Realist Assumptions
Realists argue that this is the ultimate determinant of global politics, measured through military, economic, and diplomatic capacity.
What is power?
This type of power, emphasizing persuasion, attraction, and cooperation, is viewed by liberals as the safest and most effective tool in global politics.
What is soft power?
According to realism, international politics operates in this type of system, defined by the absence of a central authority to enforce rules.
What is anarchy?
Realism assumes that states act strategically, they calculate costs and benefits to protect their national interests.
What are rational actors?
Liberals argue that states become more powerful when they join these bodies.
What are international organizations?
This situation describes how states’ attempts to increase their own security unintentionally threaten others, fueling constant competition.
What is the security dilemma?
Defensive realists argue that global stability depends heavily on this distribution of power among major states—whether multi-polar, bi-polar, or uni-polar.
What is polarity?
According to liberalist theory, states can escape their security dilemmas and gain power by doing this with other states.
What is cooperation?
This realist approach argues that states continually build enough power to preserve the status quo and deter threats—not to dominate others.
What is defensive realism?
This branch of realism claims states should avoid domination, because seeking hegemony increases the risk of conflict with other powers.
What is defensive realism?
Liberalism holds that states should exercise power by respecting human rights and following this kind of global system grounded in international law.
What is a rule-based international order?
Realists emphasize that states are autonomous and not subject to a higher authority, they can only yield through consent.
What is sovereignty?
John Mearsheimer is a leading scholar of this theory, which argues that states maximize power and push for hegemony to survive.
What is offensive realism?
Liberalists believe power is shared among many actors—including NGOs, IGOs, MNCs, and civil society—who shape global norms and help restrain state power through this type of influence.
What is relational power?
Realist assumption holds that states never know how much power is enough driving them to keep accumulating it.
What is the drive to gain power?