Realism is an approach to the study and practice of international politics. It emphasizes the role of the nation-state and makes a broad assumption that all nation-states are motivated by national interests, or, at best, national interests disguised as moral concerns.

Terms in this set (8)

• Education. -those with more education are more likely to vote.
• Income. -wealthier voters are more likely to turnout at election time.
• Age. -young voters are less likely to turnout than older voters (until 70)
• Gender.
• Religion.
• race.
• Occupation.
• Voter identification laws.

The types of a political economy include socialism (which states that any production and wealth should be regulated and distributed by society), capitalism (where private owners control a nation’s industry and trade for profit), and communism (the theory where all property is publicly-owned and everyone works based on …

The first principle of political realism holds that “politics, like society in general, is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature.” It is as such necessary to understand these laws and build a rational theory of international politics. “These laws cannot be refuted and challenged.

Realism is one of the oldest paradigms in International Relation (IR) and International Political Economy (IPE). Realists believe that there is no centralized global authority that limits sovereign states and determines their actions.

Political realism is a theory of political philosophy that attempts to explain, model, and prescribe political relations. Political realism assumes that interests are to be maintained through the exercise of power, and that the world is characterised by competing power bases.

American years and political realism. Hans Morgenthau is considered one of the “founding fathers” of the realist school in the 20th century.