Liberalism: Neorealist Or Structural Realism?

Realists are attuned to the idea that the international system is anarchic and that serious threats emerge all the time, requiring states to secure resources for survival. This involves periodic use of force; security represents the unique and main goal of foreign policy. Idealism, on the other side values morality as the basis of all relations among nations. It rejects the separation between the mind and the soul in politics. Idealists see the role of power as an undesirable factor to be eliminated.

Thomas Paine opposes the ideology of government, stating that, “Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil,” (Paine 3). Essentially, the purpose of government is to protect people from preforming vices, and defend their natural right to Locke’s ideology of life, liberty and property. Without government, coercion would occur, and destroy one’s ability to express their natural rights. For America, Paine believes that the establishment of a strong fundamental government could allow for the cohesion of citizens to form a society respected by other nations

Sovereign states are the main actors within the international system. Anarchy is a social construct and is ‘what states make of it’ according to constructivist thinker Wendt. This means that how well anarchy is

The current work is meant to explain the differences and similarities between the most dominant theories in international relations, Realism and Liberalism, both theories have some similarities and differences but much more important and interesting is to discuss and explain what differs and makes similar both theories. Conflicts and wars, Similarities and differences between Realism and Liberalism: Both Liberalism and Realism believes that there is no world government that can prevent countries to go to war on one another. For both theories military power is important and both Realism and Liberalism can understand that countries can use military power to get what they need or want. Also, both theories are conscious that without military

The State, therefore, does not have the absolute arbitrariness. The social contract involves, according to Locke, and the responsibility of the state to its citizens. If the state does not fulfill its duty to the people, if it violates the freedom of the people, the people have the right to fight against the state. Locke is often referred to among the main theorists of the democratic polity. His ideal - British constitutional monarchy, in which embodied the balance of interests of the individual and the state is the king, the House of Lords and the House of

Whereas Hobbes states that based on his idea of human nature, which is humans are born evil, that one ruler should be given absolute power. While Hobbes makes various points he does conclude that people should surrender their freedom to this power because the ruler keeps them safe. This including the right to complain about the ruler’s policies. Locke’s ideal government is one that doesn’t give absolute power to one person but rather power to a group of power. This making it less likely for a ruler to abuse their power or corrupt the government.

Arendt discusses the American revolution and the difference of liberties and freedoms when she writes, “All these liberties, to which we might add our own claims to be free from want and fear, are of course essentially negative; they are the results of liberation but they are by no means the actual content of freedom, which…is participation in public affairs” (Arendt 22). She argues that participation is public affairs is the epitome of freedom. Individuals must partake in politics in order to be free. Arendt sees happiness as a state of rest

“Far too much value is placed on peace, stability and compliance with the surest path to greatness can only be found through rebellion”(Upland, Robbie). In order for nations to be transformed to gain their freedom and democracy, they must experience rebellion. A rebel is choosing to become an individual and refusing to follow a crowd that tries to prevent them from ever becoming an outcast. Why does the natural world thrive on rebellion? One of the strongest urges in human nature is to feel free.

The sizes of the countries were also taken into account, so these stringent measures make one wonder whether are the proponents of democracy trying to preserve the term at the expense of human behaviour or are they genuinely being fair in assessing the possibility that democratic states can and have been involved in war in the past and could possibly be in the future. Even though their democracies may not be as stable as they would like them to be but the fact that certain democratic criterion are met should also not be ignored but be taken into

State as a sovereign political entity and independent analysis unit that is the focus of realism. The presence of non-State actors is not considered a significant influence and being under the domination of the country that is considered a secondary actor. In other words, the dynamics of global politics is controlled by the State. In addition, the scope or the issues in international relations is dominated with high political issue, namely the issue of the sustainability of a State. The State gives high attention to values of national security as well as the existence of a State.

Liberal ideology is the driving force in current political matters and has shaped the United States prevailing Democratic and Conservative parties. Liberalism is defined most recently as a “political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual, parliamentary systems of government, nonviolent modification of political, social, or economic institutions to assure unrestricted development in all spheres of human endeavor, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.” While these key focuses do reflect American’s general understanding of liberalism today, it differs quite a bit from its classical origin. Being a liberal in The United States is different than being liberal in many other countries. Classical liberalism, also known as American Conservatism, is still the majorities understanding of the ideology today.