ANT 3035 Lecture Notes - Neoclassical Realism, Kenneth Waltz, Offensive Realism
27 Feb 2013
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Conclusion: realism and the globalization of world politics 96. Realism is the dominant theory of international relations. Because it provides the most powerful explanation for the state of war that is the regular condition of life in the international system. This is the bold claim made by realists in defence of their tradi- tion, a claim that will be critically examined in this chapter. The second section will ask whether there is one realism or a variety of realisms. The argument presented below suggests that despite important differences, particularly between classical and structur- al realism, it is possible to identify a shared main set of assumptions and ideas. The third section outlines these common elements, which we identify as self-help, statism, and survival. In the final section, we return to the question of how far realism is rele- vant for explaining or understanding the globalization of world politics.
