Realism - The State is the Most Important Actor

Realism - the state is the most important actor profile In the second half of the 20th century realism theory was criticized as an outdated way which can no longer explain the behavior of the global society completely. Critics point out that liberalism is another widely accepted theory and is the successor to realism as the dominant theory of international relations. Opponents of realism argue that the theory of peace in democracy prove that the theory of realism is no longer perfect.

One of the main assumptions of realism is that the state is the most important role. This assumption is called the state-centered hypothesis. A country is defined as an individual pursuing national interests, that is, the ability to ensure survival and national security. The exercise of sovereignty by the state means that the state has the highest authority to enact laws and enforce them within its territory. Inner sovereignty is the right to fully dominate all domestic problems, as external sovereignty means the idea of ​​not interfering with other countries' problems. This means that other countries should not interfere with the internal problems or problems in that country. For example, strict laws against black people in South Africa are considered domestic problems. Although this concept is hardly protected in international politics, many countries are trying directly or indirectly to influence the internal affairs of the country.

Because the basic definition of realism is based on the use of power in international relations, power is the most important belief in realism. An important premise of realism is that the state is a rational subject to pursue power. There are several power definitions used in many different contexts. The basic definition of power is the ability or possibility to influence others' behavior through specific tangible and intangible features. Power is usually defined as the ability to force other people's will to others, or the ability to pursue their goals at the expense of others' interests. There is a possibility of intimidation through power, treaties and diplomacy

Realism is interested in the idea that the state will increase its power compared to other countries. Realism theory thinks that the powerful state of military power (the most important and reliable form of force) can always be longer than its weak competitor, since the only thing that is certain in the world is power. Self-defense is the subject of realism as the state must always try to protect its own power. In realism, each country will use power by international system. Leaders may be ethical, but morals can not allow their foreign policy to lead. In addition, realism recognizes that international organizations and laws lack the power and power, and that their existence depends entirely on the recognition and acceptance of the selected country.