azeem Ahmad Submitted to : Ms. Shazia Hassan Subject : International Relations Roll Number : 1572 Discipline : Bachelors in Business Administration
- 2. Introduction The study of international relations takes a wide range of theoretical approaches Some emerge from within the discipline itself; others have been imported, in whole or in part, from disciplines such as economics or sociology. Indeed, few social scientific theories have not been applied to the study of relations amongst nations. Many theories of international relations are internally and externally contested, and few scholars believe only in one or another. In spite of this diversity, several major schools of thought are discernable, differentiated principally by the variables they emphasize eg military, power, material interests, or ideological beliefs Realism 1. While realists are just as interested as idealists in conflict management, realists are less optimistic about the effectiveness of international law and organization and about the extent of international cooperation that is possible 2. Realists view international relations almost exclusively as a “struggle for power” among competing nation-states – States, like human beings, have an innate desire to dominate others. 3. The ultimate goal of all countries is security in a hostile, anarchic environment 4. Realist policies are determined by power calculations in pursuit of national security – Countries satisfied with their situation tend to pursue the status quo – Countries that are dissatisfied tend to be expansionist – Alliances are made and broken based on the requirements of “real politics ” 5. Realists focus on military strategy, the elements of national power, and the nature of national interests more so than international law and organization. 6. From WWII they learned that the way to prevent future wars was a “balance of power” capable of deterring would-be aggressors or on a “concert of powers” willing to police the world.
- 3. • Hans Morgenthau is considered the father of realism Morgenthau’s Six Principles 1. Politics is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature. – It is possible to develop a theory that reflects these laws and to differentiate between truth and opinion. – Therefore, we can predict what a state should rationally do. 2. Interest is defined in terms of power. 3. Interest defined as power is an objective category which is universally valid, but whose meaning can change. 4. Universal moral principles cannot be applied to the actions of states in the abstract; the circumstances of time and place must be considered. – The state must place its survival above all other moral goods. 5. The moral laws that govern the universe are distinct from the morals of any one nation. 6. Politics is an autonomous sphere that needs to be analyzed as an entity, without being subordinated to outside values. – Different facts of human nature exist, but the “political man” – the part of man interested only in power – is the appropriate facet for the study of politics. – Other standards are appropriate to other spheres, but not to politics.
- 4. Idealism 1. Hope to minimize conflict and maximize cooperation among nations. 2. Focus attention on legal-formal aspects of international relations, such as international law and international organizations. 3. Also focus on moral concerns such as human rights. Fundamental principles of Idealism: · Idea is real · Man is supreme creation · God is the source of all knowledge · Values are Absolute 1-Idea is real: It is a system of philosophy which believes that what is real is the idea of the object which is at the conscious level of our mind and not the object that we see which is a mere shadow of that idea. 2-Man is supreme creation:According to Idealism man is being spritual is a supreme creation of God.They believe that man has spirit or mind and through this spirit or mind he controls the environment. 3- God is the source of all knowledge: Although the man is supreme creation of God and he can create values, yet he cannot find knowledge of ulimate reality from anyone, elsewhere except God, not possible through the methods of observation, experimentation,reasoning,etc.,Idealists advocate the use of intution for knowing the ultimate. 4- Values are Absolute: Idealists believes in three spritual values, they are the Truth, the Beauty and the Goodness. The Truth is an intellectual value, the beauty is an aesthetic value and the good is a moral values. For Plato these three values are identical to each other.