Realists

Define realism

• It offers what is considered a ‘realistic’ and therefore more pessimistic view of humans and states.

• It believes that states are selfish, and do what they can to further their own aims without considering others.

Who is a thinker asociated with Realism

Thomas Hobbes

• According to Hobbs, humans are selfish and self seeking and so mankind is motivated by ‘a perpetual and restless desire of power’

What do Realists beleive about The State?

Realists view the primary interest of states as being survival, and therefore states use their power to maximise their chances of survival.

So what do realists belive about states and thier prioritise

According to realism - nation states prioritise national intrest over anything else

What does this lead to realists thinkers beleiving about IGO’s

1. IGO’s only exist because states created them

2. states ultimetly have the power to join or leave IGO’s (eg, The UK leaving the EU

3. in some cases they collapse all together due to the lack of cooperative instincts in our nature eg, the leauge of nations

4. states often act outside of IGO’s and without their authority

5. Ultimetly global politics is anarchical —> there is nothing above the level of states that can maintain order

What do realists belive about human nature

Realists typically believe that humans - by nature - are self- interested and will therefore go to any lengths that they can for personal gain. A key proponent of this idea was Hobbes who argued that the nature of humans "are more individualistic than social".

How does Hobbes acount of human behaviour/motivations be applied to states?

• Competition - (over land/recourse)

• anticipation - (pre-emptive strike)

• glory - (desire for world dominance (empire building)

What do realists beleive about moral considerations in international affairs?

• Realists belive that, aside from national intrest, there should not be any other moral considerations to comply to (eg, truth telling eco-friendly.

• these are irrelivant in the persuit of power and dominance through international relations

What do relaists beleive about the role of IGO’s in international relations?

• The role and authority of IGO’s should be limited - as nation states retain the rights to act however they want

• states can choose to work closely together, but only if its in self intrest and they remain sovriegn