The Realist Theory In International Relations: A Case Study Of The United States

Introduction to International Relations and Governance

Discuss about the Relations and International Political Economy.

It is because of the increased human population globally that the idea of governance got introduced. The idea was vital to the formulation of the current boundaries that form the today's known states. The relations between such countries has been very instrumental in the fostering of law and order within the individual states. Moreover, it has been very crucial in the promotion of global peace and security. For such is the reason as to why there is the need to study international relation, to understand the issues that affect the globe from the foreign affairs to geopolitical relations of states found in the international system. The idea behind International relations borrows significantly from the school of thought surrounding all the social sciences that are useful in the study of people's interactions with other people also with their environment. The article reviews the whole idea behind the international relation concerning its main theories, in our case, the idea of realism. Moreover, the article aims at explaining how the theory, of realism, give depictions of the real world of contemporary international politics. In our contextual analysis, we are more interested in studying the United States and closely relating its currents attributes to the theory.

The realism school of thought widely expresses itself in two approaches, the classical realism, and the neorealism. Each of which is very focused on explaining the state of war that is a normal condition within the international system. Within the whole International relation, the realism school of thought recognizes that ethnicity, nationalism and militarism and other domestic factors are important. As such it has used all of the internal factors and has used them in establishing the relation of the state with other countries within the global politics unlike the liberalism theory which only acknowledges that power is central to international behaviour. Even the constructivism theory is the idea that for policies to have a great impact, they have to be backed by powerful states and reinforced by enduring material forces. Such then makes it a reason as to why the realism theory is our focus of our discussion.

The theory has manifested in the current global affairs although some academics are very adamant to accept its presence in contemporary international politics. Moreover even admit to the fact that the theory provides the holistic framework from which international relations can get an understanding. The said event is because states are continuing to pay more attention to the balance of power, even more, be more alert in the instance of the eruption of any conflict that involves their survival. Such obsession with authority and security has made many nations eager to preserve and possibly expand the US military presence in their regions. A good example is when the Czech president was quoted saying that we might be heading into a much more serious clash, more than the two world wars if the NATO fails to expand. Such utterances by a great personality are much more to the evidence that high power and international rivalry still exists.

Understanding Realism as a Theory

The United States has been dubbed as the strongest superpower over the last decade. Moreover, their actions about such are evident since they seem to be very determined to maintaining the dominant position in the world's politics. The nation has taken advantage of its superiority to impose its preferences wherever it's possible. Such is done not minding the fact that it even irritates the long-lasting allies. For instance, the nation has participated in many agreements with other countries to their benefit. For example, it has engaged in one-sided agreements with Russia, has taken steps to increase their influence, NATO right close to Russia's backyard. In addition to such, it has been the dominated challenged peace talks in Bosnia. The nation is seemingly on the alert about the rising power of nations as China Moreover the already armoured North Korea. Thus, justifying the fact of its protective nature.

Moreover, the United States has gone ahead to rubbish even the intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations, the UN.  Such a fact is because they want to maintain their status within the global politics. In as much as it, the US has looked as if they are calling for the reliance of multilateralism and promoting the existence of the international institutions; it has side-lined the importance of the institutions especially whenever their actions seem not to be conforming to their interests. For instance, the US did not agree to cooperate with the world at the Kyoto environmental summit. In as much as they are the same that is so concerned about environmental conservation and control, they denounced the agreement since it did not meet their interests.

Another instance of the US malpractice witnessed is when it breaches the democracy of other nations. The government, its self, is very instrumental in advocating for justice and in the maintenance of world peace.. However, it has not worked handily with its words.  What the nation has over the years is blamed for actually interfering with the internal politics of other countries even helping in financing the coups that occur in some nations, especially in Africa. For instance, in Libya, the United States was actively involved in ousting the Libyan most renowned dictator, Gadhafi. However, such has resulted to the insecurities within the nation. Moreover, in the recent wave of politics, the country has been linked to supporting the opposition party in countries like Zimbabwe in their elections. Such is simply because the current regime does not seem to be adequately satisfying their needs. Therefore, the nation is as willing to mess up the democracy of a country so as it gets its interests considered. Therefore making it ironical in as much as the US leaders are trying to paint a good picture on matters that involve international security.

The nation is always on the run to maintaining its status within the global platform so as to maintain not only its status but also to ensure its security. All the nation's actions are simply to make sure that the government sustains itself and well-nourished economically so as it does not affect its aim for survival. Since security is not the only focus of concern, the nation has used the superiority advantage so as to sign agreements with developing nations so as to offer support in the form of aid. For example, the USAID initiative by the American nation to the developing nations has ensured that the US has a bargaining power in the global market and has been every vital in soliciting for support from other nations when there is a need.

The Two Approaches of Realism: Classical and Neorealism

Therefore, the theory has been very useful in the understanding of the global politics and how it operates. For instance by explaining about the balance of power, one can also reason out why there is increased peace in the global politics. Such is because, by understanding the limits of power owned by a state, there is reduced conflict since it makes it easier for nations to come to a mutual understanding. Moreover, for a nation as the US to protect what is so important to them, they have to avoid destructive disputes that will fail to respect the vital interests of others. The nation cannot be going to war with everyone hence it has to maintain that respect for others so as to be accorded the status it currently has. Thus, the activities of the US in the recent time politics might not be meant to create wars and unrest within the world but to promote an avenue to where they can attain the survival needed. Realism, therefore, has been very useful since it has provided states with the option of diplomacy and empathy as instruments for the promotion of survival.

The theory has also been very helpful in fostering international cooperation. For instance, the theory has been used to give the conditions through which the states can cooperate and the strategies that the actors can use to foster such cooperation with other states or even within the international bodies. The theory has been very vital in expressing the idea of security dilemma where it is likely to emerge conflict, as such nations are coming together in partnership so as to ensure their safety. Some of the countries so obsessed with the expansion of the NATO are amongst countries that are interested in gaining the security of the US in case the wars emerge. Therefore, the theory is fostering cooperation among nations as well as in the international bodies.

To conclude, the theory is very much evident in the current affairs of the globe. Especially when talking about politics. Therefore, making it a reason as to why it is used within the scope of the international relation. The theory is also very much useful, and as employed in the case of the United States, it has been very useful in both the growth and the security of the state. Thus, the reason as to why many nations that are emulating such success by the US are trying to put such a theory into practice so as to ensure their survival.

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