Siatriz, Ma. Kristine Bernadette L.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science III-B

Introduction to International Relations

How does realism view the state, power and security?

State
Realism emphasizes that nation-states are motivated by national interests which can be
defined in terms of power. This is based on the realist conception of anarchical
environment which define states as an actor that rely upon their own resources to
secure their interests, enforce whatever agreements they may have entered into with
other states and maintain a desirable domestic and international order. The political
realist fears centralized authority but preserve decentralized system with force. The use
of force to preserve the decentralized system is regulated by a system called balance of
power.
Power
Realism observes that international politics or the behavior of states towards each other
is based on the constant struggle for power. A balance of power in equilibrium refers to
conditions whereby the power of a state is balanced by the equivalent power of another
state or set of states. This have been the case during the Cold War between the U.S.A
and the Soviet Union or NATO.
Security
For realists, no state will sacrifice its interests to serve the larger community. Security is
therefore understood within the language of insecurity and threat to the nation-state.
Realism does not necessitate aggression by state, however it assumes that there is a
sense of threat in the international system. According to realists, a state will use force to
attain its goals, however, the ultimate concern for states is not for power but for security.
Security has therefore been defined by language of forces and state interests. Classical
realists view military security fundamental and consider human nature as evil and
responsible for war.