Difference between realism and liberalism
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Countries in the world relate in different ways. Through these relations, various issues arise, such as peace, war, and globalization. Such interactions are referred to as international relations, an area of a study showing how nations relate. The idea was born in the west, specifically the United States, in the 20th century, where during that time, the country was growing in power and had the most influence. The idea behind this was to promote peace and understanding among nations and redefine some rules of engagement among them. Various theories support this approach: liberalism, realism, and constructivism, where these ideas provide a differing view of international relations. This paper will discuss the differences between liberalism and realism concerning international relations.
Realism is defined as the theory that shows the reality of things in the world (Jackson & Sorensen, 2013). the theory is concerned with developing individual nations rather than interdependence with others. Proponents of this theory believe that war is the norm and the main international way of the relationships among countries where peace is like a break from war (Jackson and Sorensen, 2013). This is evident from the world wars and other wars arising from nations. The theory supports the idea that states have different interests, bringing rise to wars, aggressions, and other diverse issues. They support military prowess by nations, which will protect them from external threats from other countries. The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union saw these two countries amass various destructive weapons. This supports the realism approach, where even today, nations are developing weapons as a symbol of their power. Power is also part of this theory, where states will try to be powerfully and provide the ultimate security for the nation since they do not trust others, and due to that, they have to be secure and not depend on others for help. This theory shows that a country can only rely on itself and help itself, and no other nations will do that. Liberalism, on the other hand, is for interdependence among nations, where the proponents of this theory do not support war among nations (Jackson & Sorensen, 2013). This theory promotes peace among nations and argues that ideas that promote peace should be of top priority rather than those which are aimed at destabilizing, promoting, and engaging in war. A liberal person fully supports international bodies like the UN, WHO, and other bodies to promote peace globally. That person will also support trade delegations, disarmament activities, and the denuclearization of nuclear powers. According to the theory, various ways exist to resolve conflicts other than war, such as negotiations. The differences among nations should not be used to create wars but to promote peace and understanding. Liberal states are seen to be ruled by the people who do not want to go into war, and such countries have no reason to fight one another.
Both realism and liberalism view the country as the main player, where the state will set rules for the citizens where they are supposed to follow (Jackson & Sorensen, 2013). They both believe that there is not overall power in the world that controls all other states. The difference in this analogy is that liberals consider the people since they view the human race as generally good. They will protect individuals’ rights where the minorities in the world will not be discriminated against or dominated by the powerful in the world. For instance, a liberal person would support the holocaust or the powerful domination of developing countries and minority races. This is not the case in realism, where people opposing a way of ruling by a state will easily be persecuted, and their rights violated. This view is associated with the realists’ belief that people are selfish and will only do what they think benefits them and their needs.
In summary, the two traditional theories have been essential in international relations where they provide differing views, where they could be seen as opposites. The theories are relevant to date, and both are still applicable to various states. Realism and states that believe in this theory see the world as to where wars, aggression, power, and conflicts are the way. On the other hand, liberalism and nations that support this analogy believe in peace and eschewing actions that might result in war.
Reference
Jackson, R. & Sorensen, G. (2013). Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches. Oxford University Press. Pp. 1-373.