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To have a better understanding on how the discussed theories differ from one another,

fill in the table below and identify the necessary details. You may include as many
scholars that you can study about as long as you can provide their basic principles as
well as a brief overview on how they define the following theories.
Branches of Founder & Basic Principles Summary
Realism Thinker/s
Classical Realism Han’s Morgenthau  Human nature Classical Realist
underlies state theory shows
acts and international
decisions. relations by relying
 States' decisions on human nature
and actions are assumptions. The
influenced by idea is skeptical
politics without a about individual
centralized power. behavior, stating
 In an anarchical that people are
self-help system, driven largely by
the conflict for self-interest rather
power or 'idea of than higher moral
power' or ethical goals.
 Morality's The best approach
significance in to grasping realism
International is that it is a theory
Politics that asserts that in
an imperfect
system,
undesirable actions
such as war are
important tactics of
governance and
that leaders must
employ them when
it is in the national
interest.
Neorealism Kenneth Waltz  The Kenneth Waltz first
international developed
system is a Neorealism in 1975
"self-help and 1979 as an
system" since evolution of
each actor in it traditional balance-
is accountable of-power (or
for caring after "realist") theories of
themselves. international affairs.
 States are It differs from
always fearful previous theories
of being principally in its aim
attacked by to be more clearly
others No one theoretical, in the
is obligated to spirit of economic
comply if no concepts in its
one orders by identity similarities
virtue of of great-power
authority. politics to an
 States are oligopolistic market
eternally and purposefully
insecure, and simplistic
they are understanding of
always looking the nature of
for new international
capabilities. relations.
 States are Neorealism is also
pushed to known as
acquire "structural realism,"
greater and and some
more neorealist writers
capabilities in refer to their
order to avoid theories simply as
the influence "realists" to indicate
of others' the connection of
capabilities in their ideas with
order to those of the past.
achieve Its main theoretical
security from a claim is that war
prospective can happen at any
assault. time in world
politics. The
international
system is regarded
as entirely chaotic
at all times.
Defensive Kenneth Waltz  The Defensive realism is
Realism geographical an international
issue and the relations concept
security which can be used to
identify existing
dilemma.
international affairs.
 To understand The central aspect of
the defensive realism is
emergence of that when a state
war, elite rises in power, it will
beliefs and increasingly identify
perceptions threats beyond its
are used. borders. Defensive
realism believes that
 As a state offensive realists'
increases in rapid expansion
power, it will disrupts states' urge
face threats to adapt to the
balance of power
from beyond
theory, lessening the
its borders. primary goal of the
state, which they
think is to ensure its
security.
Offensive John Mearsheimer  States are Mearsheimer's
Realism self-interested, offensive realism
power-hungry, theory deals with
and scared of identical
other states, assumptions as
they are prone Kenneth Waltz's
to competition defensive realist
and war. theory, but the
 States must anarchy
act in this assumption,
manner to capacity
survive in the assumption,
international ambiguous
system. intention
 States may assumption,
never be survival
certain that assumption, and
other rationality
countries will assumption all
not use come to different
offensive conclusions. Waltz
military comes to the
capabilities conclusion that
against them. there is a balance
 States are of power.
rational According to the
agents, which notion, nations ally
implies they with weaker states
make to weigh larger
decisions ones in a repeated
about how to pattern of
live and weigh balancing. This
the immediate balancing should
and long-term deter nations from
effects of their seeking dominance
actions. since it would urge
other states to
band together
against the
hegemonic.
Liberalism John Locke  States must Liberalism is
have a free founded on the
economy with moral premise that
hardly any the primary
government objective of
intervention. government is to
 States can protect an
collaborate to individual's right to
increase life, liberty, and
wealth while property. As a
reducing result, liberals
violence. promote individual
 Must be well-being as an
devoted to essential factor of a
independence, just political
freedom, and system. A
equal monarchy, for
treatment. example, is a
political system
with unrestrained
power. Not only a
democratic nor a
dictatorship can
guarantee the lives
and liberties of its
citizens. As a
result, liberalism's
purpose is to create
systems that
defend personal
rights by restricting
and regulating
political control.

REFERENCES
Dibek, E. (2012, August 11). What are the basic concepts of neorealism? Retrieved
from Research Gate:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_basic_concepts_of_neorealism
#:~:text=The%20basic%20tenets%20of%20neorealism,power%2C%20polarity
%20and%20national%20interest.
Gibb, G. (n.d.). Core Principles of Classical Realism in International Relations.
Retrieved from Academia Education:
https://www.academia.edu/33468755/Core_Principles_of_Classical_Realism_in_
International_Relations
Hersey, J. (2019, August 21). John Locke: The Father of Liberalism. Retrieved from The
Objective Standard: https://theobjectivestandard.com/2019/08/john-locke-the-
father-of-liberalism/
Lobell, S. (2017, December 22). Structural Realism/Offensive and Defensive Realism.
Retrieved from Oxford Research Encyclopedias :
https://oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-
9780190846626-e-304#:~:text=Defensive%20realism%20asserts%20that
%20aggressive,argue%20is%20ensuring%20its%20security.
McKeown, T. (2014, April 28). Neorealism. Retrieved from Oxford Bibliographies:
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-
9780199743292-0037.xml
Rösch, F. J. (2011, April). Hans J. Morgenthau, the “marginal man” in International
Relations. A “Weltanschauungsanalyse” . Retrieved from
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/40019366.pdf
Thayer, B., & Johnson, D. (2016, June 21). The evolution of offensive realism.
Retrieved from Cambridge University Press:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-the-life-sciences/article/
evolution-of-offensive-realism/56B778004187F70B8E59609BE7FEE7A4

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