Realism and Neorealism

Duncan Bell

Realism and neorealism have dominated the post-1945 academic study of international relations (IR). Realists claim to offer both the most accurate explanation of state behavior and a set of policy prescriptions (notably the balance of power between states) for ameliorating the inherent destabilizing elements of international affairs. Realism, at a general level, stresses the centrality of the state, national interest, and military power in world politics. It focuses on the continuity of patterns of interaction in an international system lacking a centralized political authority. This condition of anarchy means that international politics often follow a different logic from domestic politics, which is regulated by a sovereign power. Realists are pessimistic about the possibility of radical systemic reform. Realism is a broad tradition of thought, composed of a variety of different strands. The most significant break is between classical realism and neorealism. Realists frequently claim to draw on an ancient tradition ...

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