MEANING OF REALISM & ITS CONCEPT
Realism, within the realm of politics and international relations, is described as “a theory of political philosophy that attempts to explain, model, and prescribe political relations. It takes as its assumption that power is the primary end of political action, whether in the domestic or international arena”. This, in essence means that the theory of realism holds a presumption that the biggest motivation of states is their desire for power or security, rather than ethics or ideals. In the preservation and safeguarding of the respective states’ sovereignty, ground is set for international leaders and other influential bodies to rule their nations in a manner that is regulated to satisfy selfish interests and disregard principles and moral values, thus serving to gratify the notion that the international community is characterized by anarchy, since there is no overriding world government that enforces a common code of rules. Whilst this anarchy need not be chaotic, for various member states of the international community may engage in treaties or in trading patterns that generate an order of sorts, most theorists conclude that law or morality does not apply beyond the nation’s boundaries. The central objective and ambition of the states is said, therefore, to see the perseverance of their individual nations and be oblivious to ethically accepted social mores.
The outlook that realism remains central to international relations today is based largely on the prospect that states are taking advantage of the anarchic setting constructed by the issue that there is no overriding world government that enforces a common code of rules for everyone to follow. This therefore means that actors in international politics are at liberty to act in any manner they believe is best for their own