POLS 2940 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Statism, Nationstates, Geopolitics
18 Nov 2013
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Criticism of idealists: realists believe that the approach of the idealists was fundamentally flawed because idealists: Overestimated the degree to which human beings were rational. Mistakenly believed that nation-states shared a set of common interests. Were overly optimistic about that humankind could overcome war: the great debate in the 1930s/1940s between idealists and realists. Realists emphasized the ubiquity of power and the competitive nature of politics among nations. The realists won and the rest of ir is footnotes to realism. Pursue power (previously defined in military terms) Be an active leader in international politics. Plan to perpetuate itself in a hostile and threatening environment. Question of if the state must only pursue ethical means to get these objectives. Realistically: economic strength, perpetuation of the state, appearance in ir: three core elements. Statism = idea of the state as a legitimate representative of the collective will of the people within it.
