POLI 381 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Determinism, Crimean War, David Candy
27 Sep 2016
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Poli 381 realism september 19th, 2016. States are the key actors in international relations states are usually treated as a whole (in the context of international relations) this means they are unitary (a single actor we can refer to as a whole). They are also rational this means the country knows how to make decisions that are in its best interest. National security & national interest is key. Power critical (the maximization and utilization of power insures international security) but some also emphasize norms. Thucydides (471-400 bce) an athenian historian. The peloponnesian war (the war between sparta and athens) a war between the two dominant powers of what is now greece. Both these cities had a number of allies, one of sparta"s allies is melos . Melos is quickly taken under siege by athens and are told if they do not comply their city will be destroyed.
